Here’s why Apple is already dropping support for so many watches in watchOS 27
Is Your Apple Watch About to Become Obsolete? Here’s the Scoop on watchOS 27
Apple recently took the stage at its Worldwide Developers Conference to unveil watchOS 27, slated to arrive on your wrists this fall. While the update brings exciting new features, there’s a bit of a sting in the tail for long-time users. Apple is officially trimming its support list, and quite a few popular models are getting the axe.
Most notably, the original Apple Watch Ultra—a rugged, $799 powerhouse that only hit shelves in 2022—won’t be getting the update. For those who invested heavily in that device, this feels like a premature exit from the ecosystem.
When the software drops this September, these “legacy” devices will be restricted to essential security patches rather than the full feature set of watchOS 27. Curious about the reasoning, TechRadar caught up with Apple’s Health Product Marketing Manager, Cait Dooley. Her explanation centered on performance:
“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. The great new features in watchOS, including the capabilities of Siri AI and the new tap gesture, work best with the processing power that is in Apple Watch Series 9 and later, Ultra 2 and later, and SE 3.”
In short, Apple is prioritizing the advanced AI-driven features and gesture controls that demand serious hardware overhead. If you’re currently rocking an Apple Watch Series 8, the first-gen Ultra, or an older SE model, you aren’t being locked out entirely—your watch will still pair with your iPhone and keep running—but you won’t be getting the latest software bells and whistles.
It’s the classic tech trade-off: Apple is betting that you’d rather have a smooth, stable experience on newer hardware than a sluggish one on older silicon. If you’ve been waiting for a reason to upgrade to the latest gear, this might just be the push you needed.
