How long should an Ultra 2 last before being unsupported?

[ISignedUpToAskThis]

I'm seriously considering buying my first Ultra 2, but conscious of the fact it's a smartwatch with a processor/ram/storage/lithium battery etc and has a finite lifespan compared to a traditional digital or analogue watch.

Obviously Apple will introduce new watches next year and every year with new hardware to support new features which won't necessarily work on the Ultra 2 or older Apple watches.

With the Ultra 2 already being a year old, if I was to buy one new today, how long realistically would it be a viable smartwatch for taking into consideration:

- when Apple will stop supporting it and consider it 'vintage' or obsolete/when they will stop being able to service or fix it
- when watchOS updates will be either too big or too demanding for the Ultra 2 to process


In others words, what's the lifespan for an Ultra 2 now?

Am I going to comfortably get 5 years out of it without any real issues?

Thanks

 

[f1vespeed]

The oldest supported watch right now is the Series 6, which came out in 2020. I am guessing that the Ultra 2, being a much more mature hardware platform than the first few generation apple watches, should comfortably get 5 years of support from Apple if not more.

That being said, considering your investment mentality, you're getting into a world that is not a super good deal like a Casio G-Shock would be. A simple digital watch might last 30 years with no service other than a few battery changes. Buying an ultra every 5 years would cost you ~$4000 over the same period. Once the shine has worn off, it really depends whether or not you value health/fitness data and what little else this watch does. If not, it's possible that an heirloom-grade mechanical watch would be a much better investment.

 

[f1vespeed]

I should clarify that I own a series 6, it's still going strong, battery lasts through the day, runs great. I could keep wearing it but I bought an Ultra 2 myself when it came out in black.

 

[bodonnell202]

I bought a Series 5 when it came out in 2019 and Apple just stopped giving it software updates this year after 5 years. I’d guess 5 years is the minimum from its release date, however the Ultra 2 has the S9 chip (which is a new chip design after rebranding the S6 chip as the S7 and S8) which realistically means it will likely be supported for as long as the Series 10 watches, so I’d bet it still has at least 5 years of software updates ahead.

Also note that just because they stop receiving software updates with new features doesn’t mean they stop working… it will continue to work as it did for many more years.

Edit: also, in terms of service and repair Apple doesn’t consider a product vintage until 5 years after they stop selling it so the clock hasn’t started in that yet, but assuming Apple releases an Ultra 3 in fall 2025 and discontinues the Ultra 2 that would mean available hardware support through Apple until at least 2030.

 

[xDKP]

My daughter has a Series 5 and the battery could use a replacement, but other than that she still loves it. We have a Series 7 from the family she gets as an upgrade soon, but still works