Apple unveiled watchOS 27 at WWDC, slated for a fall rollout. The update will skip the original Apple Watch Ultra, released in 2022, along with Series 8, earlier SE models and other pre‑Series 9 hardware. Owners of those devices will receive only essential security patches after September, missing out on new features like Siri AI and the tap gesture for most users.

Marketing manager Cait Dooley explained the rationale: each OS release prioritizes power and performance, and the latest watchOS capabilities demand the faster chips found in Series 9, Ultra 2 and SE 3. The decision also reflects the steep performance gap between the S9 chip and older processors. Older watches can still pair with the newest iPhone OS and stay functional, but they won’t benefit from the performance‑heavy AI enhancements.

The original Ultra launched at $799, making it one of the costliest entry‑level watches. With support ending, many users face a hard upgrade decision as Apple pushes the ecosystem toward newer hardware. This policy forces the market to shrink, discarding unsupported models.

The move mirrors Apple’s pattern of dropping legacy devices each major OS cycle, a strategy that streamlines development and encourages higher‑margin sales. Retailers are already promoting trade‑in offers for older watches, signaling that the upgrade wave will likely boost both hardware revenue and services uptake in the holiday quarter.