These modern smartwatches are in their final year of updates

Several popular smartwatches will reach the end of their life in 2026, from the Pixel Watch 2 to Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 5 and 5 Pro, as well as a whole host of Apple Watch models. These devices won’t stop working, but they will stop receiving new features and, in some cases, security patches.

A lot can change in three years. The smartwatch on your wrist may have seemed cutting-edge when you first strapped it on, but for a growing number of popular models, 2026 marks the last year of guaranteed software support. This is true for all three major platforms: Apple, Google and Samsung.

What does this actually mean? Your old model watch won’t suddenly stop working, but it will stop moving. They’ll work just fine tracking steps and sending notifications, but if you’re using the watch for contactless payments or storing sensitive health data, the lack of ongoing security updates should raise alarms.

It is also worth noting the magnitude of the changes that have taken place this year. Apple alone is dropping five models with a single watchOS update – an absolutely massive reduction. Add in the expiration of Google’s three-year support window and the limitations of Samsung’s Wear OS for the Watch 5 line, and 2026 is shaping up to be an important time for smartwatch owners to take stock of their device’s status.

Right now, Apple’s latest models are the Watch Series 11, Ultra 3, and the budget Watch SE (3rd generation). The only Apple Watch models compatible with watchOS 27 are Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Ultra 3, and Apple Watch SE (3rd generation).

This means that with the upcoming release of watchOS 27, the Apple Watch Series 6, Series 7, Series 8, Apple Watch SE 2nd generation, and Apple Watch Ultra first generation will no longer be supported. This appears to be a hardware-related situation where modern Siri works best with the chips in the Apple Watch Series 9 and later. Apple typically gives Watch models between three and six years of major OS support before being phased out, and the Series 8 and Ultra (1st generation) were both released in 2022.

The release of watchOS 27 is expected to occur around mid-September 2026. Apple typically releases major watchOS updates around the same time that new iPhone and Apple Watch hardware launches in September. WatchOS 27 was initially announced in June and underwent beta testing by developers and the public over the summer.

According to Google’s official support page, the Pixel Watch 2, released in October 2023, has a guaranteed software update window until October 1, 2026. This includes both Wear OS version updates and security patches. Once this date passes – and we are not that far away – the Pixel Watch 2 will no longer receive either.

Google’s current Pixel Watch lineup follows a clear three-year support policy from the device’s release date on the Google Store. Therefore, here is when you can expect your device to reach end of life:

• Pixel Watch 2: October 2026

• Pixel Watch 3: October 2027

• Pixel Watch 4: October 2028

Google offers an industry-leading seven years of support for its Pixel smartphones, but has yet to implement a similar policy for the Pixel Watch line. Currently, Google offers the shortest watch support lifespan among major brands.

Which Samsung Galaxy Watch models are nearing the end of Wear OS upgrades?

Samsung’s approach to support is a little different, dividing its commitment into two tiers. First, you get a schedule for Wear OS upgrades and another for security updates. In recent years, Samsung has offered four major operating system upgrades and five years of security patches per device.

Here is the timeline of Samsung models:

• Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic (August 2021): Wear OS support has already ended; security upgrades will stop in the near future.

• Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro (August 2022): will benefit from Wear OS upgrades until December 31, 2026; Security upgrades continue.

• Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic (August 2023): will benefit from Wear OS upgrades until December 2027; Security upgrades continue.

• Galaxy Watch FE: will benefit from Wear OS upgrades until December 2028; Security upgrades continue.

The words “end of support” seem a little more alarming than they should be. The end of the world isn’t coming, you don’t need to get an upgrade immediately, and you won’t end up with a brick on your wrist. Your watch won’t suddenly stop working, and you’ll still be able to track your workouts, receive notifications, and use most of the features you rely on every day.

What you lose is forward momentum. There will be no operating system features, no app compatibility improvements, and potentially no security fixes, according to the manufacturer. This can be quite risky if you use your watch to make payments, for example, as the lack of patched vulnerabilities could allow hackers to exploit payment data. The same thing happens with these extremely popular smartphones that are in their last year of software support.

With 2026 being a major checkpoint for smartwatch owners on major platforms, it may be time to consider an upgrade.