Apple Watch Series 5 in 2025: Worth It or Time to Upgrade?

If you’ve been browsing for a used smartwatch in 2025, the Apple Watch Series 5 keeps popping up – and for good reason. It was the first to bring an always-on display, and it still runs watchOS 10, keeping many core apps and health features alive. But with Apple officially labeling it “vintage” since 2024, the question isn’t whether it was a great watch – it’s whether it’s still a smart buy today, or just a tempting relic.

Release date: September 2019 ·
Apple vintage status: Added to vintage products list (2024) ·
watchOS latest support: watchOS 10.x (as of early 2025) ·
Current trade-in range: $50–$130 (depending on condition and model) ·
Always-On display: Yes, LTPO OLED ·
Cellular option: Available (GPS + Cellular model)

Seven key facts at a glance – a pattern emerges: solid hardware, aging software, and a ticking clock on support.

Is the Apple Watch Series 5 still a good buy?

What you gain with a Series 5 in 2025

• Always-On Retina display – still one of the best screens on a smartwatch (Apple technical specifications)
• ECG and fall detection remain fully functional (Apple Watch Series 5 product page)
• Cycle tracking with ovulation estimates works on watchOS 10 (Apple Watch User Guide)
• You get the full iPhone ecosystem integration at a low entry price – refurbished units are often under €200 in Europe (Back Market listings)

What you miss from newer models

• No blood oxygen sensor (introduced on Series 6) (Apple Watch Series 6 announcement)
• watchOS 11 features are out of reach – the new AI-powered Siri, advanced health metrics (Apple watchOS 11 preview)
• Faster charging is not supported (Series 7 and later have it)
• Aging S5 chip means slower app launches compared to Series 8 or 9

The trade-off: you save cash but sacrifice two to three more years of major software updates. For a buyer who just wants notifications, fitness tracking, and a good screen, the Series 5 still delivers. For anyone who wants the latest health tools or long-term app compatibility, skipping to a Series 6 or SE 2 is the smarter call.

The implication: the Series 5 offers a lot for the price, but software limitations will catch up quickly.

Is the Apple Watch Series 5 old?

Vintage products list meaning

• Apple added the Series 5 to its vintage list in 2024 (Apple Support)
• Vintage classification means Apple may no longer service every model with original parts
• Software updates remain active during the vintage period – that includes watchOS 10 and security patches for now

How age compares to Series 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

• Series 6 (2020) adds blood oxygen sensing and a faster S6 chip
• Series 7 (2021) brings a larger display with faster charging
• Series 8 (2022) includes temperature sensing for cycle tracking
• Series 9 (2023) introduces the S9 chip with on-device processing
• Series 10 (2024) – the biggest redesign, with a thinner case and new sensors

The pattern: each generation adds at least one meaningful health or performance upgrade. The Series 5 sits at the bottom of today’s Apple Watch family, just above the budget SE models. Its age shows most in the processor and the lack of modern sensors. But for basic tasks, it’s still a perfectly competent smartwatch.

Is the Apple Watch 5 no longer supported?

watchOS support status

• watchOS 10 is the last major OS confirmed for Series 5 (Apple watchOS 11 preview)
• Apple has not announced an end-of-support date for watchOS 10 security updates, but past patterns suggest about two years of patches after the final major release
• Third-party apps will gradually drop support as developers target newer watchOS versions

Security vs feature updates

• watchOS 10 will likely continue to receive security patches for a while
• Feature updates are done – no new faces, no new health algorithms
• Long-term app compatibility can decline (Apple Watch User Guide)

What this means: the Series 5 isn’t bricked, but it’s on a countdown. Buyers in 2025 should expect useful life of about another 1–2 years for mainline apps, then a slow drift into legacy status.

How much is an Apple Watch Series 5 worth today?

Trade-in values

• Apple Trade In offers $50–$130 depending on model and condition (Apple Trade In)
• Third-party buyback services like BankMyCell show similar ranges but often slightly higher for pristine units (BankMyCell depreciation analysis)

Resale platforms

• eBay listings for Series 5 in good condition range from £130 to £200 (approx $165–$250) (eBay marketplace listings)
• Condition and cellular affect price – 44mm cellular models fetch the highest

Refurbished pricing in Ireland

• Irish refurb sites like theioutlet.com and refurbed.ie list Series 5 units between €150 and €250
• This makes it one of the cheapest ways to get an Apple Watch with ECG and an always-on display – but support limitations make it less attractive than Series 6 or SE 2 (Wareable buying guide)

The catch: trade-in is convenient but you’ll get far less than selling privately. In Ireland, selling a Series 5 directly can net €50–€100 more than trading it in to Apple. But for cash-strapped first-time Apple Watch buyers, the refurbished price is tempting.

What Apple Watches will stop working in 2026?

Which models may lose support

• Unconfirmed predictions from third-party sources suggest Series 4 and earlier are most at risk
• Series 5 may continue with limited features – no new faces, no new apps
• The pattern from Apple’s past: watchOS support typically spans 5–6 years after launch

Series 5’s position

• Launched in 2019, so by 2026 it will be 7 years old – well beyond typical support windows
• watchOS 10 support may cease in late 2025 or early 2026
• Users can still wear it for time, notifications, and basic fitness, but advanced health features and apps will likely stop working

The implication: the Series 5 is unlikely to die outright in 2026, but it will become a feature-limited watch. Anyone buying it today should plan on it being a secondary device or a temporary bridge to a newer model within two years.

Six core specs, one pattern: the Series 5 holds its own on screen quality and health sensors, but the processor and battery technology are three generations behind.

Timeline: key milestones for the Apple Watch Series 5

• September 2019 – Apple Watch Series 5 announced with Always-On Retina display (Apple Newsroom)
• September 2020 – Apple Watch Series 6 released; Series 5 discontinued
• September 2023 – watchOS 10 released, compatible with Series 5
• September 2024 – Apple adds Series 5 to vintage products list (Apple Support)
• Early 2025 – Possible last year of major feature updates

Clarity section: what’s confirmed vs what’s unclear

Expert perspectives on the Series 5’s place in 2025

“Apple today announced Apple Watch Series 5, debuting an Always-On Retina display that never sleeps…”

Apple Newsroom press release, September 2019 (Announcement)

“The Apple Watch Series 5 features a 64-bit dual-core S5 processor, 32 GB storage, and up to 18 hours of battery life.”

Apple technical specifications (Specifications)

“Wareable’s 2025 Apple Watch buying guide advises against buying the Series 5 because it no longer supports the latest software and lacks newer hardware upgrades.”

Wareable buying guide (Source)

“Apple Watch trade-in values generally decline sharply after a device loses major software support.”

BankMyCell depreciation analysis (Analysis)

Summary: should you buy an Apple Watch Series 5 in 2025?

The Apple Watch Series 5 is a paradox: it’s still a great smartwatch for basic use, yet its best days are clearly behind it. The always-on display remains a standout feature, and health tools like ECG and fall detection still work perfectly. But the lack of watchOS 11, the aging S5 chip, and the loss of official hardware support mean that buying one in 2025 is a calculated trade-off. For budget-conscious buyers in Ireland, where refurbished units sell for €150–€250, the price is right — but only if you’re prepared to live without future features and eventual app compatibility. For most people spending that much, the recommendation is clear: put that money toward an Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) or a used Series 6, and get two more years of meaningful support. The Series 5 is a nostalgic bargain, not a long-term investment.

For those considering the Series 5, it’s worth comparing with the Apple Watch Series 4 review in 2025 to see if the older model still meets your needs.

Frequently asked questions