It’s not unusual for Apple to eventually end software support for its older devices, and this year is no different. Several Apple devices will no longer receive major updates for software, including iPadOS 27, macOS 27 Golden Gate, tvOS 27, and watchOS 27.
This time around, the only lineup to not lose software support for any models is Apple’s iPhone, with every iOS 26-compatible model being compatible with iOS 27 (although not all models will support every feature) and the HomePod lineup remaining compatible.
The hardest hit lineup this year? The Apple Watch. watchOS 27 drops support for three generations of the wearable, including the Series 6, Series 7, Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra (first generation), and Apple Watch SE (second generation) wearables, as it requires an S9 or S10 chip. This is the biggest compatibility cute in the history of the Apple Watch.
The iPad lineup is also hit hard this year, as iOS 27 requires devices to be powered by the A14 Bionic chip or the M2 chipe. THis means five iPadOS 26-capable models don’t make the cut for iPadOS 27. They include the 3rd generation iPad Air, the 3rd gen 12.9-inch iPad Pro, the 1st generation 11-inch iPad Pro, the 8th gen iPad, and the 5th generation iPad mini.
macOS Intel support ends this year with the release of macOS 27 Golden Gate, meaning the four remaining supported Intel Mac (the MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019), MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports), iMac (2020), and Mac Pro (2019)) were dropped from the macOS 27 compatibility list.
The Apple TV lineup sees two models dropped from the tvOS compatibility list with the release of tvOS 27. Only the 2nd and 3rd generation Apple TV 4K models will receive the update, meaning the 2015 Apple TV HD and the 1st generation Apple TV 4K released in 2017 will drop from the list.
What Devices Lose Support?
The full list of Apple devices losing support for the latest major software updates this fall is as follows:
watchOS 27
- Apple Watch Series 6 (2020)
- Apple Watch Series 7 (2021)
- Apple Watch Series 8 (2022)
- Apple Watch Ultra (1st generation, 2022)
- Apple Watch SE (2nd generation, 2022)
iPadOS 27
- iPad Air (3rd generation, 2019)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation, 2018)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation, 2018)
- iPad (8th generation, 2020)
- iPad mini (5th generation, 2019)
macOS 27 Golden Gate
- MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- iMac (2020)
- Mac Pro (2019)
tvOS 27
- Apple TV HD (2015)
- Apple TV 4K (1st generation, 2017)
It should be noted that Apple isn’t leaving owners of the above devices to completely fend for themselves. Apple typically continues releasing security updates for devices for at least a year after they have been dropped from updates lists. That said, if you want to have access to all of the new and improved features promised by Apple’s latest software, you’re going to have to pony up for a new device.
