How long do smartwatches get software updates? Based on official policies and historical track records, Apple typically supports an Apple Watch with new watchOS versions for about five years after release, Samsung officially commits to four years of Wear OS updates plus five years of security patches for the Galaxy Watch4 and newer, and Garmin publishes no fixed timeline but has historically delivered feature and maintenance updates for three to five or more years. Those differences matter: a watch that stops receiving updates loses access to new features, app compatibility, and eventually security fixes, which effectively sets the useful lifespan of the device.
- Apple has no published policy but historically supports each Apple Watch for about 5 years of watchOS upgrades
- Samsung is the only one of the three with a formal written commitment: 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security updates
- Garmin has no official timeline, but flagship watches often get new features for years and bug fixes even longer
- Buying at launch, rather than late in a model's life, maximizes your update window
Why update length matters more than most specs
Software support quietly determines how long a smartwatch stays worth wearing. Updates deliver new watch faces and health features, keep companion apps compatible with the latest iOS and Android releases, and patch security vulnerabilities in a device that stores health data and often payment credentials. Once a watch falls off the update list, third-party apps gradually stop working, new phone OS versions can break pairing, and known security flaws go unfixed. That is why the update window — not battery capacity or case material — is often the real ceiling on a watch’s lifespan. (Battery degradation is the other big factor; see our guide to which smartwatches last the longest on a charge.)
Apple Watch: about five years, but no written promise
Apple does not publish a formal support commitment for Apple Watch, so the best guide is its track record — and that track record is consistent. The Series 4 from 2018 received major watchOS upgrades through 2023, roughly five years. The Series 6 from 2020 remained on the supported list into 2025. Even after a model is dropped from new watchOS versions, Apple typically continues shipping security patches for a period afterward.
A few practical notes from Apple’s pattern:
- Budget models are not shortchanged. The Apple Watch SE line has historically received the same watchOS versions as flagship models sold in the same era.
- Some features are hardware-gated. An older watch may run the newest watchOS but miss features that require a newer chip, such as certain Siri or gesture capabilities.
- Phone pairing matters. New watchOS versions require a relatively recent iPhone, so an old paired phone can end updates early.
If you’re setting up a new or hand-me-down model, our walkthrough on setting up an Apple Watch for the first time covers checking for updates during pairing.
Samsung Galaxy Watch: the clearest official policy
Samsung is the only brand of the three with a formal, published commitment. Since the Galaxy Watch4 moved the lineup to Wear OS in 2021, Samsung has promised four years of One UI Watch / Wear OS version updates and five years of security updates from each model’s launch. That means a Galaxy Watch bought at release has a well-defined support horizon — for example, a 2024 model should receive OS updates into 2028 and security patches into 2029.
Two caveats apply. First, the clock starts at the model’s launch date, not your purchase date, so buying a two-year-old Galaxy Watch means inheriting a shortened window. Second, older Tizen-based models (Galaxy Watch3 and earlier) are outside this policy and have largely reached end of feature support.
Garmin: no policy, but a long practical tail
Garmin takes a different approach. It publishes no fixed update commitment, but because its watches run Garmin’s own lightweight OS rather than a full smartphone-style platform, updates are less about annual OS versions and more about rolling feature releases. Historically, flagship lines like the Fenix and Forerunner have received new features for three to five years, followed by an extended period of bug fixes and maintenance updates. User reports and published reviews frequently note Garmin adding features to watches several years old — but the flip side is that there is no guarantee, and mid-range or budget models tend to see shorter feature windows than flagships.
Garmin’s model also ages more gracefully offline: a Garmin without updates keeps tracking runs and syncing data far longer than an app-dependent Wear OS watch, because it leans less on a third-party app ecosystem.
Apple vs. Samsung vs. Garmin at a glance
| Brand | Official policy | Typical OS/feature updates | Security/maintenance tail | Clock starts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch | None published | ~5 years (historical average) | Security patches continue after watchOS support ends | Model launch |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch (Wear OS) | Yes — written commitment | 4 years of OS updates | 5 years of security updates | Model launch |
| Garmin | None published | ~3-5+ years of feature updates (flagships longest) | Bug fixes often continue well beyond feature updates | Model launch |
What actually happens when updates end
A smartwatch does not stop working the day support ends. The decline is gradual:
- Feature freeze. The watch keeps its current capabilities but gets nothing new.
- App attrition. Developers target newer OS versions, and third-party apps stop installing or updating.
- Compatibility breaks. A future phone OS update can disrupt pairing or sync, with no fix coming.
- Security exposure. Newly discovered vulnerabilities go unpatched — a real concern for a device handling health data and contactless payments.
Update support also interacts with battery health: a watch may still receive software long after its battery fades, so pairing a long support window with good charging habits pays off. Our 12 proven battery life tips can help the hardware keep pace with the software.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to keep using a smartwatch that no longer gets updates?
It still works, but risk grows over time. The biggest concerns are unpatched security vulnerabilities and eventual compatibility breaks with your phone. If you use contactless payments or store sensitive health data on the watch, an out-of-support device is a weaker link. For basic fitness tracking with no payments, the practical risk is lower.
Does buying a discounted older model shorten my update window?
Yes. All three brands effectively count support from the model’s launch date, not your purchase date. A Galaxy Watch bought two years after release has roughly two years of OS updates left, not four. Deep discounts on aging models are often less of a bargain than they look.
Which brand supports its watches the longest?
Apple has the strongest historical record at roughly five years of OS upgrades plus a security tail, though it makes no formal promise. Samsung offers the strongest guarantee — four years of OS updates and five of security patches in writing. Garmin can match or exceed both on flagship models, but with no commitment, outcomes vary by model.
Do software updates ever remove features or hurt battery life?
Occasionally an update changes or drops a feature, and user feedback sometimes reports temporary battery regressions after major updates, usually fixed in follow-up patches. On balance, published reviews and manufacturer changelogs show updates adding far more than they take away — including new health capabilities delivered to existing hardware.