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watchOS 27 brings Siri AI to Apple Watch
watchOS 27 adds Siri AI, a new app grid, smarter fitness features, and battery-saving suggestions ahead of its September release.
Image: 9to5Mac
watchOS 27 is shaping up to be a substantial Apple Watch update, with Siri AI finally coming to the platform after Apple left the watch out of its original Apple Intelligence rollout.
The headline feature is a redesigned Siri experience, including a dedicated Siri app on Apple Watch that syncs with the app on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro.
According to Apple, the watch will get the Siri chatbot app, personal context understanding, in-app actions, and broader world knowledge. Siri AI is not included in watchOS 27 beta 1, but Apple says it will arrive in English this year.
Another visible change is a new dynamic app grid tied to the Digital Crown. Pressing the Crown shows six Siri-suggested apps. If Siri AI is enabled, the Siri app sits in the center, alongside a shortcut to the full app grid or app list. Apple says the other suggested apps are chosen based on recency and popularity.
Health and fitness changes in watchOS 27
Apple is also expanding Workout Buddy, first introduced in watchOS 26. In watchOS 27, it no longer requires a nearby iPhone, adds Spanish support alongside English, and surfaces more insights including pace, distance, and workout duration.
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Health tracking gets two more upgrades. Cycle Tracking now adds perimenopause and menopause support, with the Health app able to notify users when logged cycle patterns appear suggestive of perimenopause. Apple also says treadmill walk and run distance tracking is now more precise thanks to improved motion algorithms.
Apple says step counts in the Fitness app will now sync with the Health app in watchOS 27 and iOS 27.
The update also adds a new tap gesture for interacting with Smart Stack widgets. Users can still use double tap to open Smart Stack and move through widgets, but a single tap gesture now lets them interact with a widget directly, such as starting a workout, taking a heart rate reading, or controlling media playback.
Find My, battery tools, and compatibility
Apple is simplifying Find My on the watch into a single unified app, replacing the previous split between separate people, items, and devices apps. Precision Finding support is also coming for a paired iPhone, AirTag 2, and AirPods Pro 3.
watchOS 27 will also proactively suggest ways to save battery life by disabling unused features such as Start Workout reminders, gestures, and Raise to Speak. Users will be able to override those suggestions and keep a feature enabled.
Other updates Apple listed include:
- Faster music playback
- Liquid Glass tweaks for readability, with more uniform refraction and better contrast
- Wallet support for custom-generated cards from iOS 27
- Call Context support on Apple Watch
- Child Safety features on Apple Watch
- Improved Wi-Fi connectivity in watchOS
- Guest key in watchOS
- GymKit on iPhone and Apple Watch
- Faster app extension launch in watchOS
- More efficient water detection
- Redesigned settings in the Apple Watch app
- View card balance in Wallet in watchOS
- Transit cards and IDs in Smart Stack in watchOS
watchOS 27 is currently available in developer and public beta, with the final release expected in September. It requires Apple Watch Series 9 and later, Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later, and Apple Watch SE 3.
Gadgets Editor
Eli is obsessed with the tangible future. He reviews phones, wearables, and everything with a battery. Known for his rigorous testing protocols and unabashed teardowns, Eli has broken more review units than he cares to admit, all in the name of discovering the truth about durability and repairability.
via 9to5Mac
