BornCity: 16 Apple Devices to Lose Software Support in Autumn 2026

The Tech TL;DR:
• Apple ends regular software updates for 16 older models across watch, tablet, Mac, and TV lines in its autumn 2026 rollouts.
• New OS features like Siri AI require advanced hardware like an S9 chip, A14 Bionic, or M1 processor and up to 12 GB of memory.
• Users affected by the cutoff can still pair devices with updated iPhones or rely on ongoing security fixes.

Software updates ending for 16 hardware items contrast sharply with Apple keeping older phones like the iPhone 11 on iOS 27, as BornCity reported.

Operating system updates in autumn 2026 end regular software support for 16 devices across four product lines, affecting computer watches, tablets, Macs, and settop boxes. While the manufacturer tailors new feature generations to modern hardware platforms, older devices remain limited to existing core functions and security updates.

Wearables face strict cutoffs under watchOS 27, requiring at least an S9 or S10 chip. That drops support for the Apple Watch Series 6, Series 7, Series 8, the first-generation Apple Watch Ultra, and the second-generation Apple Watch SE.

“The focus is on capability and performance for new features like Siri AI and specific tap gestures,” said Cait Dooley, Apple Watch and Health Product Marketing Manager, when she spoke to BornCity.

Future regular support covers only the third-generation Apple Watch SE, Series 9, Series 10, Series 11, and Ultra 2 and Ultra 3 models. Older watches still pair with iPhones running current operating systems and receive security updates, but miss out on new watchOS 27 features like a dedicated Siri AI app, a dynamic app grid, and Workout Buddy improvements.

In the living room category, the update wave ends support for two streaming boxes: the 2015 Apple TV HD and the first-generation 2017 Apple TV 4K. Only second- and third-generation Apple TV 4K models continue to receive software updates.

Tablets face similar cuts, with iPadOS 27 requiring at least an A14 Bionic or M1 processor. Five models leave the support cycle: the third-generation iPad Air, third-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro, first-generation 11-inch iPad Pro, eighth-generation iPad, and fifth-generation iPad mini.

macOS Golden Gate marks the end of an era for computers by serving as the final operating system version for Intel-based Mac models. Affected hardware includes the 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro, the 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro with four Thunderbolt 3 ports, the 2020 iMac, and the 2019 Mac Pro, though Apple typically provides pure security patches for older versions for at least one year.

The smartphone operating system iOS 27 maintains a broad device base, running on all models from the iPhone 11 and second-generation iPhone SE upward if they already run iOS 26. A backported CPU scheduler delivers up to 30 percent faster app launches on those devices.

High hurdles remain for AI features, as Apple Intelligence and Siri AI demand at least an A17 Pro chip and 8 GB of RAM, restricting use to the iPhone 15 Pro and newer. Standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 models stay excluded from those tools.

Full on-device computations require at least 12 GB of unified memory and up to 14 GB of free storage space. Siri AI remains unavailable in the European Union and restricted in China.

Apple also maintains older software lines, releasing security updates such as iOS 27.2.1 and iOS 26.7.3 on November 9, 2026, to patch vulnerabilities in AirPlay, Bluetooth, and messages.

Always consult with certified IT and cybersecurity professionals before altering enterprise networks or handling sensitive data.

More on Apple: Apple to Scan Public iCloud Links for Harmful Content in iOS 27.3 · Apple Expands iPhone Duo StandBy Features to Older Models in iOS 27.3 Beta · Apple to Refresh iPad Air, Pro, and Entry-Level Models Next Year