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Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) just kicked off, and there's a lot to unpack, including all sorts of new Apple Watch features coming later this year via watchOS 27.
Many of these new features and enhancements are powered by Apple Intelligence, including a new Siri AI personal assistant. However, there are some noteworthy limitations to watchOS 27.
Here's everything you need to know about Apple's forthcoming Apple Watch operating system, watchOS 27, including all the upgrades, launch timeframe, and compatibility.
watchOS 27: Key upgrades
- watchOS 26 brings a more powerful Siri AI voice assistant to newer Apple Watch models (Series 10 and newer, Ultra 2 and newer, SE 3)
- Dedicated Siri AI app lets you access all conversations, even those started on another device
- A new single-tap gesture to open Smart Stack widgets
- Improved motivational guidance in Workout Buddy based on your fitness trends
- Support for tracking perimenopause and menopause in the Health app
- New Dynamic App Grid for quick access to most-used apps
- The Wallet app now supports creating custom passes for anything with a QR code; users can pin anything saved in their wallet to the Smart Stack
watchOS 27: Apple Intelligence updates
- watchOS 27 will support a custom-tailored version of Siri AI designed for smaller screens
- Powered by Apple Intelligence, Siri AI should be a huge improvement over today's Siri; it uses personal context from supported apps and broad world knowledge to answer questions and take actions
- Siri AI syncs your chat across all platforms via iCloud
- AI features in watchOS 27 will be powered by private cloud computing rather than on-device processing; data can't be accessed by Apple or third parties
- Siri AI will be accessible from a redesigned app grid in watchOS 27 or from the Smart Stack, where users can continue conversations started earlier or on other Apple devices
- Apple Intelligence features, and Siri AI in watchOS 27 will be supported by the following models: Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Ultra 2, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Watch SE 3 when paired with a nearby Apple Intelligence-capable iPhone (15 Pro, 15 Pro Max + all iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 models)
watchOS 27: New health and fitness features
- The Health app in watchOS 27 gains improved women's health tracking and can now alert users to signs of perimenopause and menopause
- Improved motivational messaging from Apple's AI-powered Workout Buddy based on insights from current and past workouts
watchOS 27: Design improvements
- A smarter Smart Stack will automatically populate with relevant apps based on context
- Cleaner Find My app with map-centric view
- Improved Liquid Glass aesthetic with better separation between content and background
- Call Context can automatically display relevant info while on a call, like flight times for an upcoming trip
watchOS 27: Other improvements
- Music app now opens faster
- Faster step count syncing between Apple Watch and iPhone
- New battery optimization suggestions
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