Apple’s watchOS 27 arrives this fall carrying one of the biggest leaps in Apple Watch intelligence yet: a dedicated Siri AI app, a redesigned dynamic app grid and deeper integration with Apple Intelligence across your devices. But a significant portion of Apple Watch owners won’t see any of it. Here’s why many Apple Watch models won’t get watchOS 27.
Why 5 Apple Watch models won’t get watchOS 27
Apple confirmed this week that five models — the Apple Watch Series 6, 7, 8, SE 2 and first-generation Apple Watch Ultra — will not receive watchOS 27, and will only get basic security updates going forward, according to a report in TechRadar.
With the update, Apple basically drops three years’ worth of device support in one software update. That hasn’t happened before with Apple Watch.
What watchOS 27 actually brings to your wrist
Photo: Apple
Before getting into the compatibility question, it helps to understand what’s at stake. David Clark, Apple’s senior director of watchOS software engineering, told TechRadar that one of the team’s central goals with watchOS 27 was to turn the Apple Watch into “a true co-partner to Apple Intelligence.”
So the watch — sitting on your wrist all day, always ready — functions as a first point of contact. And a wearable like that offers a convenient place to house a microphone for asking Siri questions.
Clark described a seamless Siri handoff between devices as a “superpower.” Ask it something on your wrist, then pick it up later on another device.
watchOS 27 also brings a new dynamic app grid, improvements to Workout Buddy and more.
Which Apple Watch models support watchOS 27
The full list of Apple Watch models compatible with watchOS 27: Apple Watch SE (3rd generation), Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Apple Watch Ultra 3.
If your watch appears on that list, you can expect the complete watchOS 27 experience, including Siri AI, when the update rolls out to everyone this fall.
Which models miss out — and why
Photo: Apple
watchOS 27 drops support for the Apple Watch Series 6, Series 7 and Series 8, along with the Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) and the first-generation Apple Watch Ultra.
Apple Watch and Health Product Marketing Manager Cait Dooley addressed the exclusions directly, pointing to processing power as the deciding factor.
“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,” she said.
That chip boundary matters: Series 9 introduced Apple’s S9 chip, and the SE 3 carries its own upgraded silicon. Apple neither confirmed nor denied it explicitly, but the cutoff strongly suggests Apple Watches running the S9 and S10 chips can handle the technical demands of Siri AI while older chips can’t.
What older Apple Watch owners can still do
If your Apple Watch lands on the unsupported list, the news isn’t all grim. Dooley confirmed that older watches paired with an iPhone running the latest software will keep working and will continue to receive security updates.
You’ll still get core Apple Watch functionality, and your watch will continue talking to a Siri AI-powered iPhone — you just won’t run the new Siri AI features natively on the watch itself.
When does watchOS 27 arrive
watchOS 27 currently sits in developer beta. A public beta arrives in July, with the full release coming to all compatible Apple Watch models in the fall.
If you own an Apple Watch Series 8, SE 2, or original Ultra and want to access the full watchOS 27 feature set, this would be the year to consider upgrading to at least a Series 9 or SE 3.
David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
