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watchOS 11 Rumored to Drop Support for Apple Watch Series 4

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Apple's upcoming watchOS 11 update will drop support for 2018's Apple Watch Series 4, according to iPhoneSoft.

apple watch series 4 flames
After five years of receiving the latest software updates, Apple Watch Series 3 lost support upon the release of watchOS 9 in 2022. Last year's watchOS 10 update was compatible with all of the same Apple Watch models as watchOS 9, but a new rumor claims that watchOS 11 will drop support for the oldest currently supported Apple smartwatch: the Apple Watch Series 4. The full device compatibility list for watchOS 11 is said to be as follows:

  • Apple Watch Series 5 (2019)
  • Apple Watch Series 6 (2020)
  • Apple Watch Series 7 (2021)
  • Apple Watch Series 8 (2022)
  • Apple Watch Series 9 (2023)
  • Apple Watch SE (first generation, 2020)
  • Apple Watch SE (second generation, 2022)
  • Apple Watch Ultra (first generation, 2022)
  • Apple Watch Ultra 2 (2023)

The Apple Watch Series 4 debuted alongside the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max in 2018, introducing the device's first ever redesign, a larger display, double the amount of storage, Fall Detection, and the ability to take an ECG.

Last year, iOS 17 dropped support for the iPhone X, but iOS 18 is rumored to support all of the same models as its predecessor. Apple is expected to preview watchOS 11, iOS 18, and its other next-generation software updates at WWDC on June 10. The updates will likely release to the public in the fall.

Related Roundup: watchOS 26
Related Forum: Apple Watch

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Top Rated Comments

Babu Life Avatar
Babu Life
26 months ago
kinda lame when my series 4 works perfectly still
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S
simbo123
26 months ago
This will be disappointing if true because the Series 4 SIP is the same (performance wise) as the Series 5 and SE 1st Gen.

Would be better if they supported Series 4 one more year and then dropped all three devices.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
N
Nekronos
26 months ago

whenever someone accuses Apple of doing planned obsolescence, years of software updates immediately destroy their argument.
On the contrary it supports said argument, Windows has always surpassed MacOS in terms of years of updates and android has now surpassed iOS for updates.

Given the touted quality and longevity of Apple's hardware, one would expect more years of updates but going back to the planned obsolescence argument, it's clear Apple wants you to upgrade your device every few years - and why wouldn't they, they make their money on hardware, not software.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
T
truthsteve
26 months ago
whenever someone accuses Apple of doing planned obsolescence, years of software updates immediately destroy their argument.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
scrapesleon Avatar
scrapesleon
26 months ago
Doesn’t make sense when the series 5 is basically the same spec
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
M
Motawa
26 months ago

I get the business case here for Apple -- but seriously, for a WATCH, they can't even support an older version's basic ability to even just show the current time and date?

My old Casio G-Shocks never had this problem. /ducks
I got some news for you: The series 4 does NOT explode when watchOS 11 comes.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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