The Apple Watch Series 3 is becoming a problem for Apple. Updating the smartwatch is getting messier and messier but, at the same time, having a $199

Comment: Apple Watch Series 3 has become a white elephant for Apple

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2021-05-29 21:00:15

The Apple Watch Series 3 is becoming a problem for Apple. Updating the smartwatch is getting messier and messier but, at the same time, having a $199 Watch option is an incredible deal for a brand like Apple. So what the company should do about the Apple Watch Series 3?

A few weeks ago, 9to5Mac’s Filipe Espósito said Apple should discontinue the 2017 Apple Watch Series 3 because it’s become “nearly impossible to install watchOS updates on Series 3 without having to restore the entire device first.” And he is right.

In addition to not delivering the experience users expect, Series 3 also upsets some developers who are forced to support the old display form factor in their apps — even if they no longer run reasonably well in terms of performance on Series 3. If the product can barely be updated without relying on tricks and advanced settings, why does Apple still sell it?

And with Filipe’s question, I’ll try to answer why having the Apple Watch Series 3 around is still a good deal for Apple, although not for new customers.