Apple watchOS 27 Drops Support for Older Apple Watch Models as AI Features Take Center Stage
Apple has introduced watchOS 27 at WWDC, giving Apple Watch users an early look at the next major software update expected to roll out this fall. The update puts artificial intelligence at the heart of the Apple Watch experience, with new Siri AI capabilities, a smarter Workout Buddy, and gesture-based features designed to make the watch feel faster, more personal, and more helpful.
However, there is a major catch: watchOS 27 will only be available on newer Apple Watch models. According to Apple, the update requires at least an Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra 2, or Apple Watch SE 3. That means several popular models, including the Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch SE 2, and the original Apple Watch Ultra from 2022, will no longer receive the latest feature updates.
The biggest reason appears to be performance. Apple’s new Siri AI experience is designed to work more like modern chatbot-style assistants, offering more natural responses and smarter on-device interactions. The upgraded Workout Buddy is also expected to rely on more advanced processing to deliver personalized coaching and fitness insights.
Apple says these features work best with the hardware found in the Apple Watch Series 9 and newer. The key difference is the Apple S9 chip, which brought a more meaningful performance jump compared to the chips used in older models. The Apple Watch Series 6, Series 7, and Series 8 all rely on processors that are very similar in design and are still based on older architecture dating back several years.
With the Apple S9 chip, introduced in the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, Apple finally delivered a notable boost in speed and efficiency. Benchmarks have shown that the newer chip can be significantly faster than previous generations, which helps explain why Apple is drawing the line at these models for watchOS 27.
The decision will likely frustrate some Apple Watch owners, especially those using the first-generation Apple Watch Ultra. That model launched as a premium wearable and is still relatively recent, making its exclusion from watchOS 27 feature updates surprising for many users.
Apple’s reasoning is tied to consistency. The company reportedly does not want to ship watchOS 27 to older watches without the new Siri AI experience, because it wants Siri to feel consistent across its devices. In other words, Apple would rather limit the update to hardware that can deliver the full experience than offer a reduced version on older models.
This approach is becoming increasingly common as Apple expands its AI features. More advanced software is now closely linked to newer chips, meaning users with older devices may miss out even if their hardware still feels capable for everyday tasks.
For Apple Watch owners, the message is clear: the future of watchOS is becoming more dependent on AI-ready hardware. If you own an Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra 2, Apple Watch SE 3, or a newer model, watchOS 27 should bring a more intelligent and responsive experience this fall. But if you are using an Apple Watch Series 8, SE 2, or the original Ultra, your device may continue working well, but it will no longer be part of Apple’s latest software feature cycle.
