Apple announced watchOS 10, which will be available in fall 2023. It will be available for Apple Watch Series 4 or later paired with iPhone running iOS 17. New features such as redesigned apps, Smart Widget Stacks, new watch faces, and cycling and hiking features highlight the improvements in watchOS 10. There’s also a new tool that supports Mental Health. Read along to find out what’s new in watchOS 10.
Apple Watch Apps Get Redesigned and Better Navigation with Smart Stack
Apple Watch apps such as Weather, Stocks, Home, Maps, Messages, World Clock, and others will become even more useful. The apps will utilize more of the Apple Watch display. This means that information will be more glanceable and easy to read even if you’re busy completing an activity.
The Activity app on both Apple Watch and Fitness on iPhone will also provide more details when tracking movement or exercises. Additionally, watchOS 10 also improved the apps’ sharing features. WatchOS 10 is also bringing redesigned trophy cases and Apple Fitness+ trainer tips.
When it comes to the redesigned language and navigation features, Smart Stack is probably the most interesting. The new Smart Stack on watchOS 10 will offer widgets to display timely information that adapts to the user’s context. These can be revealed with a simple turn of the Digital Crown from any watch face. Smart Stack in watchOS 10 will provide a beautiful watch face and a way to quickly access valuable information.
WatchOS 10 Will Have 2 New Watch Faces
For folks who are into changing up their Apple Watch face, good news. WatchOS 10 will bring two new faces. These include Palette, which shows time in a wide variety of colors using three overlapping layers. The colors on the display change as the time changes. The other new watch faces feature Snoopy and Woodstock playing with the watch hands.
New Features for Cyclists in watchOS 10
Among the many additional features coming fall 2023, I’m most excited about the new cycling tools. Many cyclists who stopped using speedometers or cyclo computers and have been using the Apple Watch to track their cycling activities will be glad to know that in watchOS 10, they can use their iPhone to view cycling activities as a Live Activity. So, they can mount their iPhones safely on their bikes and easily glance at metrics while cycling.
Additionally, with watchOS 10, the Apple Watch will be able to connect with other Bluetooth cycling accessories such as cadence and speed sensors and power meters. This will provide cyclists with more valuable metrics during and after riding their bikes.
New Features of watchOS 10 for Hikers
For hikers, the Compass app in watchOS 10 will automatically generate two new waypoints. These include the Last Cellular Connection Waypoint, which estimates the last place with the last cellular connection. The other new waypoint is the Last Emergency Call waypoint which will estimate where on the route the Apple Watch had the last connection for any available carrier’s network. This would be useful when making calls during emergencies.
Other New Features of watchOS 10
Aside from the significant new features mentioned above, watchOS 10 will also bring a tool that helps support mental health through the Mindfulness app. And to avoid the risk of myopia or nearsightedness, , Apple is introducing the ability to measure time spent in daylight using the ambient light sensor. Apple Watch users can view this information in the Health app on iPhone or iPad.
watchOS 10 updates will also bring in new features such as NameDrop, Offline Maps on iPhone, Medication app follow-up reminders, and new custom plans for Apple Fitness+.
Final Words
As mentioned watchOS 10 will be released sometime this fall. Apple has already released the developer beta at WWDC today, and the public beta will be released in July 2023.