It’s different on iOS. Those doesn’t rely on Apple Intelligence to run. Hence it’s supported on iPhone 11 and iPhone 12. watchOS 27 is different that is fully reliant on Apple Intelligence to run.
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Apple Explains Why watchOS 27 Drops Support for So Many Models
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applyr
macrumors regular
Meanwhile iPhones weaker than the 15 Pro can’t run any Apple Intelligence for two iOS versions yet they’re still releasing updates 😂
NUFC2025
macrumors 6502a
Some of mine are over 50 years old and no updates needed or charging every day.
As several people have already pointed out, this is incorrect.Except. Apple has cut off older WatchOS support in iOS before and they can do so again next year or whenever to say you can't even pair the watch with the iPhone.
So, no, it isn't like AirPods.
Apple Watch and iPhone compatibility - Apple Support
Find out which versions of iPhone, iOS, and watchOS work with your Apple Watch.support.apple.com
Even to this day, you can still pair an iPhone 17 Pro Max running iOS 26 with an Apple Watch series zero from 2015 that has been stuck on watchOS 5 for 7 years.
You will very likely be able to pair an Apple Watch Ultra first generation with an iPhone 26 Pro Max running iOS 34.6.2 or whatever, a decade from now.
thadoggfather
macrumors P6
Yeah I don’t understand why they couldn’t just wall off the AI stuff for older devices while still allowing for watch os 27
Feels extraordinarily scummy
Naraxus
macrumors 68030
Just as I suspected. The article comments are well thought out, rational, and free from emotion.... 👏
EddyGraphic
macrumors newbie
BS excuse, not everyone needs AI and they know it that’s why iPhones older than the 15 got iOS 27 without AI features, they could’ve done the same with the watches.
Apple today detailed why five Apple Watch models will miss out on watchOS 27 and the new Siri AI features that come with it.
The Apple Watch Series 6, 7, 8, SE 2, and the original Apple Watch Ultra will not receive watchOS 27, and will only get basic security updates going forward. With the update, Apple is effectively dropping three years' worth of device support in a single software update, which is unprecedented for the product line.
Speaking to TechRadar, Cait Dooley, Apple Watch and Health product marketing manager, said performance requirements were behind the cutoff:
Dooley added that older watches paired with an iPhone running the latest software will keep working and will continue to receive security updates.
David Clark, senior director of watchOS software engineering, said one of the goals of watchOS 27 was to "expand the intelligence story on Apple Watch and make it a true co-partner to Apple Intelligence." He described the watch as often "the most convenient way to interact with Siri," since it's on the wrist all day and useful for quick questions when hands are full:
Clark used the example of asking Siri on Apple Watch for a recipe's ingredients while grocery shopping with both hands full, then later pulling up the same list on the iPhone in an easier-to-read format. He called that handoff a "superpower."
watchOS 27 is currently available in beta to developers, with a public beta expected next month ahead of official release in the fall.
Article Link: Apple Explains Why watchOS 27 Drops Support for So Many Models
Padaung
macrumors 6502a
I spent $800 on a watch back in 2010. I wear it every day and the timekeeping is still great. It is 100% mechanical though, so every time there are fewer than 31 days in a month I roll with the wrong date for a few days until I remember to adjust it 🤣
actcyclist
macrumors 6502
The only thing from the OS27 update that seems really important to me is the performance improvements. People are reporting iOS27 is improving their older iPhones, it’s a shame Apple chose to leave out the watch.
So they can make a version of iOS without the additional intelligence features but not for the watch? All seems a little sus to me.
There is just no point in an AW. After so many years it just kept being a disappointment.
just disable siri ai on older apple watches lol. and i dont believe siri will run on device on new apple watches.
I'm not proposing that anyone keep a Series 0 for any real usage, but comparing it to a Rolex that only has the ability to tell the time (in 2 time zones), a Series 0 would certainly be able to do the same thing, for quite some time into the future.
Apple certainly won't service them, but I'm sure third party companies would.
Sezel
macrumors member
Greed.
The unsupported watches can't handle "Greed". It's a major and essential feature.
If experience is their priority then should have released iOS 27 for iPhone 17 Air/Pro/Max only because they are the only ones that have all features.
It's all little tricks played by Apple. It took them so many years to give the base iPhone a 120Hz display and will take many more to give on all Mac and iPad models.
With RAM also same story, because they know that bells and whistles of a Pro models are not enough to sell them so they nerf the base models which are more popular.
The unsupported watches can't handle "Greed". It's a major and essential feature.
If experience is their priority then should have released iOS 27 for iPhone 17 Air/Pro/Max only because they are the only ones that have all features.
It's all little tricks played by Apple. It took them so many years to give the base iPhone a 120Hz display and will take many more to give on all Mac and iPad models.
With RAM also same story, because they know that bells and whistles of a Pro models are not enough to sell them so they nerf the base models which are more popular.
This explanation may be true, and I have no doubt it is, but it speaks to poor product strategy that results in 3 year old devices becoming suddenly obsolete.
The Apple Watch is, already, a poor cost proposition due to its high cost and short life, when compared to a standard watch which people usually keep for decades, not the odd year or two. Apple should have come up with a separate update process for the watches that cannot support the new functions (and, as a side note, I could not care less about them) so that we could expect at least a 5 to 7 year useful life. But to put them, effectively, on life support is inexcusable. I would be very careful about spending any real money on an Apple Watch, especially the Ultra series (and I speak as an owner of the Ultra 2). A basic aluminum version is all you should spend on them at most, and look at a dedicated watch for something a little special. These devices are now disposable electronic 'junk' (may be too strong a word, but not sure how to express it) which provide limited function and life.
The Apple Watch is, already, a poor cost proposition due to its high cost and short life, when compared to a standard watch which people usually keep for decades, not the odd year or two. Apple should have come up with a separate update process for the watches that cannot support the new functions (and, as a side note, I could not care less about them) so that we could expect at least a 5 to 7 year useful life. But to put them, effectively, on life support is inexcusable. I would be very careful about spending any real money on an Apple Watch, especially the Ultra series (and I speak as an owner of the Ultra 2). A basic aluminum version is all you should spend on them at most, and look at a dedicated watch for something a little special. These devices are now disposable electronic 'junk' (may be too strong a word, but not sure how to express it) which provide limited function and life.
Series 6, 7, and 8 and Ultra 1, as has been mentioned, are arm64_32 .
Series 9 is also arm64_32.
If you recall, there was a "marketing error" made in materials initially released the day of WWDC saying that Series 9 would also not be supported in WatchOS 27. But it was then suddenly and magically retracted to say that Series 9 would be supported.
It might end up that even Series 9, with its faster chip than Series 8 and before, might have only adequate but not stellar performance in WatchOS 27.
Series 10 and later are full 64 bit architecture.
I will keep my recently battery replaced Series 8 until there are existing new sensors to upgrade for.
Series 9 is also arm64_32.
If you recall, there was a "marketing error" made in materials initially released the day of WWDC saying that Series 9 would also not be supported in WatchOS 27. But it was then suddenly and magically retracted to say that Series 9 would be supported.
It might end up that even Series 9, with its faster chip than Series 8 and before, might have only adequate but not stellar performance in WatchOS 27.
Series 10 and later are full 64 bit architecture.
I will keep my recently battery replaced Series 8 until there are existing new sensors to upgrade for.
usmaak
macrumors 65816
It's absolute BS that I won't be able to look like a total tool and ask Siri about recipe ingredients on my AW8 while in a grocery store. Whatever will I do without that superpower?? 😂
coolkid93
macrumors 6502
This is such a joke. They could have at least considered supporting series 8 & Ultra 1 users without the Siri AI. For example the iPhone 11 & older iPad models that are over 5+ yrs old still get the new OS. Just not Siri AI and that’s what it about. The fact ultra 1 users for a $1k watch only got 3 years again leaves a bitter taste in a lot of users mouths and may reconsider expensive models moving forward…. They could have supported these watches and didn’t because they want people to buy the new period.
MasterControlProgram
macrumors 6502
Considering how little the Apple Watch changes from year to year I don’t think people upgrade them as often, so this is probably Apple’s way of trying to force people to upgrade.
Considering they’re doing this for their late and over promised AI features I don’t think it’s going to be a very popular choice.
Considering they’re doing this for their late and over promised AI features I don’t think it’s going to be a very popular choice.
Robert.Walter
macrumors 68040
Agreed.
Could have restricted special or resource intensive features on the older watches.
This is just an insultingly cynical way to boost sales while you expect your customers to just accept the nonsense “we do it for the experience”.
Apple is definitely going to take a goodwill hit from this. Whatever the reasons, this feels lousy and unexpected. It's also confusing because they still support the iPhone 11.