Apple is ending software support for 16 devices across the Apple Watch, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV product lines this fall. The changes arrive with the upcoming releases of watchOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27 Golden Gate, and tvOS 27. While these platforms lose compatibility for older hardware, iOS 27 will continue to support the same iPhone models as the previous version.
Key details
- Apple Watch: The Series 6, 7, 8, the first-generation Ultra, and the second-generation SE are being dropped, as watchOS 27 now requires an S9 or S10 chip.
- iPad: Support ends for five models, including the eighth-generation iPad and fifth-generation iPad mini, with the new software requiring at least an A14 Bionic or M1 chip.
- Mac: The era of Intel-based Macs officially ends as macOS Golden Gate removes support for the final four Intel machines, including the 2020 iMac and 2019 Mac Pro.
- Apple TV: Both the 2015 Apple TV HD and the 2017 first-generation Apple TV 4K will be ineligible for the tvOS 27 update.
Why it matters
The decision to drop the Apple Watch Series 8 and the original Ultra after only a few years marks an aggressive shift in hardware longevity for wearables. By requiring the S9 chip, Apple is effectively shortening the software lifespan of its watches compared to the iPad and iPhone, where older silicon remains supported. For Mac users transitioning away from the final Intel models, exploring software ecosystems like Setapp may help maintain productivity as native macOS features become exclusive to Apple silicon. This move signals that Apple is now fully committed to a hardware ecosystem defined entirely by its own internal chip architecture across all primary computing devices.
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