OG Apple Watch is left in the dust
Apple has announced the next version of the Apple Watch‘s software, watchOS 5, but if you’re wearing an original Apple Watch you won’t be able to download it.
Although this wasn’t mentioned at the keynote, a press release from Apple confirmed that “watchOS 5 will not be available on the original Apple Watch”, leaving owners of the OG model behind. Just a reminder: Series 1 is actually the second version Apple Watch launched.
Read this: What’s new in watchOS 5
It seemed like only a matter of time before older Apple Watch models were left high and dry. In fact, this isn’t the first time early adopters have been snubbed – some of the heart rate features introduced in watchOS 4 also didn’t work with the original model.
I think it’s finally time to upgrade my Series 0 Apple Watch #WWDC18
— Erfon Elijah 11.0 (@erfon) June 4, 2018
Of course, iPhone users are used to it – Apple has put older handsets out to pasture as it’s continued to iterate iOS – but the Watch is only a little over three years old.
Not to mention that it’s an expensive, and more personal, gadget lacking a compelling upgrade program. It’s the classic problem of obsolescence, and there’s no doubt that this is all because the old hardware just can’t handle the update, but Apple needs to be careful that it doesn’t start turning people off its smartwatch.
