Apple is halting software feature updates for several older Apple Watch models, including the Apple Watch Ultra released in 2022.
The move effectively ends the functional lifecycle for devices that originally commanded premium prices, as the company shifts focus to newer hardware capable of running its latest artificial intelligence capabilities.
While security patches will continue to be issued, users of affected models will no longer receive new features or performance enhancements in the upcoming WatchOS 27 release.
The decision underscores the increasing computational demands of Apple’s AI strategy, which older processors cannot support.
For investors, this signals a potential acceleration in upgrade cycles for consumers who purchased high-end models just a few years ago.
The 2022 Ultra, which launched at approximately €1,000, is now functionally obsolete in terms of feature parity, a relatively short lifespan for a premium wearable device.