Washington

Apple has defended its decision to discontinue support for several older Apple Watch models with the upcoming watchOS 27 update, saying the move is necessary to deliver advanced artificial intelligence features and a significantly enhanced Siri experience.

The company has confirmed that the original Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Watch Series 6, Series 7, Series 8, and the second-generation Apple Watch SE will not receive watchOS 27. While these devices will continue to receive security updates and remain functional when paired with newer iPhones, they will not gain access to the latest software capabilities being introduced with the new operating system.

The decision marks a notable shift in Apple's software support strategy for the Apple Watch lineup. Industry observers have pointed out that it is the first time Apple has ended major software support for three generations of Apple Watch devices in a single update cycle.

According to technology publication MacRumors, Apple says the decision is driven by the computing requirements of next-generation features rather than a desire to phase out older hardware prematurely.

Cait Dooley, Apple's Product Marketing Manager for Apple Watch and Health, said the company prioritizes performance and user experience when determining device compatibility for major software updates.

"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. 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," Dooley explained.

She emphasized that users of unsupported devices would not lose access to their watches' essential functions. Older Apple Watch models paired with iPhones running the latest software will continue to operate normally and receive important security patches.

Siri Gets Smarter

At the heart of watchOS 27 is Apple's push to bring more advanced artificial intelligence capabilities to the wrist. The company is positioning the update as a major step in integrating Apple Intelligence across its ecosystem and making Siri more capable, contextual and personalized.

David Clark, Senior Director of watchOS Software Engineering, said one of the primary objectives behind watchOS 27 is to transform the Apple Watch into a more intelligent companion.

"We want to expand the intelligence story on Apple Watch and make it a true co-partner to Apple Intelligence," Clark said.

According to him, the Apple Watch occupies a unique place in Apple's product ecosystem because it is often the most readily accessible device for interacting with Siri.

"The Apple Watch is often the most convenient way to interact with Siri because it's always available throughout the day and can be used even when your hands are occupied," Clark noted.

A Unified Siri Experience

Apple's broader vision is to ensure that Siri behaves consistently across devices, allowing users to begin a task on one device and continue it seamlessly on another.

Clark explained that Apple wanted Siri to feel like a single assistant, regardless of whether a user is speaking through an Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad or another Apple device.

"We really wanted to make sure the Siri experience is a singular and consistent experience, whether I decide to ask Siri on my wrist a question, or whether I have my phone in my hand and I decide to interact with Siri there. We really wanted it to feel like it's one Siri that has access to your data and is able to personalize it in a consistent way," he said.

To illustrate the concept, Clark described a scenario in which a user asks Siri on their Apple Watch for ingredients needed for a recipe while shopping. Later, the same information can be viewed on an iPhone in a more detailed and readable format.

Apple believes this type of seamless cross-device interaction will become one of the defining strengths of its AI ecosystem. Clark referred to the capability as a "superpower" that enhances convenience and productivity.

What It Means for Users

The software compatibility changes mean that advanced Siri AI features, enhanced personalization tools and some new interaction methods introduced with watchOS 27 will only be available on newer devices, including the Apple Watch Series 9 and later models, Apple Watch Ultra 2 and subsequent versions, and the newly launched Apple Watch SE 3.

watchOS 27 is currently available to developers through Apple's beta testing programme. A public beta is expected to be released next month, with the final version scheduled to roll out later this year.

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The move underscores a broader trend in the technology industry, where increasingly sophisticated AI-powered features are placing greater demands on device hardware. As Apple continues to expand its artificial intelligence ambitions, processing power is becoming a key factor in determining which devices can support the company's latest innovations.