watchOS 11 Allegedly Drops Support for Apple Watch Series 4, Series 5, and Original SE

[MacRumors]

While rumors suggest that iOS 18, macOS 15, and tvOS 18 will largely be compatible with the same iPhone, Mac, and Apple TV models as the current versions of each platform are, it could be a much different story for watchOS 11.

In a post on social media platform X today, a proven leaker claimed that watchOS 11 will drop support for the Apple Watch Series 4 from 2018, Apple Watch Series 5 from 2019, and first-generation Apple Watch SE from 2020. The update would be compatible with all other models, including the Apple Watch Series 6 and beyond.

Even though the Series 5 has an S5 chip, it has the same processor as the S4 chip in the Series 4, so it would not be too surprising if Apple dropped support for these models simultaneously. Key changes with the Series 5 compared to the Series 4 included an always-on display option, increased storage, and a compass.

The leaker who revealed this information has a private account on X, so we have elected not to share its name or link to it, but they have shared accurate compatibility information and build numbers for Apple's software updates in the past.

We'll find out official watchOS compatibility details during the WWDC keynote in just a few hours.

Article Link: watchOS 11 Allegedly Drops Support for Apple Watch Series 4, Series 5, and Original SE

 

[DMG35]

My Ceramic Series 5 will be devastated. Although it struggles mightily WatchOS 10 anyway.

 

[salz4life]

I'm still happy with my Series 4 so it's disappointing, but not unexpected to me.

 

[contacos]

I care so little about the watch nowadays, I just had to google to remind myself which one I have 😅 Series 6 apparently so phew

 

[vertsix]

So does this mean that Apple will drop S6, S7, and S8-based watches in one get go in the future? They're all based on the A13's E-cores. This would be abhorrent.

 

[brofkand]

I thought the Series 5-8 all had the same SIP.

I sold mine anyway, it was just one more thing to keep charged every night even though I really didn't use it for anything except to tell time and as a pedometer. I like my fitbit better. I charge it once every other week or so.

 

[vertsix]

I'm still happy with my Series 4 so it's disappointing, but not unexpected to me.

They're trying to make you get a new one.

 

[GLS]

My Ceramic Series 5 will be devastated. Although it struggles mightily WatchOS 10 anyway.

Co-sign.

Glad I got it replaced last fall when the battery life went below 80%. I still wear it once a week or so.

 

[rotvaldi]

Doubt SE 2020 too soon

 

[eltoslightfoot]

I thought the Series 5-8 all had the same SIP.

I sold mine anyway, it was just one more thing to keep charged every night even though I really didn't use it for anything except to tell time and as a pedometer. I like my fitbit better. I charge it once every other week or so.

Which one did you get?

Can you manage media playing on your phone with it? Like podcasts or apple music?

 

[TheNewLou]

Doubt SE 2020 too soon

This would be Planned Obsolescence Pro tactics

 

[scrapesleon]

Makes sense if u cutting off the series 4 cut the 5 as well

 

[EugW]

More important to me is which iPhone models are supported. WatchOS 11 will support many old iPhones for quite some time.

 

[mcru21]

RIP SE 😔

 

[coffeemilktea]

My first-generation SE is still working extremely well and it's been reliable as heck, but I guess it's not ready for this high-tech future filled with things like... AI generated custom emojis...?

It's a great device but clearly it can no longer keep up with the demands of the future. 😩

 

[Moriakum]

I never thought my SE would lose support just after 4 years, but anyway, it is what it is.

 

[No5tromo]

Bought my SE less than 3 years ago. Lesson learned, don't get anything SE ever again and stop listening to online reviewers. As if the lack of fast charging and on-screen keyboard were not bad enough now they have decided to drop support way too early. I was almost certain that I was gonna get at least another year of updates.

 

[satchmo]

I still haven't upgraded to watchOS 10 because of some of the changes they made.

 

[DocMultimedia]

Just because you can’t do a software update you don’t need to buy a new watch. Apple is not forcing you to do that.

 

[brofkand]

Which one did you get?

Can you manage media playing on your phone with it? Like podcasts or apple music?

Do you mean the fitbit? I have the Inspire 3. It is not a smart watch, it is a fitness tracker. It alerts me to incoming notifications from my phone (calls, texts, etc), but that's it. It doesn't even have GPS. When I start a jogging or walking workout, it uses my phone's GPS to plot the map. Fitbit makes more sophisticated models with more features but this one has what I was looking for.

 

[svish]

Will be disappointing if my Series 5 is not getting the update!

 

[headlessmike]

I thought the Series 5-8 all had the same SIP

No, the S4 and S5 ute the same A12 based cores while the S6, S7, and S8 share cores from the A13. The current S9 is based on the A16.

 

[JDHiro]

I have an SE, and they came out in 2020... I think I got mine in 2021. That seems like a REALLY short cycle if true.

I only use a smart watch at the gym, so I don't really care about anything other than workout tracking. As long as old WatchOS keeps working with new iOS I guess it doesn't matter much to me.

 

[clarkm]

I thought the Series 5-8 all had the same SIP.

*series 6-8

 

[pig pile]

Not going to play Apple's game with the Watch. Personally I view this planned obsolesence policy fine with understandably replaceable commodities like computers, but to drop support for a watch is breaking some sort of covenant with me. It's a watch, lol. How hard can it be to keep a person on staff to spend an hr or so every few months sending out security updates to the AW4 every now and then? Will wear mine until the battery becomes too much of a hassle then junk it and move on.