WatchOS 11 is gearing up to introduce a wealth of new features designed to enhance health, fitness, and safety tracking on the Apple Watch. Scheduled for a full release this fall alongside the new Apple Watch models and the anticipated iPhone 16, this update promises to significantly upgrade your smartwatch experience. However, if you’re impatient and want to get a jump start on exploring these innovations, the public beta of WatchOS 11 is currently available. This beta version can be installed on any Apple Watch Series 6 and later models, as well as the second-generation SE. Alongside iOS 18, this beta allows you to experience the forthcoming features before their official launch.
I’ve been testing the beta on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 for the past month and have discovered several standout features worth noting. One major update is the ability to customize your Activity Rings, offering flexibility to adjust your fitness goals according to your needs. You can now pause your rings for specific periods, such as a day, a week, or even a month, and set custom targets for each ring—Move, Exercise, and Stand. This adjustment is particularly useful for accommodating rest days or varying activity levels throughout the week. For instance, if Tuesdays are generally less active for you, you can set a lower goal for that day and increase your targets on more active days, like weekends.
Another notable addition is the Vitals app, which provides a comprehensive overview of key health metrics. When you wear your Apple Watch while sleeping, it tracks important data such as heart rate, respiratory rate, and wrist temperature. This information is conveniently displayed each morning, so you can easily review your overnight health metrics directly on your wrist. The app also offers a seven-day view to help you identify any deviations from your normal ranges, with highlights in pink for any significant changes. Notifications will alert you if multiple vital signs fall outside of your normal range, ensuring you stay informed about your health status.
Training Load is another exciting feature that helps you monitor the intensity of your workouts. This tool is especially beneficial for those training for events like marathons or aiming to avoid overtraining. The Activity app now includes a new icon where you can view a chart representing your 28-day weighted average of activity, with comparisons to the past seven days. Each workout is categorized based on how it compares to your average, and you can adjust the effort rating if the automatic assessment doesn’t fully capture your workout intensity. This feature is particularly useful for fine-tuning your training regimen and optimizing your performance.
Safety enhancements come with the introduction of Check In, which integrates with both the Workout app and the Messages app. This feature allows you to set up automatic notifications to a chosen contact based on time intervals or specific locations. During workouts, Check In will send a message to your selected contact upon completion, and if the Apple Watch detects any irregularities—such as sudden changes in speed or heart rate—it will prompt you to confirm your status. This feature provides an added layer of security, ensuring that someone is aware of your well-being during your activities.
Additionally, WatchOS 11 brings a revamped Photos watch face, offering more personalization options. You can now select and prioritize specific photos from your iPhone to display on your watch face, with enhanced customization for the time display and background colors. The Remote app has also received new controls, including options to mute and unmute your Apple TV and manage captions with a single tap. The Translate app has been added, allowing you to translate spoken phrases into different languages directly from your watch, with adjustable playback speeds and offline language packs.
Overall, WatchOS 11 is packed with enhancements designed to improve your Apple Watch experience. From advanced health monitoring and personalized fitness tracking to new safety features and app updates, there’s a lot to look forward to. Keep in mind that these features may evolve before the final release, so backing up your devices before installing the beta is highly recommended.
