Will your Apple Watch get the watchOS 9 update?

Apple’s WWDC 2022 keynote live stream has wrapped up and we got our first look at all the upgrades coming to our iPhones, iPads, and MacBook devices. This includes the first look at watchOS 9 and all the features available on the new operating system for the Apple Watch smartwatches.

And there are some awesome new features for the new Apple Watch operating system. These include making it a better fitness partner with training options like the triathlon-focused mode, which will let you automatically switch between swimming, cycling, and running on the fly. 

Beyond fitness, there will soon be new health options, including medication tracking. You can manually build medication lists or use your iPhone camera to scan a label and automatically add the medication to your existing list. 

Apple can even look at possible drug interactions that could cause you trouble. The Health app can warn you about substances that could react badly with your medication, such as alcohol.

But what devices will support watchOS 9 at launch and get access to these and other features?

What devices support watchOS 9?

Apple said that watchOS 9 is coming “this fall” (read September through November). This free update will be available on Apple Watch 4 and later. More specifically, that includes the following smartwatches:

Apple Watch 4Apple Watch 5Apple Watch 6Apple Watch 7Apple Watch SE

You’ll also need to pair it with an iOS 16-compatible iPhone. This means you’ll need:

iPhone 8 and  iPhone 8 PlusiPhone XiPhone XRiPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro MaxiPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro MaxiPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro MaxiPhone SE (2020) and iPhone SE (2022)

What about people using an Apple Watch 3 and older?

If you aren’t using an Apple Watch 4 or later you’ll miss out on all of the upgrades coming with watchOS 9, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to replace it right away.

While it won’t offer the same fitness and health support, your old Apple Watch 3 will continue to work just as well as it always has. Over time you might find some compatibility issues appear as watchOS 9 and iOS 16 integrate more closely (leaving behind older operating systems), but generally, your device will keep doing its thing.

You might want to consider any security concerns that come with using older devices, though. Hardware and software that’s been available longer are more likely to be cracked open by hackers as they’ll have more experience in finding its vulnerabilities. 

Those of you now looking for an upgrade might want to check out the best Apple Watch deals we’ve been able to find. The most budget-friendly option will likely be the Apple Watch SE. You might be able to find a deal on a refurbished Apple Watch 4 or later too, if you don’t mind reusing someone else’s old (but still working) tech.

Will your iPhone get the iOS 16 update?Will your iPad get the iPadOS 16 update?