Apple cuts off nearly a million watches from latest OS update
Older Apple Watch models lose support for watchOS 27, forcing upgrades
1Major compatibility shift
Apple's watchOS 27 update has excluded support for five recent Apple Watch models including the SE 2, Series 6-8, and original Ultra. This marks a significant reduction in supported devices compared to previous updates, leaving only 2023's Series 9 and Ultra 2 as the oldest compatible models. The sudden cutoff affects potentially millions of devices that were running watchOS 26 without issues.
2Technical rationale
The division appears tied to the S9 chip generation, which powers the supported Series 9 and Ultra 2 models. The S9's 4-core Neural Engine offers twice the machine learning performance of previous chips, suggesting hardware requirements for new AI features like Siri AI. However, the SE 3's inclusion despite lacking the S9 chip indicates other factors may be at play in Apple's decision-making process.
3WWDC foreshadowing
The limited support was subtly hinted at during June's WWDC, where Apple spent less than a minute discussing watchOS 27 during the keynote. This minimal attention contrasted sharply with previous years' more extensive watchOS presentations, suggesting reduced focus on older hardware. The compatibility list confusion was compounded by initial omissions of supported models from Apple's website.
4Impacted models
The update cuts off support for the Apple Watch SE (2nd gen), Series 6 (2020), Series 7 (2021), Series 8 (2022), and original Ultra (2022). These devices, some just two years old, now join Apple's 'vintage' product category. Notably, the Series 6 introduced blood oxygen monitoring while the Ultra brought rugged durability - features now stranded on outdated software.
5Supported devices
watchOS 27 maintains compatibility with the SE 3, Series 9 (2023), Series 10-12, and Ultra 2-4. The exception of the SE 3 (using the S8 chip) breaks the clean S9 processor cutoff pattern. Apple's documentation initially omitted the Series 9 from compatibility lists before confirming its support, creating temporary confusion about the update's scope.
6Consumer implications
Owners of excluded watches face losing access to new features like enhanced Siri AI and the refined Smart Stack interface. More critically, they'll miss future security updates, potentially rendering devices obsolete for practical use. This move accelerates Apple's typical 5-7 year support timeline, pushing users toward newer hardware sooner than expected.
7Market strategy
The aggressive cutoff coincides with Apple's launch of the Series 12, creating clear upgrade incentives. By making relatively recent models obsolete, Apple stands to boost sales of newer watches. This approach mirrors Apple's iOS support policies but represents a notable tightening of watchOS compatibility standards compared to previous generations.
8Industry precedent
Apple's move follows broader tech industry trends of shortening product lifecycles through software limitations. However, cutting support for devices just 2-3 years old sets a new benchmark for planned obsolescence in wearables. The decision risks alienating customers who expected longer support periods for premium-priced devices like the Ultra series.
Original article: Macworld — Apple cuts off nearly a million watches from latest OS update