Which older Apple Watch models are still supported in 2026?

watchOS 11 supports Apple Watch Series 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, SE 2nd gen, Ultra, and Ultra 2. Series 4, 5, and the original SE were dropped from watchOS 11. If you have a Series 4 or 5, you cannot install most current games or app updates, including Belly. The cutoff is real: a Series 6 from 2020 still works in 2026, a Series 5 from 2019 does not.

Are games on a Series 6 or 7 noticeably slower?

For most Watch games, no. Watch games are designed to be lightweight (small interactions, short sessions, simple 2D graphics). The Series 6 (S6 SiP) and Series 7 (S7 SiP) handle them comfortably. Where you might notice a difference is app launch time, which is a few hundred milliseconds slower on a Series 6 than on a Series 10.

Will Belly run on my Series 6?

Yes, as long as your Series 6 is running watchOS 11 or later. Belly is built for the older S6 chip and uses 2D hand-drawn art rather than demanding 3D, which keeps it lightweight. The pet sprite, scenes, cosmetics, and complication families all work the same as on flagship Watches. If your Series 6 is stuck on an older watchOS, update via the Watch app on iPhone first.

Best Games for Older Apple Watch 2026

Apple still ships watchOS 11 to Series 6, 7, and 8, which means every current Watch game on the App Store will install and run. The chip is older, the screen is dimmer, but the games on Watch are short, simple, and lightweight by design. None of them push the hardware.

A note before we start: Apple Watch Series 4 and 5 were dropped from watchOS 11. If you have a Series 4 or 5, current games like Belly will not install. Only Series 6 onwards is covered here.

What Series 6, 7, and 8 owners get

watchOS 11. Every current Watch game runs.
Always-on display from Series 6 onwards. Pet status complications stay visible.
40/41mm and 44/45mm cases. Same case sizes as Series 9. Cosmetics and UI render comfortably.
Standalone apps. No iPhone needed for most games.

What you do not get

Lower peak brightness. Series 6 caps at 1000 nits, Series 7 at 1000, Series 8 at 1000. Series 9/10 hit 2000+. Outdoor games are slightly harder to read.
No double tap. That gesture is Series 9 onwards only.
Slightly slower app launches. The S6, S7, S8 chips are fine for gameplay but a touch slower at cold launch.

Top games for Series 6, 7, and 8

1. Belly: Cute Pet on Your Watch

Free virtual pet, watch-only, hand-drawn cosmetics.

Belly is built lightweight and runs smoothly on Series 6, 7, and 8. Hand-drawn 2D art (no demanding 3D rendering) means even the older S6 chip handles it without strain. Series 6 onwards have always-on display, so the pet status complication stays visible at all times.

View on App Store →

2. Habbie

Steps-driven pixel pet.

Pixel art is naturally lightweight and looks sharp on older 40/41/44/45mm displays.

3. Pocket Bandit

Crack a safe by feel using the Digital Crown and haptics.

Digital Crown and haptic engine are the same hardware on Series 6 onwards, so the experience is essentially identical to current models.

4. Rules!

Puzzle game with rotating rule sets.

Designed for older Watch hardware. Plays exactly the same on Series 6 as on Series 10.

5. Trivia Crack

Quick-fire trivia in six categories.

Free and lightweight. Lower brightness on older Series is fine indoors.

6. Tiny Armies

Wrist-sized strategy battles.

Modest hardware requirements. Comfortable on a 40mm Series 6.

7. Letterpad

Word puzzle on a 4x4 grid.

Pleasant on older Series displays without straining the chip.

Belly on older Apple Watch

Belly was specifically built to run smoothly on the older end of supported hardware. The art is hand-drawn 2D, not 3D, which keeps the rendering load light. Animations are tuned to feel responsive on the S6 chip, and the cosmetic library streams content as needed rather than loading everything up front.

Always-on display from Series 6 onwards means pet status complications stay visible without raising your wrist, just like on the newer Watches. The three complication families (rectangular, circular, corner) work on every supported watch face.

If your Series 6 is still in good shape and the battery is healthy, there is no Belly-related reason to upgrade. The experience is the same, just on a smaller, dimmer screen than a Series 10.