Several popular smartwatches from Apple, Google and Samsung will lose software support during 2026, marking the end of new features and, in some cases, security updates for these devices. The watches will keep working for basic tasks like step tracking and notifications, but the loss of security patches raises concerns for anyone using them for contactless payments or storing health data. The scale is notable this year, with Apple cutting support for five models in one go and Google's and Samsung's support windows also expiring for various models.

With watchOS 27 expected in mid-September 2026, Apple will drop support for the Watch Series 6, 7 and 8, the SE (2nd generation) and the first-generation Watch Ultra, leaving only Series 9 and later, Ultra 2/3 and the SE (3rd generation) compatible. Google's Pixel Watch 2, released in October 2023, loses all updates after 1 October 2026 under Google's three-year support policy, the shortest among the major brands. Samsung splits support into OS upgrades and security patches: the Galaxy Watch 4/4 Classic has already lost OS support, while the Watch 5/5 Pro will stop receiving Wear OS upgrades after 31 December 2026, though security patches continue for longer.