Apple’s watchOS 27 and iPadOS 27: A Major Device Support Update
I hope you have a modern Apple Watch or iPad, because otherwise watchOS 27 and iPadOS 27 won’t run on your device. Apple often drops support for older devices with its latest software updates, but this year it’s culling even more device generations than ever before.
Significant Reductions in Apple Watch Support
Apple is dropping support for at least three generations of Apple Watch models in watchOS 27. Initially, Apple’s website indicated that the latest watchOS update would only be available on Apple Watch Series 10 devices and above, Apple Watch Ultra 2 and above, and Apple Watch SE 3. However, the company later updated the listing to include the Series 9. While some reports suggest that users have successfully installed the watchOS 27 developer beta on the first-generation Watch Ultra, it does not appear on the official list of supported devices. We’ve reached out to Apple for confirmation regarding the models supported.
This reduction in support for Apple Watch models is unexpected, especially since consumers tend to hold onto their watches longer than their iPhones. For comparison, watchOS 26 released a year ago, still supported Apple Watch Series 6 and later, as well as Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) and all Apple Watch Ultra models. This was consistent with the support offered in watchOS 11. Even if the first-gen Watch Ultra remains compatible with watchOS 27, owners of Series 6, 7, 8, and the second-generation Watch SE will be left without access to the latest features.
Changes in iPadOS Support
On the iPad side, iPadOS 27 has also cut support for several models, including 3rd-generation iPad Air and 8th-generation standard iPads. Owners of iPad Pro must upgrade to at least a 4th generation 12.9-inch model or a 2nd generation 11-inch model to access the new operating system.
Surprising Retention of iPhone Support
Interestingly, Apple is maintaining support for its iPhone 11 models with iOS 27 later this year. This scenario raises eyebrows: a smartphone from 2019 will still receive the latest updates, while an Apple Watch model released just last year finds itself unsupported. The inconsistency has left many users puzzled.
Update and Correction
Update and correction, June 8th: An earlier version of this article misstated which iPads would receive iPadOS 27. The 4th-generation (A14) and 5th-generation (M1) iPad Air are now confirmed to be supported. Additionally, Apple’s watchOS 27 preview page initially omitted the Apple Watch Series 9 from the list of supported devices. It has now been added.
For further details and to verify the list of supported devices, you can visit the official source Here.
Image Credit: www.theverge.com
