Siri AI demands forced watchOS 27 to drop five watch models

Apple says watchOS 27's Siri AI and tap gesture features require the S9 chip, dropping the Series 6, 7, 8, SE 2, and original Ultra.digitaltrends+1
The original Apple Watch Ultra, a premium flagship from 2022, loses support after roughly four years, drawing criticism from owners.squaredtech+1
Dropped models will still pair with iPhones running iOS 27 and receive security updates but won't get new features, according to Apple.macrumors

Apple has offered its official explanation for why watchOS 27 will leave behind five Apple Watch models in one of the platform's largest compatibility cuts to date. The company pointed to the processing demands of Siri AI and a new tap gesture as the driving factors behind the decision.

The S9 Chip Draws the Line

In an interview with TechRadar published this week, Apple Watch and Health product marketing manager Cait Dooley addressed the unusually broad culling of devices. "With every software release across every single one of our platforms, we always want to ensure that you have the best experience, so we make power and performance a priority," Dooley said. "The great new features in watchOS, including the capabilities of Siri AI and the new tap gesture, work best with the processing power that is in Apple Watch Series 9 and later, Ultra 2 and later, and SE 3."digitaltrends+2

The five models losing support are the Apple Watch Series 6, Series 7, Series 8, SE (2nd generation), and the original Apple Watch Ultra — all of which run on the S8 chip or earlier. The devices that will receive watchOS 27 are the Series 9, Series 10, Series 11, Ultra 2, Ultra 3, and SE 3, all equipped with the S9 chip or newer.squaredtech+4

What Dropped Models Still Get

Dooley confirmed that affected watches will not be bricked. "Older devices can still be paired with iPhones that are running the latest software and continue to receive security updates, so they can continue to have a great Apple Watch experience," she said. Users with unsupported watches will still be able to track workouts, receive notifications, and pair with an iPhone running iOS 27 — they simply won't have access to Siri AI or the new tap gesture.squaredtech+2

A Controversial but Defensible Move

The decision drew particular attention because the original Apple Watch Ultra, launched in 2022 as a premium flagship, is being cut after roughly four years of support. Apple briefly caused additional confusion during WWDC when its compatibility page mistakenly omitted the Series 9, which was corrected within hours after the company confirmed to MacRumors that the omission was an error.macrumors+3

watchOS 27 is currently in developer beta, with a public beta expected in July and a full release scheduled for this fall.squaredtech+1

Sources (21)