Apple’s newest AI push on the Apple Watch is drawing a sharper line between generations, and the most surprising part is how quickly that line arrives. Several models that still feel recent, including devices launched in 2022, will not get full access to Siri AI in watchOS 27.
The cutoff centers on Apple’s chip strategy. According to Apple’s watchOS 27 rollout, the main AI features are reserved for watches with the S9 chip or newer, leaving older premium models with only partial support.
Models left behind
The devices excluded from full AI support include Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra first generation, and Apple Watch SE 2. Apple Watch Ultra first generation is especially notable because it once launched at $799, or about Rp 13 jutaan, and is now only four years old.
These watches will still be able to install watchOS 27, but they will not receive the headline AI features Apple is using to define the update. The biggest difference is Siri AI, which is positioned as a more context-aware assistant with stronger cross-app actions and better use of Apple Intelligence.
| Model | watchOS 27 AI Support |
|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 8 | No full support |
| Apple Watch Ultra first generation | No full support |
| Apple Watch SE 2 | No full support |
| Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, Series 11 | Supported |
| Apple Watch Ultra 2, Ultra 3, SE third generation | Supported |
Why Siri AI matters most
Apple introduced watchOS 27 at WWDC 2026 with a stronger focus on Apple Intelligence and Siri AI. The new assistant is designed to understand context better, handle tasks across apps, and respond in a more natural way.
That capability apparently requires newer hardware, which is why Apple limited the feature to models built on the S9 chip or later. As a result, the gap between recent and older Apple Watches is becoming more visible, even when the hardware is only a few years old.
A shorter useful life for feature upgrades
The decision stands out because the affected models were not released long ago. Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra first generation, and Apple Watch SE 2 all debuted in 2022, placing them within a three- to four-year window.
For many users, that makes the cutoff feel abrupt. The watches remain modern enough for daily use, yet they are already missing the update’s most promoted feature set.
This also suggests that feature support in Apple’s wearable lineup may now be tied more tightly to processor generation than to the operating system itself. In practice, that means two watches on the same software can still deliver very different experiences.
The new line of division
Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, Series 11, Ultra 2, Ultra 3, and SE third generation are the models that will get the new AI capabilities. Apple Watch Ultra 3 sits at the top of that group as the company’s most advanced smartwatch today.
For owners of older models, the update will still arrive, but the experience will be incomplete compared with the newer devices. The split makes Siri AI a clear marker of which Apple Watches are now considered fully ready for the next wave of software.
