I have been using Apple products for as long as I can remember. Some of my earliest technology memories include an iPod my dad gave me as a kid, and from then on, I was hooked. Not long after that, I got my hands on Apple’s second generation iPad, and since then, I’ve spent most of my time within the Apple ecosystem. Fast forward to today, and not much has changed. My daily setup revolves around almost all Apple products. I use an iPhone 17 as my primary phone, a MacBook Air M2 for work, an Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) on my wrist, AirPods Pro 2 in my ears, and an iPad mini whenever I want a bigger screen than my iPhone. The ecosystem works well, and it’s a big reason I’ve been around so long. That said, being a long-time Apple user doesn’t mean I think the company gets everything right.
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that Apple often takes its sweet time adopting features that Android users have enjoyed for years. Whether it is customization, AI features, or improving the quality of daily life, iPhone users are often asked to be patient while Apple makes its version of the idea. Most of the time, I was willing to wait because the result is polished enough to justify it. But there’s a difference between waiting for a feature and feeling like your device is being left behind. That’s exactly the feeling I’ve been getting lately with my Apple Watch SE (second generation). For the first time in a long time, I found myself wondering if Apple is asking too much of some of its most loyal customers.
I never asked for an upgrade
Before I get into why I’m frustrated that my SE 2 is missing out on watchOS 27, there’s some context you should know: I never planned on buying this watch in the first place. I was very happy with my Apple Watch SE (first generation). It did everything I needed, and upgrading wasn’t even on my radar. Then the screen suddenly had a problem. I looked into fixing it, but it didn’t go anywhere, and in the end I was left with little choice but to replace it. That’s how I ended up with the SE 2. To be clear, I wasn’t chasing the latest smartwatch or hunting for a reason to upgrade. I wanted another Apple Watch that would fit into my existing setup and handle the things I really care about. For my needs, the SE 2 makes perfect sense. It gave me the typical Apple Watch experience without making me spend flagship money on features I didn’t know I wouldn’t touch. And it’s been good.
Every day it tracks my activity, counts my steps, monitors my heart rate, records my runs, and keeps up with everything I throw at it. Even now, it feels fast, reliable, and completely competent. Nothing about using it suggests that it is nearing the end of its life. That’s why Apple’s decision stings. For me, having a device is not just about whether it still works. Part of the experience is watching it evolve with software updates, trying out new features, and seeing the product evolve over time. It’s one of the reasons I’ve stayed invested in the Apple ecosystem for so long. I know without watchOS 27, my watch won’t stop working suddenly. It will continue to track my usage and manage the basics properly. But it will also stop moving forward. While new Apple watches gain new features and improvements, my SE 2 will effectively be left behind.
Five watches, disconnected once
During the WWDC26 keynote, Apple confirmed that watchOS 27 will come to the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, Series 11, Ultra 2, Ultra 3, and SE (third generation). Series 8, Series 7, Series 6, first generation Ultra, and my SE 2 didn’t make it. Perhaps I would understand the decision better if my watch felt slow, out of date, or unable. But that’s not the case. Every morning when I put it on it does what I bought it to do. That’s why it’s hard not to feel pushed to another development, not because I need it, but just because I want to stay right now.
Seeing Apple drop support for five models at the same time doesn’t sit well with me, because it feels like the opposite of what software updates are supposed to do. I’ve always seen a major update as a way to breathe new life into existing hardware. The bottom line is that your device stays the same while you get new features, a refreshed experience, and improvements that make it feel fresher than yesterday. That’s part of the magic of having technology that gets long-term support.
Trouble-or-nothing
Now, I understand Apple’s logic to some extent. Many watchOS 27 features rely on AI, and older watches don’t have the hardware to run them. That’s fair enough. What I struggle with is the all-or-nothing approach. Not all new features should be supported on all older devices. Apple has rolled out the feature before, saving hardware-dependent features for new products while everyone else gets the basic update. That sounds like a more reasonable compromise than cutting support altogether. Instead, owners of functional watches are being told to stay on the old software so they can continue to use the watch they’ve already paid for. And whether Apple intends to or not, that creates the impression that the easiest way forward is to just buy a new one.
Maybe that’s not the message Apple wants to send. But as someone whose SE 2 still works flawlessly every day, it’s hard not to feel pushed to upgrade long before I need it.
What does honesty really get you?
And that’s the question I always circle around: what exactly do loyal customers get? I spent years buying into this ecosystem. iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods, iPads, Mac I rely on for work. I invested not only money but time to learn and trust these products. That’s why situations like this are so frustrating. Every few years, there seems to be a new reason to improve something that worked so well yesterday. Sometimes it’s a hardware limitation, sometimes it’s a maintenance issue, sometimes software support ends sooner than you expect. For each individual, each decision may make sense. But when you’re in a receptive mood, it feels like a never-ending cycle.
I’m not asking Apple to support every device forever. That is not true. As technology advances, older hardware eventually reaches its limits. What I’m asking for is more consideration for people who have been faithful for years and still use devices that work as intended. Because if the product is still reliable, still strong, and still meets your needs, being told it’s time to move on feels like pressure. Maybe I’ll upgrade my Apple Watch eventually. Will do. But I’d like that to happen because my watch can’t keep up, not because software support was pulled while the hardware still had plenty of life. And right now, that’s the part that leaves a sour taste in my mouth.
