One Reason to Be Glad Your Apple Watch Won't Support watchOS 27

One notable shift in watchOS 27 is the removal of Walkie-Talkie on the first developer beta, alongside broader platform changes announced at WWDC 2026. Apple also confirmed that macOS 27 Golden Gate will drop support for Intel-based Macs, and watchOS 27 will drop support for the Apple Watch Series 6, 7, and 8, the second-generation SE, and the first-generation Ultra. The company did not announce a return during the preview, but beta software often evolves before the public release. Some users have reacted online, with others notingWalkie-Talkie’s previously inconsistent performance live in stores and at home.

Despite the omissions, Apple highlighted Siri AI and Apple Intelligence as core updates, and the beta indicates some familiar features remain for now while Walkie-Talkie disappears from the app list and Control Center. Developers are watching closely to see if the feature returns in later beta builds, as is common with early WWDC previews.