It has been revealed that watchOS 11 and the Apple Watch models that will no longer receive support from the new software have been announced ahead of the WWDC 2024 event. Apple usually debates whether older devices will support new software or not during the annual WWDC developer’s conference. However, this year, information about the next-generation operating system for Apple Watch as well as the smartwatch models that will be removed from the support list has been disclosed.
Based on the latest information, Apple will no longer support watchOS 11 updates for the Apple Watch Series 4 which was launched in 2018. This marks the first time in several years that Apple has stopped providing new operating system updates for a watch model. This decision is attributed to the outdated hardware of the Apple Watch Series 4, which is not powerful enough to run watchOS 11 with all the new features. Nonetheless, Apple will still provide security updates for Series 4 to ensure the device is protected from security threats.
On the other hand, newer Apple Watch models such as Apple Watch Series 5, 6, 7, SE, and Ultra will continue to support watchOS 11 and future watchOS updates. Generally, Apple supports the Apple Watch for at least five years after its launch. The discontinuation of support for Series 4 indicates that Apple is gradually changing its support policy, focusing on newer devices with more powerful hardware.
To summarize, the Apple Watch models compatible with watchOS 11 include Apple Watch Series 5, 6, 7, SE (first and second generation), and Ultra (first and second generation). If you are currently using the Apple Watch Series 4, it is recommended to consider upgrading to a newer smartwatch model to fully enjoy the latest watchOS features.