Updated
Updated · MacRumors · Jun 19
Apple Says 5 Older Watch Models Still Pair With iOS 27 Despite Losing watchOS 27
Updated
Updated · MacRumors · Jun 19

Apple Says 5 Older Watch Models Still Pair With iOS 27 Despite Losing watchOS 27

3 articles · Updated · MacRumors · Jun 19

Summary

  • Five unsupported Apple Watch models — Series 6, 7, 8, SE 2 and the original Ultra — will still pair with iPhones running iOS 27 and keep getting security updates, Apple said.
  • That means owners will not get watchOS 27 features such as Siri AI and the new tap gesture, but their watches will continue handling workouts, notifications and core pairing functions.
  • Apple had sparked concern after cutting off three years of watch support in a single update, saying the newer software's performance demands are better suited to Series 9, Ultra 2 and SE 3.
  • The clarification softens the impact of a broader September 2026 support cutoff that affects 16 Apple devices across watches, iPads, Macs and Apple TVs.

Insights

Has Apple's software cutoff set a precedent, signaling a much shorter lifespan for all its future smartwatches?
Is Apple's new software strategy for older watches a direct challenge to Europe's anti-obsolescence laws?
Apple touts its green credentials, so why is it turning millions of premium watches into potential e-waste?