Another WWDC, another set of operating systems. This year’s WWDC 2026 keynote has been chock-full of highly-advanced AI-powered features, led by a revamped Siri AI designed to work across the whole Apple ecosystem — but these advanced features need devices capable of running them.
Because Apple updates its software each year, users of older versions of the best iPhones, Macbooks and, of course, the best Apple Watches worry their old technology may not get the new update, and thus official support for it would end.
Although there was no mention of compatibility in this year’s keynote speech, the official Apple website confirms it will end support for a mammoth six watches, presumably because those models can’t handle the new Siri AI. Here are the watches that will still be supported when watchOS 27 lands later this year:
Which watches will get watchOS 27?
The full list of compatible models are as follows:
- Apple Watch Series 10
- Apple Watch Series 11
- Apple Watch Ultra 2
- Apple Watch Ultra 3
- Apple Watch SE 3
These are the models without support for watchOS 27:
- Apple Watch Series 6
- Apple Watch Series 7
- Apple Watch Series 8
- Apple Watch Series 9
- Apple Watch Ultra
- Apple Watch SE 2
The Apple Watch Series’ 6, 7, 8 and 9, the latter of which is just three years old, seem to have been officially retired, and do not appear on Apple’s list of compatible devices. Users running those watches will not receive any further software updates. The first-generation Apple Watch Ultra, which is only four years old, and Apple Watch SE 2 are also included in this list.
This will be a blow to so many users. Traditionally, Apple has ended support for watches after six or so years, not three — to place this in context, last year’s watchOS 26 supported Apple Watch Series 6, which was originally released in 2020.
First-generation Apple Watch Ultra users will also be incredibly irate — spending $799 / £849 / AU$1229 on a watch that was only supported for four years will be seen as a very predatory move by Apple, and may drive some customers away to competitors like Garmin. After an exciting WWDC speech for AI fans, this news will leave a sour taste.
All the above watches’ core features will still work, although users will run into problems as the watches reach the end of their lives. For example, you may be unable to update apps which are designed to work with the latest software features.
Series 10 is now the oldest watch to receive software updates.
How to download the watchOS 27 beta
If you do have a supported watch and can’t wait until September to try out all the new features, you can sign up to beta test Apple’s latest OS. To do so, you’ll need to enrol in Apple’s beta program, which you can do either on Apple’s developer portal here for the developer beta, or wait until the public beta next month, which most users will want to do. Remember to always back up your devices before doing so.
On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates, , and action the software update when available.
Once the update is installed, you can go to the Watch app on your phone and use a similar pathway: My Watch > General > Software Update > Beta updates, enter your passcode and away you go.
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matt.evans@futurenet.com (Matt Evans)
