Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) and several older models won't support watchOS 27, Apple announced during WWDC26. The company is dropping support for Watch Series 6, 7, 8, 9, and first-gen Ultra as part of its typical hardware lifecycle management.

The new watchOS 27 will run on Apple Watch SE (3rd gen), Series 10, 11, Ultra 2, and Ultra 3. Users need an iPhone 11 or later running iOS 27 to install the update. This continues Apple's pattern of supporting about 4 years of hardware with major OS updates.

watchOS 27 brings Siri AI app, workout data insights, and Spanish support for Workout Buddy. Owners of older Watches may still install the update but won't access all new features, creating a tiered experience for Apple's wearable ecosystem.