Apple Watch Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Apple Prematurely Ended Software Support for Older Models

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Apple faces a proposed class action lawsuit that alleges the tech giant intentionally and unilaterally “bricked” certain Apple Watches sold within the last few years by discontinuing software support before the watches’ expected end of life.   

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The 13-page lawsuit contends that in June 2026, when Apple introduced watchOS 27, its most recent watch software update, the company prematurely discontinued support for five generations of Apple Watches, including the SE 2, Series 6, Series 7, Series 8 and Ultra 1, which are incompatible with the new software. Per the case, Apple’s decision to end support for the older models, all of which have been sold within the past few years, will eventually “brick[]” the devices, or render them useless, well before the hardware reaches the end of its useful life.

According to the complaint, Apple markets and advertises its watches, which range in price from roughly $250 to $849, as premium, sophisticated wearable computers that function similarly to the iPhone. The watches’ functionality is dependent on the watchOS software, and continued compatibility with the software is an “essential” component of the watches’ value and usefulness, per the case.

However, the lawsuit asserts that Apple did not disclose to consumers at the time of purchase how long their watches would receive necessary software updates, which are used to introduce new features, improve functionality, enhance security, support user experience and maintain compatibility with newer iPhone operating systems.

Apple’s unilateral decision to stop supporting the devices’ software will cause the watches to become “increasingly ridden with software bugs,” which will slow their functioning and eventually turn them into “non-functional ‘bricks’ with limited to no use,” the lawsuit says.

According to the suit, tech companies such as Apple are incentivized to render older devices obsolete so they can continue manufacturing and selling newer versions, at the expense of consumers who are entirely dependent on Apple to determine how long their watches will remain eligible for necessary updates. Consumers had no opportunity to prevent, delay or opt out of Apple’s decision to stop supporting their watches’ software, the suit stresses.

Per the filing, the Federal Trade Commission has acknowledged that the failure to provide software updates for “smart” devices advertised as having certain features, or the failure to disclose the duration of software support, can be a deceptive trade practice.

The complaint cites Consumer Reports, which highlighted that manufacturer control over software-based functionality allows manufacturers to “infringe on a consumer’s ability to truly own a product,” meaning consumers may spend thousands of dollars on a device that will stop working in just a few years.

The case says that at the time of sale, the plaintiffs and class members had no way to know that their Apple Watches could lose eligibility for future major versions of watchOS years before a reasonable consumer would expect the hardware to fail.

Had the plaintiffs and class members known that Apple planned to terminate eligibility for future watchOS versions, they would not have purchased the watches or would have paid substantially less for them, the lawsuit states.

The Apple class action lawsuit looks to cover all California residents who purchased an Apple Watch Series 6, Series 7, Series 8, SE (2nd generation) or the original Apple Watch Ultra.

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