These Popular Apple Watches Won’t Get the watchOS 27 Update

Apple has officially given a sneak peek at its upcoming watchOS 27, bringing a wave of artificial intelligence features and interface updates to the wrist. The software update, scheduled to launch this coming fall, shifts its focus toward a much more personal and conversational user experience.

At the centre of the update is Siri AI, which uses Apple Intelligence to handle complex, open-ended questions and carry out natural conversations. Users will be able to ask the assistant to retrieve personal information, such as finding a door code from a saved note or pulling up flight details, and have it take action across various apps. Apple is also introducing a dedicated Siri app that stores conversation histories, allowing users to pick up where they left off on either their iPhone or Apple Watch.

Beyond artificial intelligence, watchOS 27 brings noticeable changes to the general interface. A new dynamic app grid automatically highlights frequently used and Siri-suggested applications, keeping the new Siri app front and centre. For single-handed navigation, Apple added a new single tap gesture, letting users tap their index finger and thumb together to quickly select a widget inside the Smart Stack.

Health and fitness features also received updates. The Workout Buddy feature adds deeper data insights for pace and distance tracking, completely independent of a nearby iPhone, and now includes Spanish language support. Additionally, the Cycle Tracking app expands its scope by offering notifications and educational resources for perimenopause and menopause support.

Other refinements include a redesigned Find My app that combines devices, people, and items into a single map view, faster music playback, and a Call Context feature that displays relevant data, like confirmation codes, during phone calls to businesses.

Apple noted that watchOS 27 requires an iPhone 11 or later running iOS 27.

Here are the Apple Watch models that supported watchOS 26 but are no longer compatible with watchOS 27:

• Apple Watch Series 6
• Apple Watch Series 7
• Apple Watch Series 8
• Apple Watch Series 9
• Apple Watch SE (2nd generation)
• Apple Watch Ultra (1st generation)

For context, watchOS 27 has significantly narrowed its compatibility, now only supporting the Apple Watch Series 10, Series 11, Ultra 2, Ultra 3, and the SE (3rd generation). All of the models listed above were fully supported by watchOS 26, but these owners get slapped in the face and will have to upgrade if they want the new Siri AI. Ouch.