Apple’s watchOS 9 will be rolled out to a host of Apple Watch models later this year. So which devices are eligible to receive the update?
Apple‘s watchOS 9 will be rolled out to a host of Apple Watch models, but there are also notable devices that will miss out on the latest update. At its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) on June 6, Apple announced watchOS 9 with a host of new features, many of them oriented towards health and fitness. While some of the new features are meant for specific types of athletes, such as runners and swimmers, others are part of Apple’s Fitness+ subscription service that was launched in 2020.
Apple typically supports its hardware with updates long after they were initially launched. As part of the plan, the iPhone 8, 8 Plus and iPhone X that were released in 2017 will also receive the all-new iOS 16 update, while the iPhone 6s, iPhone SE, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus and iPod touch have been dropped from the list of supported devices. Support for the Apple Watch will also be similarly exhaustive, with a slew of devices slated to receive the latest flavor of watchOS.
Apple’s latest smartwatch, the Watch Series 7, will get the watchOS 9 update. The new software will also be rolled out to the Apple Watch Series 6, which was released in 2020. Also getting the update will be the Apple Watch Series 5 and Apple Watch SE, both of which were released in 2019. Finally, the Apple Watch Series 4 from 2018 will be the oldest model to get watchOS 9. That leaves out the Watch Series 3, which is being dropped from the list of supported devices for the next round of updates.
Apple Watch Series 3 Will Not Receive WatchOS 9
What makes Apple’s decision to EoL (end-of-life) Watch Series 3 curious is that Apple still sells it in many markets worldwide as an affordable alternative to the newer Apple Watch models. It is available for under $200 and is also often recommended by some tech blogs as a decent buy at that price. That said, the device was released back in 2017 and is outdated in the fast-paced world of smartwatches. Circa 2022, many newer options are available in the market, and often at lower price points.
Looking at what watchOS 9 has in store for users, the update comes with new watch faces, sleep stages, AFib History, medication tracking, and more. The Workout app has also been updated to display more information and metrics. It will also enable users to add new alerts for pace, power, heart rate and cadence. The app now also supports a new Multisport workout regimen for triathletes, allowing it to automatically switch between swimming, biking and running. While the Apple Watch is typically meant for mainstream users rather than professional athletes, the company hopes that the new updates will make it an essential tool for hardcore fitness enthusiasts who prefer Garmin or other similar devices.
