Apple fans are in a dilemma as to whether they should buy Apple Watch Series 3 now or wait until the company's September event.
Apple has officially confirmed that its annual event is set for September 15 this year. At the moment, the hashtag #appleevent is one of the top Twitter trends in the United States. Along with the excitement among the tech giant's fan base are dozens of rumors flying back and forth, and one of those has something to do with Apple Watch Series 3.
Early rumors say that the event will mainly focus on two products, the new iPad Air and the new Apple Watch hardware, which include the Apple Watch Series 6. There were also some reports that the Cupertino-based company is preparing a replacement for the Apple Watch Series 3.
This report has put buyers who have set their eyes on Apple Watch 3 in a dilemma. Should you buy Apple Watch Series 3 now amid rumors of a new replacement, or should you just wait until the dust settles on Apple's September 15 event to make an informed decision?
Apple Watch Series 3 entered the scene in 2017 and was introduced by Apple as a significant update of existing Apple wearables at the time. Among its notable characteristics was its cellular connectivity, the first Apple Watch to feature such. It also had Apple's S3 processor, which brought substantial speed improvements to the entire watchOS experience.
Since that time, Apple Watch Series 3 became the focal point among the "wearables" lineup of Apple. Today, the innovative wearable is available for $199 for models without GPS and $299 for those with GPS and Cellular. Research firms say that the Apple Watch Series 3 accounts for a huge percentage of the wearable business of Apple.
However, with the impending release of the Apple Watch Series 6, it now appears that the Apple Watch Series 3 has reached retirement age. The then much-vaunted S3 processor that powers the Series 3 is not up to the task required by several watchOS features available today in Apple's late-model wearables. Its box design appears especially dated when compared to the designs on the modern Apple Watch Series 4 and later models.
The scheduled release of the Apple Watch Series 6 on September 15 makes it difficult for customers to buy Apple Watch Series 3. This is further complicated by rumors that Apple will also feature a lower-end Apple Watch that will serve as the Series 3's direct replacement.
A report by Bloomberg states that Apple is set to release Apple Watch SE, a lower-end Apple Watch, within the year. According to the news publication, the Apple Watch Series 3 replacement is the company's answer to lower-cost wearables such as those made by Fitbit. "The new Apple Watch lineup will include a successor to the Apple Watch Series 5 and a replacement for the Series 3 that will compete with lower-cost fitness devices such as those from Fitbit Inc," Bloomberg's Mark Gurman wrote.
