Apple has officially excluded five older Apple Watch models from the upcoming watchOS 27 update, citing the hardware-intensive demands of new artificial intelligence features. According to company officials, the decision centers on the processing power required to run the latest Siri AI enhancements and advanced gesture controls, which exceed the capabilities of the S8 chip and older processors.
Which Apple Watch models are losing support?
The watchOS 27 update will not be available for the Apple Watch Series 6, Series 7, Series 8, the second-generation Apple Watch SE, or the first-generation Apple Watch Ultra. Apple confirmed these models lack the necessary architecture to support the new software features.
Industry reports suggest that the S9 system-in-package (SiP) has become the new baseline for Apple’s wearable AI integration. While the company has not publicly released a full technical breakdown, the exclusion of the first-generation Ultra—a device marketed as a premium, long-term product—has drawn criticism from users who expected a longer cycle of feature updates.
Can older watches still function without the update?
Users of the excluded models will not see their devices lose core functionality. Apple stated that these watches will continue to receive critical security patches and software stability updates, maintaining their current level of performance.
However, users will be unable to access the native Siri AI features or the new interface enhancements bundled with watchOS 27. To bridge this gap, Apple noted that users can still leverage Siri AI capabilities by pairing their older watches with a compatible iPhone, allowing the phone to handle the intensive processing tasks while the watch functions as a secondary interface.
Historically, Apple has provided software support for its watches for roughly four to five years. The exclusion of the Series 8, released in 2022, marks a shift toward a faster hardware-obsolescence cycle driven by the aggressive adoption of on-device generative AI.
Why is hardware acceleration vital for wearable AI?
The shift toward AI-integrated operating systems requires significantly more neural engine performance than traditional watchOS tasks. According to Apple’s technical disclosures, the new Siri AI requires low-latency, on-device processing to ensure that gestures and voice commands feel instantaneous.
Prior to this update, most watchOS features relied on cloud-based processing or light local compute. The requirement for the S9 chip indicates that Apple is prioritizing local Neural Engine capacity, which allows the device to process complex language models without relying solely on an active internet connection or draining battery life by offloading tasks to an iPhone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my Apple Watch stop working if it doesn’t get watchOS 27?
No. Your watch will continue to function as it does today, and it will still receive essential security updates to keep your data safe.
Can I force the update on an older model?
No. Apple restricts OS updates at the server level based on the device’s hardware identifier. If a model is not on the supported list, the update will not appear in the Watch app.
Is it worth upgrading to a newer watch for Siri AI?
That depends on your reliance on voice assistants. If you use Siri heavily for complex tasks or gesture-based navigation, the hardware upgrade to a model with the S9 chip or newer provides a significant performance boost.
Are there other ways to use Apple’s new AI features?
Yes. Even if your watch is unsupported, your iPhone—if it is a compatible model—will continue to support the latest AI features, which can be triggered via your watch through existing connectivity protocols.
Do you have questions about whether your specific device is supported? Check the official Apple support page for the full list of compatible hardware, or join the discussion in our comments section below to share your experience with the latest watchOS updates.
