Apple is set to unveil watchOS 26 at the upcoming WWDC 2025 event. According to recent leaks, the new operating system will support several Apple Watch models; however, older watches, including those predating the Apple Watch Series 6, will not be eligible for the update. The Apple Watch models expected to support watchOS 26 include:
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)
The Series 4, Series 5, and the original Apple Watch SE will miss out on this new update.
This aligns with Apple’s trend of phasing out support for older models to make room for more advanced features and optimizations that newer models can handle. In addition to renaming its operating systems to align with the release year, similar to Samsung, Apple is expected to introduce several new Apple Watch features at the event.
Support for latest Apple Watch models
These may include enhanced training metrics and improved health monitoring tools. A private account with a proven track record for upcoming software updates has confirmed that watchOS 26 will support all Apple Watch models that are compatible with watchOS 11. Rather than naming the next-generation version watchOS 12, Apple is going with watchOS 8, reflecting the September 2021 to September 2022 release cycle.
The overhauled design that Apple is introducing for iOS 26 will also extend to the Apple Watch, though the changes to watchOS may not be as dramatic. Apple will likely add new watch faces designed with the new style in mind, and the upcoming watchOS 26 update could also introduce additional support features. Stay tuned for more updates and coverage of the WWDC 2025 event as it unfolds, and for more details on what to expect for Apple Watch at the Worldwide Developers Conference next week.
Deanna Ritchie is a managing editor at DevX. She has a degree in English Literature. She has written 2000+ articles on getting out of debt and mastering your finances. She has edited over 60,000 articles in her life. She has a passion for helping writers inspire others through their words. Deanna has also been an editor at Entrepreneur Magazine and ReadWrite.
