watchOS 27: 12 New Things To Check Out on Your Apple Watch

Apple released watchOS 27 on September 14, bringing a host of new features and changes that aren’t limited to the latest Apple Watch Series 12 or Apple Watch Ultra 4 models. If your Apple Watch supports this new update, here are 12 features and changes to explore after installation.

To update, open the Watch app on your iPhone, tap General ➝ Software Update, connect your watch to a charger, and follow the onscreen prompts.

Check Out the Dedicated Siri App

Siri has been revamped with contextual awareness and now features its own app. This app collects conversations in a single view, syncing them across devices via iCloud. Start a conversation on your iPhone, and continue it on your Apple Watch. Pin important chats or start new ones directly from your wrist.

Try Siri Modular Watch Face

The new Siri watch face is designed for utility. It displays the top item in your Smart Stack and updates throughout the day based on your location, time, and other variables.

The Dynamic App Grid

Instead of the legacy honeycomb app view, watchOS 27 offers a dynamic grid presenting suggested, most-used, and recently used apps. Siri’s app takes center stage, and users can still access the alphabetical app list by turning the Digital Crown.

New Tap Gesture

A new “Tap” gesture allows users to open a highlighted widget in the Smart Stack with a single tap of the index finger and thumb. Double Tap and Wrist Flick gestures remain for navigating and dismissing notifications.

Walkie-Talkie Has Been Deleted

The Walkie-Talkie app has been removed from watchOS 27 and cannot be reinstalled from the App Store. Users wishing to retain the app must remain on watchOS 26, though they will be unable to communicate with those on the updated version.

Live Rewind (Not Yet)

A notable change is the repurposing of the double Digital Crown press, previously used for the App Switcher, which now brings up the dynamic app grid. This gesture is reserved for the forthcoming Live Rewind feature, exclusive to the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, which will capture the last 15 seconds of environmental speech. The App Switcher will return in watchOS 27.2, accessible via a long press at the app’s bottom.

Find My is Now One App

Find Devices, Find Items, and Find People apps have merged into a single, map-centric Find My app. This new layout includes shortcuts for directions and nearby items.

Workout Buddy No Longer Needs Your iPhone

Previously, Workout Buddy required proximity to an iPhone. With watchOS 27, the app can operate independently if Wi-Fi or cellular is available. It offers insights from training history, tracks improvements in pace and distance, and is now available in Spanish and English.

New Cycle Tracking Features

Cycle Tracking in the Health app now alerts users to patterns suggesting perimenopause, supports symptom tracking, and offers educational content. This feature is for users aged 40+, based on their logged cycle history, but is not a diagnostic tool or a method of birth control.

Treadmill Distance Is More Accurate

watchOS 27 introduces enhanced machine learning algorithms for indoor run and walk distance measurements, providing accuracy from the first step. Fitness route maps and step counts between Fitness and Health apps are now more precise.

The Smart Stack Gets More to Say

Smart Stack now offers smarter contextual suggestions. Examples include widgets for your parked car’s location, close contact’s birthday, transit card balance changes, noise alerts, reminders of active Theater Mode, and more.

New Models Get a Steps Counter

The Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 feature a redesigned pedometer model and S11 chip, enhancing step count accuracy. A new Steps complication on these models tracks steps in real time from the watch face. Whether this feature will extend to older models remains unknown.

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