In addition to updates for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, tvOS 27, and visionOS 27, Apple has introduced watchOS 27 at its Worldwide Developers Conference. This new version will be available this fall for the Apple Watch Series 9 and later, Apple Watch Ultra 2, Ultra 3, and Apple Watch SE 3 when used with an AI-enabled iPhone nearby.
Notably, watchOS 27 features the newly integrated Siri AI, complete with a dedicated Siri app that retains a record of your previous interactions. The update also introduces the Workout Buddy in Spanish, expanded menstrual health support, and enhanced running metrics.
The Workout Buddy provides valuable insights into your progress, tracking metrics such as pace, distance, and workout duration. It offers more accurate tracking of indoor runs and walks, and introduces a new single-tap gesture for quick access to a Smart Stack widget. Additionally, relevant widgets will now appear more frequently in your Smart Stack.
The dynamic app grid prominently displays Siri-suggested apps, including your most frequently used and recently accessed applications. Furthermore, the Find My app is now available on watchOS, alongside design refinements akin to those introduced in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27, despite the absence of customizable transparency on the Apple Watch.
Call Context in watchOS 27 functions similarly to its iOS counterpart, presenting relevant information from your apps when calling businesses. Apple has also optimized music playback for quicker starts, suggested battery optimizations, and ensured that step counts in the Fitness app now synchronize seamlessly with those logged in the Health app.
Lastly, the Wallet app has been updated to allow users to create custom passes for membership cards featuring QR codes or barcodes. Additionally, it's now easier to set up an Apple Watch for children, even if they do not own an iPhone.
