Buying Apple Watch on Facebook Marketplace

Apple Watches are compact, easy to verify, and depreciate faster than iPhones—which makes them great Marketplace finds. But the small size means issues can hide easily. Here’s what to check.

Know your models

Apple Watch models can look nearly identical. Verify exactly what you’re getting.

On the watch: Settings → General → About → Model Name

Current lineup (2026):

• Apple Watch Ultra 2: Largest, most rugged, best battery
• Series 10: Latest mainstream model, thinner design
• Series 9: Previous gen, still excellent
• SE (2nd gen): Budget option, no always-on display
• Series 7/8: Great value on secondary market
• Series 6 and older: Aging but functional for basics

Activation Lock: The #1 issue with used watches

This catches more buyers than anything else. A watch paired to someone’s iPhone can’t be used by anyone else.

What you should see: When you turn on an unpaired Apple Watch, it shows the “Pair with iPhone” screen—a swirling particle animation waiting to connect.

Red flags:

• Watch shows a clock face (still paired to someone)
• Watch asks for a passcode
• Watch shows “Activation Lock” screen

How to properly unpair: The seller needs their original iPhone. On the iPhone:

1. Watch app → My Watch → All Watches
2. Tap the (i) next to the watch
3. Tap “Unpair Apple Watch”
4. Confirm and enter Apple ID password

If the seller “already unpaired it” but the watch doesn’t show the pairing screen, they didn’t do it correctly. That watch is likely unusable. We’d walk away immediately.

GPS vs Cellular: Know what you’re paying for

Cellular models cost $100 more new. They have a subtle difference:

How to identify:

• Cellular models have a red ring around the Digital Crown
• Check Settings → General → About → Model for “GPS” or “GPS + Cellular”

Do you actually need cellular? Honestly, most people don’t. You need:

• A separate watch plan ($10/month from your carrier)
• To actually leave your phone behind regularly

GPS-only handles 95% of use cases. Save the money unless you specifically need standalone connectivity.

Battery health

watchOS shows battery health: Settings → Battery → Battery Health

Maximum Capacity	What it means
90-100%	Excellent
80-89%	Good—normal for 1-2 year old watch
Below 80%	Degraded—shorter battery life, may need replacement

Apple Watch battery replacement costs $99. Factor this into older watches with low battery health.

Physical inspection

Display:

• Check for scratches (aluminum models scratch easily without screen protectors)
• Look for cracks, especially around edges
• Test for dead pixels with a white watch face
• Verify touch responsiveness across the entire screen

Sensors (back of watch):

• The sensor array should be clean and uncracked
• Cracked sensors affect heart rate and health monitoring
• Look for corrosion or green oxidation

Digital Crown:

• Rotate it—should be smooth with no grittiness
• Press it—should click firmly
• Gritty or stuck crowns usually mean debris buildup (sometimes fixable, sometimes not)

Side Button:

• Should click firmly
• Test double-click to see Apple Pay animation

Band connectors:

• Slide a band in and out
• Should click securely with no wobble
• Damaged connectors mean bands won’t stay attached

Test the health features

Apple Watch’s real value is health tracking. Make sure it works.

Heart rate:

1. Put on the watch snugly
2. Open Heart Rate app
3. Should show a reading within 10-15 seconds

Blood oxygen (Series 6+):

1. Open Blood Oxygen app
2. Stay still for 15 seconds
3. Should complete the measurement

If health features won’t work, the sensors are likely damaged. That’s a pass from us.

Counterfeit Apple Watches exist

Yes, really. They’re getting better but still detectable.

How to spot fakes:

• watchOS looks slightly off (janky animations, wrong fonts)
• Can’t sign into Apple ID
• No “Pair with iPhone” integration—uses generic Bluetooth instead
• Back sensor array looks different from genuine
• Serial number doesn’t validate on Apple’s site

Verify the serial number: Settings → General → About → Serial Number

Check at Apple’s Check Coverage. Fakes either won’t validate or show a different product entirely.

What’s a fair price?

Early 2026 Marketplace prices for good condition:

Model	GPS	GPS + Cellular
Ultra 2	N/A	$550-650
Series 10 (41mm)	$300-375	$375-450
Series 10 (45mm)	$350-425	$425-500
Series 9 (41mm)	$225-300	$300-375
Series 9 (45mm)	$275-350	$350-425
SE 2nd gen	$150-200	$200-250
Series 8	$200-275	$275-350
Series 7	$150-225	$225-300

Prices for aluminum. Stainless steel and titanium add $100-200.

Bands: What’s actually worth something

Worth paying extra for:

• Milanese Loop: $50-80 used
• Leather bands: $30-50 used
• Stainless steel link bracelet: $150-250 used

Nearly worthless used:

• Sport bands: $5-15
• Generic third-party bands

If a listing includes expensive bands, that adds real value. Sport bands? Not so much.

Quick verification checklist

• Watch shows “Pair with iPhone” screen (not locked)
• Settings → About matches the listing
• Battery health above 80%
• Digital Crown rotates smoothly
• Heart rate sensor works
• Display has no dead pixels or cracks
• Serial number validates on Apple’s site
• GPS/Cellular matches what you’re paying for

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