iPhone SE (2017) incompatibility with Apple Watch SE setup

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iPhone SE (2017) incompatibility with Apple Watch SE setup

I own an iPhone SE (2017), it is running iOS 15. From this article from Apple I reckon this phone should be able to setup an Apple Watch SE running watchOS 10.8

Apple Watch and iPhone compatibility - Apple Support

Unfortunately the phone complaints that I need more recent iOS

The help article proposed with the error message says “To set up and use a new Apple Watch, you need iPhone XS or later with iOS 18."

How is this compatible with the statement of the first link saying an Apple Watch SE can work with an iPhone 6s or later such as my iPhone SE?

Any way to setup an Apple Watch SE on iPhone SE at this point?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on Jan 5, 2025 7:35 AM

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Answer 1

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Ingo2711

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Jan 5, 2025 7:56 AM in response to foice.news

The first article refers to the Apple Watch SE having watchOS 9 installed, when this model has been introduced.

But, newly sold Apple Watches are always updated to the latest watchOS, in the case of an Apple Watch SE 1st. Gen the latest version of watchOS 10.

Sorry, but there is no other way than pairing it to an iPhone that can install iOS 16 or later.

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Answer 2

foice.news Author

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Jan 5, 2025 4:35 PM in response to Ingo2711

Thanks for chiming in. The first article says that watch SE (1st gen) can run up to 10.8 and works with phone iOS 14. I have the impression you are talking about Apple Watch SE 2nd gen, mine is 1st gen.

I have an apple watch se 1st gen and iphone se 1st gen, which is later than iphone 6s and can run iOS 15, seemingly compatible with apple watch se 1st gen and watch os 10.8 (that is the latest it can run, this watch cannot be updated to watch os 11).

Any way to pair Apple Watch SE 1st gen wartch os 10.8 to iPhone SE 1st gen running iOS 15?

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iPhone SE (2017) incompatibility with Apple Watch SE setup

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