Last Year's Apple Watch or Wait? How to Decide

Published

1:54 PM

Author

PayBlogger

Comments

Apple Watch 8 latest version or older version 7

Updated September 2026: in 2022 I was deciding between the new Apple Watch Series 8, a discounted Series 7, or waiting another year, since the Series 8 brought few changes. I have rewritten it as a general guide to choosing last year's model or waiting for the next one.

I had wanted an Apple Watch for a long time and had finally saved enough. The Series 8 did not excite me. It kept the same design and added a temperature sensor and features for cycle tracking, so paying full price seemed hard to justify. My two options were to buy a Series 7 at a lower price, with nearly the same performance, or to wait a year for the next model. Waiting did not appeal either, because Apple's recent updates had been small.

When is last year's model the better buy?

When the design has not changed and the new features are ones you will not use.
When the discount is meaningful, not just a small cut from full price.
When it will still get software updates for several more years.

When is it worth paying for the new model?

When a new feature matters to you, such as a health sensor, safety feature or longer battery life, or when you plan to keep the watch for many years. A newer model usually receives software updates for longer.

How do you check software support?

Apple drops older watches from new watchOS releases after several years. Before buying an older model, check that it runs the current watchOS version and that the next release still supports it. A watch that is already near the end of support is poor value, however cheap.

Should you wait for the next model?

Only if a specific, likely improvement matters to you. Waiting for something vague usually means going without for a year and then facing the same choice again.

What about refurbished or second-hand watches?

Apple's own refurbished store and reputable sellers offer good savings with a warranty. For second-hand watches, check battery health, make sure the previous owner has removed it from their Apple ID, and inspect the screen and sensor for damage.

What did the Series 8 add over Series 7?

Mainly the temperature sensor, used for cycle tracking and sleep data, and crash detection. For most buyers these were not enough to justify the higher price at the time.