As Apple prepares to unveil the latest version of watchOS, a leak has surfaced detailing which Apple Watch models will be compatible with this new software. There is speculation that Apple plans to align all its operating systems with a new numbering system that ends with 26, correlating to the year of release. Currently, users can enjoy watchOS 11 on the Apple Watch Series 10, but by September 2025, an updated version known as watchOS 26 could be running on an Apple Watch Series 11. One certainty is that the Apple Watch Series 11 will indeed support the most current version of watchOS.
However, there has been uncertainty regarding the compatibility of older models. A recent leak reported by MacRumors provides clarity on this matter, listing the older models that will support the upcoming watchOS 26:
– Apple Watch Series 6
– Apple Watch Series 7
– Apple Watch Series 8
– Apple Watch Series 9
– Apple Watch Series 10
– Apple Watch Ultra
– Apple Watch Ultra 2
– Apple Watch SE (2nd generation)
This list mirrors the models currently supporting watchOS 11, and it’s unsurprising, considering the Apple Watch Series 6 debuted in 2020. Apple has a history of maintaining lengthy support for its devices, as evidenced by its iOS 18 adoption rate that accommodates iPhones up to seven years old. However, the transition to watchOS 11 saw a significant reduction in support for older models; both the Apple Watch Series 4 and Series 5, alongside the original Apple Watch SE, were dropped from compatibility in a single update.
Full details about the new watchOS will be revealed during the WWDC opening keynote on June 9.
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