watchOS 27 drops support for Apple Watch Series 8 and older

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watchOS 27 - the upcoming version of the Apple Watch operating system - will drop support for a surprising number of devices, including models as new as the Apple Watch Series 8. Users will need an Apple Watch Series 9 or newer, an Apple Watch Ultra 2 or newer, or an Apple Watch SE 3 or newer to install the new operating system. This means Apple Watch models released as recently as 2022 are getting cut. 

This is uncharacteristic for Apple, with last year's watchOS 26 supporting models as old as the Series 6 from 2020. It's also at odds with Apple's approach with iOS 27, which will support iPhones as old as 2019's iPhone 11. 

Of course, one could make the argument that an iPhone from 2019 would have a faster chipset than an Apple Watch from 2022. Given the emphasis on AI, it's possible that even comparatively recent Apple Watch models don't have the necessary grunt for Apple's upcoming functionality. 

This includes support for the revamped Siri, a dynamic app grid that prioritises frequently used apps, improved workout coaching, and perimenopause and menopause support in cycle tracking. 

Based on precedent, watchOS 27 should be available in September alongside new Apple Watches. A public beta should be available this month.  

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Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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