Apple unveiled watchOS 11 at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on Monday, June 10. The new operating system brings exciting features but also discontinues support for three Apple Watch models. The Apple Watch Series 4, Series 5, and the first-generation Apple Watch SE will not be compatible with watchOS 11.
This is the largest number of models to lose support with a single OS update. The discontinuation appears to be due to the advanced features and increased processor demands of watchOS 11. New features include the Vitals app, which provides a snapshot of health metrics like heart rate, wrist temperature, and respiratory rate measured during sleep.
The Translate feature, now available directly on the watch, can translate up to 20 languages. There’s also the Check In feature to notify friends or family when you’ve safely reached your destination.
Watch models lose support
The oldest compatible model for watchOS 11 will be the Apple Watch Series 6. The Series 4 was powered by the S4 chip, while the Series 5 and first-generation SE utilized the S5 chip. These processors will not meet the demands created by the new features.
Although the unsupported models won’t get new features, they will continue to receive security updates on watchOS 10. This ensures that the devices remain secure, even without access to the latest software improvements. WatchOS 11 will support the Apple Watch Series 6, Series 7, Series 8, Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Watch Ultra 2, and the second-generation Apple Watch SE.
Users will need to pair their watches with iPhones running iOS 18, compatible with models going back to the iPhone Xr. While it’s disappointing for users of the affected watches, the updates signal Apple’s push towards more advanced health monitoring and user assistance features. As technology evolves, so too does the hardware required to support it.
