ad news for owners of the very first smartwatch released by the apple brand: the so-called Apple Watch Series 0 has just been designated as "obsolete" by its creator.
Launched in the spring of 2015 by the American multinational, this initial series of products, notably available in 18-carat yellow and rose gold versions, officially bids farewell and will no longer be eligible for repairs or receive after-sales service at Apple Stores, as well as in the network of repair shops authorized by the brand.
Seven years is the number of years determined by Apple that must elapse for a product to be declared "obsolete", from the date it ceases to be distributed for sale.
Imagined and designed by the brand as a first attempt to compete in the luxury watch market, the first-generation Apple Watch Gold Edition was seen on the wrists of influential celebrities such as artists Drake, Pharell Williams and Katy Perry, not to mention German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, who didn't even bother to configure it.
It wasn't enough. With just a few tens of thousands sold at the time of its release, the commercial failure of the model sold between 11 and 18,000 euros depending on the options very quickly prompted Apple to readapt its offering by proposing, as early as September 2016, the reissue of its Apple Watch Edition in ceramic, this time at much more affordable prices. Unsurprisingly, the brand discontinues the gold-framed model just sixteen months after its launch.
This was followed by a freeze in software support, stagnating since 2018 at WatchOS 5 (we're now at WatchOS 10), and then the discontinuation of battery replacement (currently available from the Apple Watch Series 2) for these early, expensive models.
It's game over for the gold watch: on September 30, 2023, Apple announces that models released in 2015 will be added to its official list of technologically obsolete products.
Although more Apple connected watches were sold in 2019 than watches made in Switzerland, it's still difficult for the electronics brand to compete with Swiss haute horlogerie in the luxury market, where timepieces are synonymous with durability and longevity.
A minor setback, but one that has not weakened the company, which has never ceased to offer new models of high-tech timepieces that are ever more popular with the public. Today, Apple remains leader in connected watches, 30% market share by 2022 well ahead of its Korean rival Samsung.
When was the first Apple Watch launched?
The first Apple Watch was launched in spring 2015.
How much does the Apple Watch Gold Edition cost?
The Apple Watch Gold Edition costs between €11 and €18,000, depending on options.
When did it cease to be marketed?
The first Apple Watch Gold Edition stopped being sold in September 2016, just over a year after its launch.
What does "obsolete" mean for an Apple product?
An Apple product becomes obsolete once 7 years have elapsed since the end of its commercial life. It can no longer be repaired by Apple or its authorized resellers.
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