An Apple Watch Series 6, 7 or 8, SE (2nd generation) or original Ultra is unsupported by watchOS 27, but it keeps working on watchOS 26 with every feature it has today and still pairs with an iPhone on iOS 27. Apple is still patching these watches for now, with watchOS 26.6.1 on November 9, 2026, though it publishes no schedule for more. If you sell, they averaged about $88 to $134 on Swappa (the original Ultra about $221), while a used Apple Watch Series 9, the cheapest Series that runs watchOS 27, averaged about $172 to $174. Prices vary, so check current Swappa prices.
Listing is free. Sellers pay 3% plus payment processing when it sells.
Ready to upgrade instead? Shop used Apple Watches that still get watchOS 27.
Below: which models watchOS 27 dropped, what still works, where security stands, what your watch is worth now and the cheapest supported upgrade.
Which Apple Watches watchOS 27 Dropped
Apple’s update page says watchOS 27 is compatible with the Apple Watch SE 3, Series 9 and later, and Ultra 2 and later. It also needs an iPhone 11 or later, or an iPhone SE (2nd generation) or later, running iOS 27. That leaves five recent models on watchOS 26:
| Apple Watch | Year | Newest watchOS | Gets watchOS 27 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series 6 | 2020 | watchOS 26 | No |
| Series 7 | 2021 | watchOS 26 | No |
| Series 8 | 2022 | watchOS 26 | No |
| SE (2nd generation) | 2022 | watchOS 26 | No |
| Ultra (1st generation) | 2022 | watchOS 26 | No |
| Series 9 and later, SE 3, Ultra 2 and later | 2023 to 2026 | watchOS 27 | Yes |
Not sure which one you have? On your iPhone, open the Watch app and tap My Watch, General, then About, or see What Apple Watch Do I Have? How to Identify Your Model and Size. The full support list, with buying advice for every generation, lives in the Used Apple Watch Buyer’s Guide: Series, SE & Ultra Ranked.
What Still Works
An unsupported Apple Watch is still a working Apple Watch. Dropping off the newest watchOS removes nothing: watch faces, health tracking, workouts, notifications and apps work as they did before.
- Software Update still works. Apple says that if your watch is not compatible with the latest watchOS, Software Update shows the newest version your watch can use. Right now that is watchOS 26.6.1.
- It still pairs with a current iPhone. Apple’s compatibility chart lists each of these watches as working with iOS 14, 15 or 16 “or later,” so an iPhone on iOS 27 pairs with them.
- Keep both devices current. Apple notes that some iOS updates need a matching watchOS update so your data, including Activity data, keeps syncing. Install every watchOS 26 update Apple offers.
What you miss is everything new in watchOS 27. Apple lists Siri AI and a new Siri app, a dynamic app grid, a single tap gesture, new Workout Buddy insights, perimenopause support in Cycle Tracking, more accurate indoor run and walk distances, and custom Wallet passes. None of those come to a dropped watch. App makers also set their own minimum watchOS versions, so over time some apps may stop updating.
Security Updates After the Cutoff
Apple is still patching these watches, at least for now. On November 9, 2026, it released watchOS 26.6.1 for the Series 6, 7 and 8, the SE 2 and the original Ultra, its first watchOS 26 update since watchOS 26.6 in July. Apple’s security notes list five fixes, all for attacks from someone within Bluetooth range or on the same network, such as pairing with a watch without the owner’s approval.
Worth knowing: Apple does not say how long watchOS 26 will get fixes. It patched these watches about eight weeks after watchOS 27 launched, but the next fix could come quickly, slowly or not at all.
That makes the picture better than “unsupported” sounds. Your watch is current as of watchOS 26.6.1, it leans on your iPhone for much of what it does, and the iPhone keeps getting updates. The risk grows over time if Apple stops patching watchOS 26 while new flaws keep turning up.
How much that matters depends on how you use the watch. One used for workouts, the time and notifications carries less risk than one you rely on for Apple Pay every day. Keeping an Older Device Secure After Updates End explains which risks are real and the habits that close most of the gap.
Keep, Sell or Upgrade?
Each choice fits a different owner:
| Choice | Best if | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Keep it | It works well, and you mostly use fitness tracking and notifications | No new features, and no promise of fixes after watchOS 26.6.1 |
| Sell it and upgrade | You want Siri AI, Workout Buddy or other watchOS 27 features | Resale value keeps falling as newer models arrive |
| Hand it down | Someone in the family has an iPhone 11 or newer and wants a basic watch | They inherit the same update situation |
If you are leaning toward selling, sooner usually pays more, because each new Apple Watch launch pulls older generations down. The Best Time to Sell Electronics covers timing in detail.
A watch with cracked glass, water damage or a battery that no longer charges properly cannot be listed on Swappa. For a damaged watch, see Selling Broken or For-Parts Devices for Cash.
What Your Watch Is Worth Now
These are Swappa’s average sale prices as of November 11, 2026: what buyers actually paid, not asking prices. “Est. net after fees” is what a seller keeps after Swappa’s 3% seller fee and PayPal’s 3.49% plus $0.49, treating the sale price as what the buyer paid with the 3% buyer fee already inside it.
| Model | Avg Swappa sale price | Est. net after fees | Apple Trade In (up to) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series 8 (41mm, 45mm) | $127 to $134 | $114 to $121 | $90 |
| Series 7 (41mm, 45mm) | $97 to $110 | $87 to $99 | $65 |
| Series 6 (40mm, 44mm) | $88 to $95 | $79 to $85 | $40 |
| SE (2nd gen) (40mm, 44mm) | $105 to $106 | $94 to $95 | $60 |
| Ultra (1st gen) | $221 | $199 | $190 |
Selling kept about $22 to $45 more than Apple’s best trade-in quote on the Series 6, 7 and 8 and the SE 2, and Apple pays in credit or an Apple Gift Card. The original Ultra is close to even. For cash without listing, compare Swappa Trade-In partner offers, and see Trade-In vs. Sell: How to Get the Most for Your Old Tech for when trading in makes sense.
Prices vary with case size, material, cellular, condition and demand, and they change week to week. Wear and battery move the number most: How Much Does Condition Affect Resale Value? and Used Smartwatch Battery Health: What’s Normal explain both.
Before you list, unpair the watch from your iPhone in the Watch app so Activation Lock comes off. Activation Lock on a Used Apple Watch: What to Check explains why, and How to Sell a Used Smartwatch for the Most Money walks through photos, pricing and shipping.
Cheapest Supported Upgrades
You do not need a new watch to get watchOS 27. These used models all run it, with Swappa average sale prices from November 11, 2026:
| Upgrade | Avg Swappa sale price | Why pick it |
|---|---|---|
| Series 9 (41mm, 45mm) | $172 to $174 | Cheapest Series on watchOS 27 |
| SE (3rd gen) (40mm, 44mm) | $182 to $186 | Current SE, based on fewer sales |
| Series 10 (42mm, 46mm) | $217 to $229 | Bigger screens and faster charging |
| Ultra 2 | $324 | The natural step up from an original Ultra |
Put the two tables together and the real cost of upgrading is smaller than the sticker. Before sales tax:
- Series 8 to Series 9: roughly $53 for the 45mm.
- Series 7 or Series 6 to Series 9 41mm: roughly $73 to $93.
- SE 2 to SE 3: roughly $87 to $92.
- Ultra to Ultra 2: roughly $125.
Every watchOS 27 model needs an iPhone 11 or later, or an iPhone SE (2nd generation) or later, on iOS 27. Weighing a new watch instead? Apple Watch Series 12 vs. Used: Which Should You Buy? compares the current model with used options, and Used Smartwatches: The Complete Guide to Buying and Selling covers non-Apple alternatives.
Pairing an Older Watch With a New iPhone
Buying a new iPhone does not force a new watch. Every dropped model pairs with an iPhone running iOS 27. Update the watch to the latest watchOS 26 release and back up your old iPhone first, because Apple says the iPhone backup also backs up the watch. Then restore the new iPhone from that backup and keep the watch on your wrist when setup asks about it.
The limit runs the other way: a watch on watchOS 26 will not pair with an older iPhone that cannot run iOS 26. Which Used Apple Watch Works With My iPhone? explains that chain model by model.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Apple Watches did watchOS 27 drop?
watchOS 27 dropped the Apple Watch Series 6, Series 7, Series 8, SE (2nd generation) and the first-generation Ultra. Those watches stay on watchOS 26. Apple says watchOS 27 runs on the SE 3, the Series 9 and later, and the Ultra 2 and later, paired with an iPhone 11 or later, or an iPhone SE (2nd generation) or later, on iOS 27.
Can I still use an Apple Watch Series 8 after watchOS 27?
Yes. A Series 8 keeps working on watchOS 26 with all its current features, and it still pairs with an iPhone on iOS 27. It will not get watchOS 27 features such as Siri AI or the new Workout Buddy insights.
Will my unsupported Apple Watch still get security updates?
For now, yes. Apple released watchOS 26.6.1 on November 9, 2026 for the Series 6, 7 and 8, the SE 2 and the original Ultra, fixing five Bluetooth and network pairing flaws. Apple does not publish a schedule for further watchOS 26 updates, so install each one Software Update offers.
How much is an Apple Watch Series 7 worth now?
A used Apple Watch Series 7 sold for about $97 (45mm) to $110 (41mm) on Swappa as of November 11, 2026, which leaves a seller about $87 to $99 after fees. Apple Trade In offered up to $65. Prices vary with condition, case material and cellular.
What is the cheapest Apple Watch that gets watchOS 27?
The Apple Watch Series 9 is the cheapest used Series that runs watchOS 27. It averaged about $172 (41mm) to $174 (45mm) on Swappa as of November 11, 2026. The SE 3 also runs watchOS 27 and averaged about $182 to $186, based on fewer sales.
Will an older Apple Watch pair with a new iPhone?
Yes, for the models watchOS 27 dropped. Apple’s compatibility chart lists the Series 6, 7 and 8, the SE 2 and the original Ultra as working with their minimum iOS version or later, so an iPhone on iOS 27 pairs with them. Update the watch and back up the old iPhone before you switch.
Your Watch Still Works, So Decide on Your Terms
An Apple Watch dropped from watchOS 27 is still a good watch, and it is still getting security fixes for now, so keeping it is reasonable if it does what you need. If you want the new features, what it sells for covers roughly half to two thirds of a used Series 9, and that share shrinks with each new launch. Sell it while it still brings $90 to $130 and put that toward a supported watch.
