Apple Watches may count your steps, but for some models, they should be counting down the days until they’re obsolete.
Nothing makes an Apple product feel more out of date than the announcement of its next software update. At this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference, the tech giant revealed that its upcoming watchOS 27 update will drop support for several older Apple Watch models, including the SE (2nd gen), Series 6, 7 and 8, and the original Ultra.
Only newer watches equipped with Apple’s S9 and S10 chips will support the latest software, meaning owners of unsupported devices will miss out on new AI-powered features and future updates. Many watch owners are now feeling pressured to upgrade watches they bought only a few years ago.
The upcoming watchOS 27 update, according to Apple, includes Siri, a conversational AI assistant that lets users ask open-ended questions and brainstorm new ideas in a more natural way. The update will also feature a new tap gesture to select a widget in the Smart Stack, with a dynamic new app grid, and overall aesthetic design refinements throughout the system. The intention is to make the Apple Watch more responsive and easier to use, according to its marketing.
The decision has frustrated users because Apple typically supports its watches with major software updates for about 6 years. Owners of the first-generation Apple Watch Ultra, which retailed for $799.99 according to reports, at launch in September 2022, could receive less than 4 years of support.
Apple hasn’t explicitly explained the cutoff. It’s estimated that the shift is tied to the S9 chip upgrade in the newer watch series, which aligns with Apple’s broader vision of greater integration with AI capabilities.
The rollout caused even more confusion when Apple’s website initially suggested that the three-year-old Series 9 would also lose compatibility. The error was later corrected after users discovered they could install a test version of watchOS 27, leaving five older models officially without support.
For many Apple fans, though, the issue isn’t just technology — it’s timing. Reddit threads quickly filled with frustrated owners pointing out that some of the affected watches are only a few years old and still work perfectly.
“Unfortunately, my beloved SE 2 didn’t survive Apple’s ‘Night of the Long Knives’ either. Neither did my mom’s Series 8,” one Reddit user wrote. “Luckily, I bought both of them for a steal right after their 2022 release; otherwise, I’d be really upset.”
While others fumed that Apple just wants money, and others questioned the company’s sustainability promises, arguing that pushing customers toward upgrades clashes with its environmental messaging.
“I still use an Apple Watch 4 for sleep and workout tracking. It only gets security updates but still works great,” another countered. “I get why you’re mad. I’d be mad too, but your device still will work great. Also I’d rather Apple not slow down the device with software it can’t use efficiently.”
But for these watch owners, time waits for no one.
