If you’re an Apple fan looking for a better way to manage your digital life, the Apple Watch (occasionally referred to as the “iWatch”) is one of the best accessories you can buy. The good news is the Apple Watch price isn’t as expensive as you may think it is, depending on the specific size and models.
Other than providing you with the date/time and shooting iPhone notifications straight to your wrist (the most common reason you check your phone every few minutes), the Apple Watch can also track physical activity and allow you to make mobile payments via Apple Pay. In fact, newer models are even equipped with LTE, allowing the Apple Watch to work independently of your iPhone.
Really, the toughest part about buying an Apple Watch is finding out the differences between all the various generations and variants — but that’s where we come in. In this post we’ll provide you with details on each generation and show you exactly how much each Apple Watch Series costs — both new retail and used prices on Swappa — so you can find the best Apple Watch for you and your wallet. Let’s dive in.
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Apple Watch Series 5 Price
How much does the Apple Watch Series 5 cost?
Released in September 2019, the Apple Watch Series 5 is the latest and best Apple Watch currently available (as well as the most expensive). Like previous gen Apple Watches before it, Series 5 comes in two sizes — 40mm ($399) and 44mm ($429) as well as two different connectivity options: GPS-only or GPS + cellular (+$100). There’s also four style options (pictured above) that offer a variety of finishes, colors and watch bands to suit your own personal taste.
| Apple Watch Series 5 prices | GPS | GPS + Cellular |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 5 (44mm) | $310+ | $380+ |
| Apple Watch Series 5 (40mm) | $325+ | $335+ |
Of course, you can find much better deals on the Apple Watch Series 5 when shopping for used models on Swappa. Above we’ve included a table showing you the going rate for the Apple Watch S5 in the Swappa marketplace where prices are significantly lower than what you can get by shopping at Apple.
What’s new in Apple Watch Series 5?
Apple Watch Series 5 is extremely similar to the previous year’s model, so much that Apple decided to discontinue Series 4 in 2019 with the release of Series 5. With Apple Watch Series 5, you get all the upgrades introduced in Series 4 (digital crown with haptic feedback, Bluetooth 5.0, ECG/EKG sensor, larger LTPO OLED displays, 64-bit CPU, 1GB RAM), along with a handful of new features that include an always-on display, international emergency calling, more energy-efficient Apple S5 processor, improved ambient light sensor, 32GB of internal storage, and compass thanks to the addition of a magnetometer sensor.
Series 5 also saw the reintroduction of the premium “Edition” variant with ceramic (white) or titanium (natural or Space Black color) finishes, making it the highest-end Apple Watch model available (with a price tag to match). As of now, the only Apple Watch models currently available from Apple are the Apple Watch Series 5 and Apple Watch Series 3.
Apple Watch Series 4 Price
How much does the Apple Watch Series 4 cost?
The Apple Watch Series 4 is — you guessed it — the fourth generation Apple Watch and was announced in September 2018, alongside the iPhone XR, iPhone XS and XS Max.
Apple Watch Series 4 brings a handful of new improvements, most notable a bigger display that’s 30% larger than previous models. The new displays contribute to the slightly larger size, now coming in 40mm and 44mm size options, although the watch itself isn’t much larger than previous year’s models. Apple managed to shrink the bezels down of previous models, and even slimmed down the side profile a bit, making the watch thinner as a result.
What’s new in Apple Watch Series 4?
The Apple Watch S4 is powered by a 64-bit S4 processor that provides 2 times the performance of the previous S3 CPU, along with 16GB of internal storage now standard across all variants, and haptic feedback when using the digital crown. You’ll also find new watch faces with added customization options, fall detection, and even an ECG heart sensor that received clearance by the FDA and support from the American Heart Association.
| Apple Watch Series 4 prices | GPS | GPS + Cellular |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 4 (44mm) | $223+ | $225+ |
| Apple Watch Series 4 (40mm) | $230+ | $240+ |
The Apple Watch Series 4 (40mm and 44mm) launched at $399/$429 for the GPS-only model, and $499/$529 for the cellular LTE equipped model. Unfortunately, the Apple Watch Series 4 was officially discontinued in 2019 with the release of the Apple Watch Series 5. That means if you’re looking to find an Apple Watch Series 4 at an extremely discounted prince, the Swappa marketplace is the way to go. You can start shopping all available listings using the buttons below.
Apple Watch Series 3 Price
How much does the Apple Watch Series 3 cost?
Apple announced the Apple Watch Series 3 in September 2017. Officially the third generation Apple Watch, it debuted at $329 (38mm, GPS-only) and introduced a handful of hardware improvements like Apple’s new dual-core S3 processor, increased RAM (768MB), Siri functionality, Bluetooth 4.2, and an altimeter to measure flights of stairs climbed. There was also the biggest addition of all: a standalone 4G LTE model. This cellular equipped model features its own cellular connection that works independent of your iPhone.
Aside from the usual 42mm and 38mm sizes — along with GPS-only and GPS + cellular equipped models — Apple also released Hermès and Apple Watch Nike+ versions with additional watch faces and bands exclusive to each brand.
When the Apple Watch Series 4 was announced in 2018, the retail price for Series 3 (38mm) dropped to $279 (GPS) and $399 (GPS + cellular). The larger 42mm model has also saw a drop in price, down to $309 (GPS-only) and $409 (GPS + cellular). In 2019 the Series 3 price dropped again, with Apple now offering GPS-only models for $199 (38mm) or $229 (42mm), and cellular models for $299 (38mm) and $329 (42mm).
| Apple Watch Series 3 prices | GPS | GPS + Cellular |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 3 (42mm) | $144+ | $144+ |
| Apple Watch Series 3 (38mm) | $150+ | $159+ |
Of course, you can find a much better deal in the Swappa marketplace with the Apple Watch Series 3 starting at $215 (38mm), or $220 (42mm). With prices that low, you can find gently used 4G models for less than the price of a GPS-only model at Apple. Now that’s a deal.
You can shop all the Apple Watch Series 3 models for sale by hitting the appropriate buttons. From there you only have to figure out if you want the GPS-only or 4G carrier/unlocked model. Enjoy.
Apple Watch Series 2 Price
How much does the Apple Watch Series 2 cost?
As we mentioned below, the Apple Watch Series 1 was also announced alongside the Apple Watch Series 2. The higher-end model of the two, Apple Watch Series 2 debuted at $369 (38mm) and $399 (42mm). It also included better hardware like a dual-core Apple S2 processor, water resistance up to 50 meters, a brighter 1,000 nit display, and GPS.
In many ways the Apple Watch Series 2 was the worthy sequel to the first generation Apple Watch (2014) and targeted more physically active types who often find themselves outdoors or involved in water sports. The Apple Watch S2 makes a fantastic base option for those that want a little more out of their smartwatch, whether that’s GPS tracking or improved water resistance.
With prices as low as $170 for the 42mm model, and $169 for the 38mm version, Apple Watch Series 2 is very affordable and still worth it in 2020. Get started shopping all the Apple Watch Series 2 models for sale in the Swappa marketplace using the buttons below.
Apple Watch Series 1 Price
How much does the Apple Watch Series 1 cost?
In 2016, Apple decided to refresh the Apple Watch with a slight hardware revision. There were two models officially released — Apple Watch Series 1 and Apple Watch Series 2 — marking both as the second generation Apple Watch.
The Apple Watch Series 1 was a refreshed version of the original Apple Watch that launched in 2015. It had a lower asking price than that original 2015 model, making it a great option for those wanting a more affordable Apple Watch without all the bells and whistles. Prices started at $269/$299 with the updated S1P processor, but unlike its sister device (Series 2), Series 1 still has no GPS and a cellular option wouldn’t be introduced until Series 3. Of course, the Apple Watch Series 1 also came in two different sizes: 42mm and 38mm.
Apple officially discontinued the Apple Watch Series 1 once Series 4 was announced, but you can still find plenty of gently used models on the Swappa marketplace. With a starting price of $75, Apple Watch Series 1 is a great budget pick for anyone who doesn’t feel the need to take their watch into the pool, but don’t worry — it can still survive a dip under the faucet.
First generation Apple Watch (Series 0) Price
How much does the 1st gen Apple Watch (Series 0) cost?
Apple unveiled the original first-generation Apple Watch — also known as Apple Watch Series 0 — back in 2014, alongside the drastically redesigned iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Although both were announced at the same event, the first gen Apple Watch wasn’t released until April 2015 and carried a starting price of $349.
The first-generation Apple Watch (not to be confused with Apple Watch Series 1 which launched the following year) featured cutting edge technology for a wearable, coming equipped with Apple’s Taptic Engine, heart rate sensor, microphone for voice calls over Bluetooth, and even NFC for mobile payments using Apple Pay. This was leaps and bounds more advanced than comparable Android watches at the time.
Apple launched two sizes of the watch — 42mm and smaller 38mm models — in three variants: Apple Watch (sapphire glass, stainless steel case, metal or leather bands), Apple Watch Sport (Ion-X glass, anodized aluminum case, silicone bands), and the $10,000 Apple Watch Edition (18K yellow or rose gold).
Other hardware specs included a 38.96mm 312×390 resolution (42mm) or 33.96mm 272×340 resolution (38mm) OLED displays, 8GB of storage (2GB for music, 75MB for photos), S1 processor, 512MB RAM, 250/205mAh battery (approximately 18 hours). The majority of these specs remained mostly unchanged until Series 3 when Apple finally gave the internals a nice big spec jump. So if you’re looking for something with better performance, you definitely want to start there.
While great for basic tasks, the first generation Apple Watch is certainly showing its age, especially considering it can’t be updated past WatchOS 4 (newer Apple Watches are currently on WatchOS 6). But with used models starting at $85 in the Swappa marketplace, the first-generation model is the cheapest Apple Watch you can buy. You can find a healthy selection of first generation Apple Watch models for sale by clicking the buttons below.
