Apple has announced that its upcoming watchOS 27 and iPadOS 27 will no longer support several older device models, including the Apple Watch Series 8, which was released just four years ago in 2022. The move, part of the company's regular software update cycle, affects more device generations than in previous years.
The list of unsupported devices includes the Apple Watch Series 8, along with several other older Apple Watch and iPad models. Users of these devices will not be able to install the latest operating system updates, which are expected to bring new features and security enhancements.
Apple typically drops support for aging hardware as it pushes forward with new software capabilities that require more processing power or newer components. However, the decision to cut off the Series 8—a relatively recent model—surprised some observers.
The announcement was made during Apple's WWDC 2026 keynote. Users with affected devices are advised to consider upgrading to newer models if they wish to run watchOS 27 or iPadOS 27.