Apple is the undisputed champion of long software support, last proven by iOS 27, which will land on everything from the iPhone 11 to the iPhone 17. That’s why the news that watchOS 27 won’t make it to a long list of Apple Watch models was such a big surprise. Unfortunately, the reason for that culling was just officially revealed and there’s nothing surprising about it.
Older Apple Watch models don’t have the horsepower to run watchOS 27
Older Apple Watch devices won’t get watchOS 27 because they can’t offer the necessary performance to run everything smoothly. That was confirmed by the Apple Watch and Health product marketing manager Cait Dooley, who told TechRadar that Siri AI and other features need more processing power.
With every software release across every single one of our platforms, we always want to ensure that you have the best experience, so we make power and performance a priority.
Cait Dooley, Apple Watch and Health product marketing manager, June 2026
Apple is cutting models released over three years with watchOS 27, including the first-generation Apple Watch Ultra, which launched in 2022 for $799. The new software will only run on Apple Watch Series 9 and newer, Apple Watch Ultra 2 and newer, and the Apple Watch SE 3.
What watchOS 27 feature would you like to get on your Apple Watch?
Of course it’s because of the AI
watchOS 27 gets a new dynamic app grid with Siri AI in the centre. | Image by Apple
Apple’s idea for watchOS 27 wasn’t just to fix the mess that watchOS 26 left behind. According to David Clark, senior director of watchOS software engineering, one goal was to “expand the intelligence story on Apple Watch” by making it “true co-partner to Apple Intelligence.”
Recommended For You
That goal is led by the belief that the most convenient way to interact with Siri AI is with nothing else than an Apple Watch. Apple sees the wearable as the first point of contact with the digital assistant because it’s on your wrist and already has a microphone installed.
We really wanted to make sure the Siri experience is a singular and consistent experience, whether I decide to ask Siri on my wrist a question, or whether I have my phone in my hand and I decide to interact with Siri there. We really wanted to feel like it’s one Siri, that has access to your data and is able to personalize it in a consistent way.
David Clark, Apple senior director of watchOS software engineering, June 2026
So, after “forcing” Apple to raise the prices of the iPhone 18, AI also made the company drop support for three years’ worth of Apple Watches. Of course, there’s no official explanation why older iPhones can have iOS 27 and skip all the Apple Intelligence features, but older watch can’t get the same treatment.
In fact, most users online aren’t mad about not getting the new Siri AI features. On Reddit, Apple Watch Ultra owners mostly say they’re dissatisfied with the fact that they’ll be stuck with watchOS 26 and won’t get the performance upgrades coming with the new software.
At least there are the security updates
The original Apple Watch Ultra will still be able to connect with new iPhones. | Image by PhoneArena
If nothing else, the newly dropped watches will at least continue to receive security updates. They will also still be able to pair with iPhones that run iOS 27, so they won’t suddenly turn into e-waste.
This will likely be welcomed for owners of some of the older and lower-tier devices that Apple will drop, such as the Apple Watch SE 2, Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch Series 7. However, just like the original Ultra model, the Apple Watch Series 8 launched in 2022 and is losing support just four years later.
Technically, that’s because Apple only updates the Apple Watch chipsets once every three years. Even though the company used to announce “new” processors every year, the underlying tech wasn’t changing that often. That’s why the S6, S7, and S8 processors are the same, just like the S9 and S10 are the same. Last year was the first time Apple didn’t bother to rebrand its chip, making it look like the most recent lineup was the first to use the previous year’s chip.
AI is ruining everything
After making so many consumer tech products prohibitively more expensive and flooding our devices with questionable features, AI is also stripping our aging gadgets from software support. I hoped that Apple would be spared from the craze, but apparently two years of being behind on the craze are enough. Unfortunately, consumers will have to pay the price, and we can only pray that there’s at least some added value to it all.
Get Visible as low as $20/mo for 1 year. Limited time offer with code: FRESHSTART
$20
/mo
$25
$5 off (20%)
Offer Ends 6.1.2026 at 11.59pm ET. New members get $5/mo off the $25/mg Visible plan, $35/mo Visible+ plan, or $45/mo Visible+ Pro plan for the first 12 months. Promo code FRESHSTART required at checkout.
Ilia, a tech journalist at PhoneArena, has been covering the mobile industry since 2011, with experience at outlets like Forbes Bulgaria. Passionate about smartphones, tablets, and consumer tech, he blends deep industry knowledge with a personal fascination that began with his first Nokia and Sony Ericsson devices. Originally from Bulgaria and now based in Lima, Peru, Ilia balances his tech obsessions with walking his dog, training at the gym, and slowly mastering Spanish.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: