Apple Cuts Off Older iPads and Apple Watches from OS 27

Apple is cutting software support for more devices than ever, leaving some iPad and Apple Watch owners stuck on older operating systems when watchOS 27 and iPadOS 27 launch later this year.

What’s Being Cut Off

Every year, Apple revises its list of supported devices with major OS releases. This year, however, the cuts are more extensive. According to The Verge, Apple is discontinuing support for four generations of Apple Watch models with watchOS 27. This means even watches released as recently as 2022 and 2023 won’t run the new software. In past years, Apple usually dropped only one or two generations at a time.

iPadOS 27 is also leaving many tablets behind. If you’re hanging onto an older iPad that has served you well, it might not get Apple’s latest features.

Why This Year Feels Different

The reason for these larger cuts seems to be Apple Intelligence, Apple’s on-device AI. These features need powerful chips to operate, and older hardware just can’t support them.

This is especially true for Siri on the Apple Watch. CNET reports that watchOS 27 could finally make Siri genuinely useful on your wrist with smarter, more contextual responses. To access those improvements, you’ll need a newer Apple Watch. Older models won’t be able to use these features, even if they’re just a few years old.

Think of it like a highway with a new minimum speed limit. The older cars aren’t broken; they just can’t keep up with the current pace.

Which Devices Are Affected

Apple Watch models from 2022 and 2023 will lose support for watchOS 27. On the iPad side, several generations are also being cut from iPadOS 27. 9to5Mac confirmed that the watchOS 27 beta 1 is now available for developers, which means the full rollout should happen in just a few months.

If you want to see if your specific device is still supported, Apple usually publishes a complete compatibility list on its website when beta software is released.

What This Means

This raises an uncomfortable question for Apple users: is your device on the list?

If your Apple Watch or iPad is being cut off, you won’t lose the features you currently have. Your device will still work. But you won’t receive new software features, and eventually, security updates may stop too. That last part is crucial. Security patches—fixes for vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit—come with OS updates. An unsupported device becomes less secure over time.

For Apple Watch owners, the Siri enhancements in watchOS 27 could be a real upgrade. Missing out on that, especially if your watch is only two or three years old, will sting. This might also push some users into an upgrade cycle they weren’t planning for.

iPad users are in a similar boat. Many people buy iPads and keep them for five, six, or even seven years because the hardware tends to last. Losing OS support sooner than expected diminishes that value.

Community Reactions

“My Series 8 is barely two years old and it’s already being dropped? That’s genuinely embarrassing for a $400 device.”

“Apple does this every year, and people act surprised. Just know what you’re buying into.”

What To Watch

• This summer: Apple will roll out more developer and public betas for watchOS 27 and iPadOS 27. Full compatibility lists will become clearer as beta notes are released.
• Fall 2026: watchOS 27 and iPadOS 27 are expected to launch publicly alongside new iPhone and Apple Watch hardware, which is when Apple typically reveals its complete supported device lineup.
• Security support timelines: Keep an eye out for any announcements from Apple about how long unsupported devices will continue to receive security-only patches, separate from feature updates.
• Potential pushback: Given that 2022 and 2023 Apple Watches are being dropped so quickly, consumer and regulatory pressure around device longevity is worth watching, especially in the EU where right-to-repair and software support rules are becoming stricter.