Apple, Google, Samsung All Cut Off Updates at Once: 2026 Marks the End for These Smartwatches
Apple Watch Series 6 through 8, Pixel Watch 2, and the Galaxy Watch 5 series will all stop receiving updates in 2026. The watches will still work, but their security and features will be frozen in place.
The watch on your wrist won't suddenly go dark, but it's reaching the end of software support. In 2026, Apple, Google, and Samsung are all cutting a batch of smartwatches from their update lists at the same time — a level of overlap that's rarely seen.
Apple is hit hardest. With watchOS 27 expected to launch around mid-September 2026, the Apple Watch Series 6, Series 7, Series 8, second-generation Apple Watch SE, and the first-generation Apple Watch Ultra will all be dropped from the support list in one go. The only models that can upgrade to watchOS 27 will be the Series 9, Series 10, Series 11, Ultra 2, Ultra 3, and third-generation Apple Watch SE. This is widely seen as a chip performance issue — the new Siri reportedly requires the processing power of a Series 9 or later to run smoothly. Given Apple's usual practice of offering three to six years of major OS support for its watches, the Series 8 and first-gen Ultra, both launched in 2022, are cutting it close on their way out.
On Google's side, the Pixel Watch 2, which launched in October 2023, has its software update guarantee ending on October 1, 2026 — after which both Wear OS version updates and security patches will stop. Google follows a fixed three-year support policy for the Pixel Watch line: the Pixel Watch 3 is covered until October 2027, and the Pixel Watch 4 until October 2028. Compared to the seven years of support Google gives its Pixel phones, the three-year cycle for its watches is the shortest among the three brands.
Samsung's Two-Track System: OS Upgrades and Security Updates Run on Separate Clocks
Samsung splits support into two separate timelines — one for major Wear OS upgrades, and another for security updates. In recent years, its policy has been four OS upgrades paired with five years of security updates. The Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic, launched in August 2021, have already finished receiving OS upgrades, and their security updates are set to end soon as well. The Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro, which launched in August 2022, will keep getting Wear OS upgrades through December 31, 2026, with security updates continuing a bit longer after that. The August 2023 Galaxy Watch 6 series is covered for upgrades through December 2027, while the Galaxy Watch FE runs through December 2028.
Losing support doesn't mean the watch is dead. Basic functions like step counting and notifications will keep working as usual. What actually disappears is the ability to "move forward" — no new system features, no app compatibility optimizations, and for some models, even security patches will stop entirely. The most tangible risk lies in mobile payments and health data: once vulnerabilities stop getting patched, that sensitive information stored on the watch loses a layer of protection.
2026 just happens to be the year all three platforms' support windows close in on each other. If the watch on your wrist falls on one of these lists, this is a good moment to reconsider whether it's time for an upgrade — not a reason to toss it out right away.
