Apple confirmed that Apple Watch Series 6, 7, 8, SE 2, and the original Apple Watch Ultra will not receive watchOS 27, marking an unprecedented reduction in device support. These models will only receive basic security updates going forward, cutting off three years of compatibility in a single update.

Cait Dooley, Apple Watch and Health product marketing manager, cited performance requirements as the driving factor. The new Siri AI capabilities and tap gesture demand processing power found only in Series 9, Ultra 2, and SE 3 and later models. Dooley emphasized that Apple prioritizes user experience by ensuring software runs smoothly on supported hardware.

David Clark, senior director of watchOS software engineering, explained the update aims to expand Apple's intelligence offerings across devices. He described the watch as ideal for quick Siri interactions when hands are full, with seamless handoff to iPhone for continued tasks. This unified Siri experience requires the computational resources of newer chips.

Developers can access watchOS 27 beta now, with public beta arriving next month and general release planned for fall. Users with older watches should expect continued functionality but no access to the latest AI-powered features.