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2d ago

Apple Limits watchOS 27 and Brings Siri AI to Newer Watches

The company says higher power and performance needs for on‑device Siri AI require a hardware cutoff that will narrow compatible watches and affect regional rollouts.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 and 2 get the full update, but not so the original Ultra (among others).
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Siri AI leaves older Apple Watches behind without a clear reason
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Overview

  • Apple confirmed on Friday that watchOS 27 is in developer beta and that the full release will ship this fall with a public beta expected in July.
  • The update will only run on Apple Watch SE (3rd gen), Series 9–11, and Ultra 2–3 and will exclude Series 6–8, SE 2, and the original Ultra from the new feature set.
  • watchOS 27 adds a dedicated Siri app and deeper Apple Intelligence on the wrist, but Apple says the new Siri AI requires both a supported watch and a nearby Apple Intelligence‑enabled iPhone to deliver the experience.
  • Apple told TechRadar on Friday that the cutoff is driven by power and performance targets tied to newer silicon, and it will continue to provide security updates to unsupported watches that remain paired to updated iPhones.
  • The change shortens upgrade windows for several recent, higher‑end models and could reshape developer priorities, user upgrade decisions, and the phased regional rollout because EU regulations will block Siri AI at launch there.