So you’re in the market to buy a pre-owned Apple Watch or an older version of the Apple Watch and naturally think it would pair with your iPhone, right? Wrong. A little shocker is that not all Apple Watches are compatible with all iPhones. This is because Apple is continuously updating its software for both the iPhones and the Apple Watches.
The older versions of the Apple Watch and the iPhones stop receiving updates after a certain period of time, which makes them lose compatibility with other Apple devices.
Apple Watch’s Compatibility With Your iPhone
Ideally, I suggest pairing a newer version of the Apple Watch with the latest iPhone to ensure a longer shelf life of both your products, even if it costs a few extra bucks.
But, before you pull the plug on buying a newer version of the Apple Watch but have an older version of the iPhone or vice versa, take a look at the table below and check its compatibility.
| Apple Watch Model | Compatible iPhone | Compatible iOS | Compatible watchOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series 10 | iPhone XS or later | iOS 18 or later | watchOS 11 or later |
| Ultra 2 | iPhone XS or later | iOS 17 or later | watchOS 10 or later |
| Series 9 | iPhone XS or later | iOS 17 or later | watchOS 10 or later |
| Ultra | iPhone 8 or later | iOS 16 or later | watchOS 9 or later |
| Series 8 | iPhone 8 or later | iOS 16 or later | watchOS 9 or later |
| SE (2nd generation) | iPhone 8 or later | iOS 16 or later | watchOS 9 or later |
| Series 7 | iPhone 6s or later | iOS 15 or later | watchOS 8 or later |
| Series 6 | iPhone 6s or later | iOS 14 or later | watchOS 7 or later |
| SE (1st generation) | iPhone 6s or later | iOS 14 or later | watchOS 7 to watchOS 10.6.1 |
| Series 5 | iPhone 6s or later | iOS 13 or later | watchOS 6 to watchOS 10.6.1 |
| Series 4 (GPS + Mobile) | iPhone 6 or later | iOS 12 or later | watchOS 5 to watchOS 10.6.1 |
| Series 4 (GPS) | iPhone 5s or later | iOS 12 or later | watchOS 5 to watchOS 10.6.1 |
| Series 3 | iPhone 6s or later | iOS 11 or later | watchOS 4 to watchOS 8.8.1 |
| Series 2 | iPhone 5 or later | iOS 10 or later | watchOS 3 to watchOS 6.3 |
| Series 1 | iPhone 5 or later | iOS 10 or later | watchOS 3 to watchOS 6.3 |
| Apple Watch (1st generation) | iPhone 5 or later | iOS 8.2 or later | watchOS 1 to watchOS 4.3.2 |
Please note: Updating your iPhone to iOS 18 needs an iPhone XS or later. Similarly, updating your Apple Watch to watchOS 11 also needs an iPhone XS or later.
To check which software your iPhone is running, simply head to Settings on your iPhone and tap General. Tap About, and you will be able to see which software your iPhone is running under the iOS version.
Head to the Watch app on your iPhone and tap General. Then, tap About and under watchOS version, you will be able to see which version your Apple Watch is running.
Wrap Up
While it is generally believed that all Apple Watches should be compatible with all iPhones, that is unfortunately not true. This is owed to the fact that the software keeps updating and the older models don’t always get those updates and eventually become obsolete.
Therefore, I always suggest a relatively newer model to ensure a longer shelf life of both your devices without having to upgrade frequently. This is not to say that older models are not compatible or won’t enjoy the same level of functionality, but just to ensure a longer lifespan and better performance.
