Apple has seeded watchOS 27 Beta 3 to developers, arriving two weeks after the second beta. The update downloads through the Watch app on iPhone with a free developer account, requiring the watch on its charger, connected to Wi-Fi, and at 50% battery or higher. Notably, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is excluded from this beta despite being compatible with the final release.

The headline feature is Siri AI, a rebuilt assistant capable of back-and-forth conversations that draws on both general knowledge and personal data. This functionality demands an iPhone with Apple Intelligence — specifically the iPhone 15 Pro or newer. The update also introduces a Dynamic app grid that surfaces Siri-suggested apps and smarter Smart Stack widgets for parked-car location, pinned messages, noise alerts, and transit cards.

Elsewhere, Liquid Glass receives legibility refinements, Workout Buddy gains independence from the iPhone and adds progressive metrics for distance, pace, and duration, and a unified Find My app arrives with Precision Finding support. Apple also cites performance optimizations aimed at extending battery life.

The release confirms watchOS 27 drops support for Series 8, Ultra 1, and SE 2, drawing a hard line at the S9/S10 chip generation. Only Series 9, 10, 11, Ultra 2, Ultra 3, and SE 3 remain eligible — a clear signal that Apple's on-device AI strategy now dictates hardware longevity.