watchOS 27 Drops 5 Apple Watch Models: Here's What You Need to Know

Apple announced watchOS 27 at WWDC 2026, and for the first time in years, the compatibility list was a shock. Five previously supported models were cut in one of the largest single-generation compatibility drops in Apple Watch history.

Which Apple Watch Models Are Affected?

watchOS 27 drops support for these five models:

• Apple Watch Series 6 (2020)
• Apple Watch Series 7 (2021)
• Apple Watch Series 8 (2022)
• Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) (2022)
• Apple Watch Ultra (1st generation) (2022)

Only models with the S9 SiP or later are compatible with watchOS 27. The complete list of supported models includes:

• Apple Watch Series 9
• Apple Watch Series 10
• Apple Watch Series 11
• Apple Watch Ultra 2
• Apple Watch Ultra 3
• Apple Watch SE (3rd generation)

Note: The Apple Watch Series 9 was initially and mistakenly omitted from Apple's compatibility page. Apple quickly corrected the error — it is fully supported.

What Do the Dropped Models Still Get?

If you own one of the five affected watches, your device is not completely dead. Apple stated that these models will continue to receive basic security updates going forward.

However, they will not get watchOS 27 or any of its new features — including the redesigned dynamic app grid, upgraded Siri, and other AI-powered capabilities. Your watch will remain usable on watchOS 26, but it will be frozen out of future software improvements.

What Did Apple Cite as the Official Reason?

Apple's official explanation, as reported from Apple Watch product marketing manager Cait Dooley speaking to TechRadar, is a hardware requirement tied to 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." — Cait Dooley, Apple Watch and Health product marketing manager

The cutoff is drawn at the S9 chip and above. Every model that survives on the compatibility list carries Apple's S9 or S10 system-in-package (SiP), which includes a four-core Neural Engine capable of processing machine learning tasks up to two times faster than the previous generation.

The original Apple Watch Ultra uses the S8 SiP (based on the A13 Bionic core), while the S9 SiP is based on the A16 Bionic core. This Neural Engine is essential for the on-device Siri AI features that are a centerpiece of watchOS 27.

How the Compatibility Line Breaks Down

SiP Generation	Included Models	watchOS 27 Support
S9 & S10	Series 9, 10, 11; Ultra 2, 3; SE 3	✅ Supported
S8 & earlier	Series 6, 7, 8; Ultra 1; SE 2	❌ Dropped

Reports also note that the Series 9 gets watchOS 27 but does not get Apple Intelligence features — those require a Series 10 or later, Ultra 2 or later, or SE 3.

Is This the End for Your Watch?

Not quite. Your existing watch will continue to function on watchOS 26, and Apple says basic security updates will arrive for the foreseeable future. But if you want new software features — especially the AI-powered Siri — you will need to upgrade to a newer model with an S9 or S10 chip.

Apple's decision marks the largest one-year purge in Apple Watch history, and it reflects a broader industry shift as wearables require more powerful neural processing to support on-device AI features.