---
title: "Apple Drops 16 Devices from 2026 Updates: iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, macOS 27, tvOS 27 Chip Requirements"
url: https://digitaltechbyte.com/apple-drops-16-devices-from-2026-updates/
date: 2026-06-15
modified: 2026-06-15
author: "Brijesh Desai"
description: "Apple Drops 16 Devices from 2026 Updates: Apple discontinues 16 older devices from 2026 software updates including iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, macOS 27 Golden Gate, and tvOS 27. Intel Macs,..."
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "2026 Apple OS release"
  - "A12 chip iPadOS 27 requirement"
  - "Apple discontinued devices"
  - "Apple drops 16 devices 2026 updates"
  - "Apple Drops 16 Devices from 2026 Updates"
  - "Apple drops Intel Macs"
  - "Apple Intelligence iPhone 15 Pro"
  - "Apple Silicon only macOS 27"
  - "Apple Silicon transition"
  - "Apple TV 4K 2017 no tvOS 27"
  - "Apple TV HD 2015 no tvOS 27"
  - "Apple Watch Series 6 no watchOS 27"
  - "Apple Watch Series 7 no watchOS 27"
  - "Apple Watch Series 8 no watchOS 27"
  - "chip requirements Apple updates"
  - "Fall 2026 iOS release"
  - "Intel Macs dropped macOS 27"
  - "iOS 27 iPhone 11 compatible"
  - "iPad Air 2019 no iPadOS 27"
  - "iPad Pro 2018 no iPadOS 27"
  - "iPadOS 27 unsupported devices"
  - "iPhone 17e iOS 27"
  - "iPhone Air iOS 27"
  - "MacBook Pro 2019 no macOS 27"
  - "macOS 27 Golden Gate Intel Macs"
  - "older devices no updates"
  - "tvOS 27 unsupported Apple TV"
  - "watchOS 27 unsupported devices"
  - "WWDC 2026 Apple updates"
image: https://digitaltechbyte.com/wpbytes/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Apple-AI.jpg
word_count: 1357
---

# Apple Drops 16 Devices from 2026 Updates: iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, macOS 27, tvOS 27 Chip Requirements

Apple Drops 16 Devices from 2026 Updates: Apple discontinues 16 older devices from 2026 software updates including iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, macOS 27 Golden Gate, and tvOS 27. Intel Macs, iPads from 2018-2019, Apple Watch Series 6-8, Apple TV HD/4K Gen 1 all dropped. New updates require newer chips.
Apple has officially **dropped 16 devices from 2026 software updates** due to chip requirements, discontinuing compatibility for older Intel-based Macs, select iPads, Apple Watches, and Apple TV models. The devices won't receive **iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, macOS 27 Golden Gate, and tvOS 27** when they roll out later in 2026.

This announcement came at **WWDC 2026 last week**, with public releases expected later this year.

## Why Apple Dropped These Devices

The **main reason** is chip requirements:

| System | New Minimum Chip Requirement |
| ------ | ---------------------------- |
| **macOS 27 Golden Gate** | Only supports **Apple Silicon chips** (no Intel) |
| **iPadOS 27** | Requires newer iPad chips (A10+ or A12+) |
| **watchOS 27** | Requires newer Apple Watch chips |
| **tvOS 27** | Requires newer Apple TV chips |

Older chips can't run the new AI-powered features and system improvements.

## Complete List: 16 Devices Dropped from 2026 Updates

## iPad Devices (4 devices)

| Device | Year | Why Dropped |
| ------ | ---- | ----------- |
| **iPad Air (2019)** | 2019 | Too old chip (A12 not supported) |
| **iPad Pro 11-inch (1st gen, 2018)** | 2018 | A10X chip too old |
| **iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd gen, 2018)** | 2018 | A10X chip too old |
| **iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017)** | 2017 | A10X chip too old |

## Apple Watch Devices (3 devices)

| Device | Year | Why Dropped |
| ------ | ---- | ----------- |
| **Apple Watch Series 6** | 2020 | Older chip not supported |
| **Apple Watch Series 7** | 2021 | Older chip not supported |
| **Apple Watch Series 8** | 2022 | Older chip not supported |

## Intel-Based Macs (6 devices)

| Device | Year | Why Dropped |
| ------ | ---- | ----------- |
| **MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)** | 2019 | Intel chip, macOS 27 requires Apple Silicon only |
| **MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, 4 Thunderbolt)** | 2019 | Intel chip, requires Apple Silicon |
| **MacBook Air (2020, Intel)** | 2020 | Intel chip, requires Apple Silicon |
| **iMac (2019, 21.5-inch)** | 2019 | Intel chip, requires Apple Silicon |
| **iMac (2020, 27-inch)** | 2020 | Intel chip, requires Apple Silicon |
| **Mac Pro (2019)** | 2019 | Intel chip, requires Apple Silicon |

## Apple TV Devices (2 devices)

| Device | Year | Why Dropped |
| ------ | ---- | ----------- |
| **Apple TV HD (2015)** | 2015 | A8 chip too old for tvOS 27 |
| **Apple TV 4K (1st gen, 2017)** | 2017 | A10X chip too old for tvOS 27 |

## Key Changes by System

## macOS 27 Golden Gate: Intel Macs Completely Dropped

macOS 27 **only supports Apple Silicon chips**, meaning all Intel-based Macs are excluded.

**Intel Macs that won't get macOS 27:**

- MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, 4 Thunderbolt)
- MacBook Air (2020, Intel)
- iMac (2019, 21.5-inch)
- iMac (2020, 27-inch)
- Mac Pro (2019)

This is a **major shift** — Apple is fully transitioning to Apple Silicon-only macOS support.

## iPadOS 27: 2017-2019 iPads Dropped

Older iPads from 2017-2019 won't receive iPadOS 27.

**iPad devices that won't get iPadOS 27:**

- iPad Air (2019)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (1st gen, 2018)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd gen, 2018)
- iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017)

These iPads have A10X or A12 chips that don't meet new requirements.

## watchOS 27: Apple Watch Series 6-8 Dropped

Three older Apple Watch models won't receive watchOS 27.

**Apple Watch devices that won't get watchOS 27:**

- Apple Watch Series 6 (2020)
- Apple Watch Series 7 (2021)
- Apple Watch Series 8 (2022)

Only Apple Watch Series 9 and newer (with S9 chip) will get watchOS 27.

## tvOS 27: Apple TV HD and 4K Gen 1 Dropped

Two Apple TV models are excluded from tvOS 27.

**Apple TV devices that won't get tvOS 27:**

Apple TV HD (2015)

Apple TV 4K (1st gen, 2017)

Only Apple TV 4K (2nd gen, 2021) and newer (with A12 chip) will get tvOS 27.

## Devices That WILL Get 2026 Updates

## iPhone Devices Getting iOS 27 (Full List)

Despite dropping 16 devices on other platforms, **iPhone 11 and newer still get iOS 27**:

| iPhone Models | iOS 27 Compatible | Apple Intelligence Compatible |
| ------------- | ----------------- | ----------------------------- |
| iPhone SE (2nd gen+) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| iPhone 11 | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| iPhone 11 Pro/Max | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| iPhone 12 Mini | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| iPhone 12/Pro/Max | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| iPhone 13 Mini/Pro/Max | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| iPhone 14/Plus/Pro/Max | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| iPhone 15/Plus/Pro/Max | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (Pro/Max only) |
| iPhone 16e/16/Pro/Max | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| iPhone 17e/17/Pro/Max | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| iPhone Air | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |

**Apple Intelligence (AI) requires iPhone 15 Pro or newer**.

## What About iPadOS 27?

Devices that WILL get iPadOS 27 include:

- iPad (10th gen, 2022) with A14 chip
- iPad Air (2020, 4th gen) with A12 chip
- iPad Air (2022, 5th gen) with M1 chip
- iPad Pro (2018+) with A12X or M1+ chips
- iPad Mini (2021, 6th gen) with A15 chip

Basically, **2020+ iPads with A12+ chips** get iPadOS 27.

## What About watchOS 27?

Devices that WILL get watchOS 27 include:

- Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) with S9 chip
- Apple Watch Ultra 2 (2023) with S9 chip
- Apple Watch Series 10 (2024) with S10 chip
- Apple Watch Ultra 3 (2025) with S10 chip

Only **Apple Watch Series 9 and newer** get watchOS 27.

## What About macOS 27?

Devices that WILL get macOS 27 include:

- MacBook Air (2020, M1)
- MacBook Air (2022, M2)
- MacBook Air (2024, M3)
- MacBook Pro (2020, M1)
- MacBook Pro (2021, M1 Pro/Max)
- MacBook Pro (2023, M2 Pro/Max)
- MacBook Pro (2024, M3 Pro/Max)
- iMac (2021, M1)
- iMac (2023, M3)
- iMac (2024, M3)
- Mac mini (2020, M1)
- Mac mini (2023, M2)
- Mac mini (2024, M3)
- Mac Studio (2023, M2 Max/Ultra)
- Mac Studio (2024, M3 Max/Ultra)
- Mac Pro (2023, M2 Max)

Only **Apple Silicon Macs** get macOS 27 — no Intel.

## What About tvOS 27?

Devices that WILL get tvOS 27 include:

- Apple TV 4K (2nd gen, 2021) with A12 chip
- Apple TV 4K (3rd gen, 2023) with A15 chip
- Apple TV 4K (4th gen, 2025) with A17 chip

Only **2021+ Apple TV 4K models** get tvOS 27.

## Timeline: When Will This Happen?

| Milestone | Date |
| --------- | ---- |
| **WWDC 2026 Announcement** | June 7-12, 2026 (last week) |
| **Public Release** | Fall 2026 (September-November) |
| **iOS 27 Launch** | September 2026 (with iPhone 18) |
| **iPadOS 27 Launch** | September 2026 |
| **watchOS 27 Launch** | September 2026 |
| **macOS 27 Launch** | September 2026 |
| **tvOS 27 Launch** | September 2026 |

Current software versions will continue to work, but **no new updates** will be available after 2026 releases.

## What Happens If You're Using a Dropped Device?

## You'll Still Have:

- Current OS version (works fine)
- Apps you already installed
- Access to iMessage, FaceTime, etc.
- Basic functionality

## You'll LOSE:

- No new iOS/iPadOS/watchOS/macOS/tvOS updates
- No Apple Intelligence features (AI)
- No new Siri capabilities
- No parental control improvements
- Eventually, app compatibility issues (as apps update to require new OS)

## Security Implications:

- Older devices won't get **security patches** in future updates
- Potential vulnerability to new threats
- Eventually, apps may stop working

## Why This Happens (The Real Reason)

Apple drops devices for several reasons:

| Reason | Explanation |
| ------ | ----------- |
| **Chip limitations** | Older chips can't run AI features or new system improvements |
| **Memory constraints** | Older devices have less RAM for new features |
| **Battery life** | New OS drains old batteries faster |
| **Performance** | New features would slow down old devices |
| **Apple Silicon transition** | Full switch to Apple Silicon, dropping Intel |
| **Cost of support** | Developing for old hardware is expensive |

The **chip requirements** are the stated reason — newer chips handle AI and performance demands better.

## The Bottom Line

Apple has dropped **16 devices from 2026 software updates** due to chip requirements: 4 iPads (2017-2019), 3 Apple Watches (Series 6-8), 6 Intel Macs (2019-2020), and 2 Apple TVs (2015-2017). **macOS 27 only supports Apple Silicon, completely dropping Intel Macs**. iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, and tvOS 27 also require newer chips. Public releases expected in Fall 2026, announced at WWDC 2026 last week. iPhone 11 and newer still get iOS 27, but Apple Intelligence requires iPhone 15 Pro or newer.

---

## Quick Summary

Apple dropped 16 devices from 2026 updates (iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, macOS 27 Golden Gate, tvOS 27) due to chip requirements. Dropped: 4 iPads (iPad Air 2019, iPad Pro 11" 2018, iPad Pro 12.9" 2018, iPad Pro 10.5" 2017), 3 Apple Watches (Series 6-8: 2020-2022), 6 Intel Macs (MacBook Pro 16" 2019, MacBook Pro 13" 2019, MacBook Air 2020 Intel, iMac 2019 21.5", iMac 2020 27", Mac Pro 2019), 2 Apple TVs (HD 2015, 4K Gen 1 2017). macOS 27 only supports Apple Silicon (no Intel). iPhone 11+ still get iOS 27, but Apple Intelligence requires iPhone 15 Pro+. Public release Fall 2026, announced at WWDC 2026.