Apple Watch SE (1st generation)
Our verdict
Repurpose it.
Its update days are over. Its useful days aren’t.
I
Give it a job
A sleep tracker, a bedside clock, or a spare for workouts.
II
Keep it off the open web
Without security updates, treat it as a single-purpose appliance rather than a daily browser.
III
Or let it go
Apple parts availability is winding down (vintage status). Trade-in value is modest — selling privately usually beats the quote.
VintageTops out at watchOS 10.6.1.
The record
Introduced
2020
Model identifier
Watch5,9, Watch5,10, Watch5,11, Watch5,12
Variants
40mm GPS · 44mm GPS · 40mm GPS + Cellular · 44mm GPS + Cellular · GPS · GPS + Cellular
Chip
Apple S5
Architecture
64-bit ARM
Latest official release
watchOS 10.6.1
With OpenCore Patcher
Not applicable
Security updates
Ended — watchOS 10 received its final security update in 2024 (last release 10.6.1).
Apple hardware status
Vintage — parts winding down
Data confidence
high
Common questions
What is the newest watchOS for the Apple Watch SE (1st generation)?
The Apple Watch SE (1st generation) officially tops out at watchOS 10.6.1.
Is the Apple Watch SE (1st generation) still getting security updates?
No. Ended — watchOS 10 received its final security update in 2024 (last release 10.6.1).
Is the Apple Watch SE (1st generation) vintage or obsolete?
Apple classifies it as vintage: parts and service are winding down but may still be available.
The fine print
a
apple_device_models_2013_present.csv says vintage · task1_models.csv says current. We use: vintage.
Same shelf