Apple officially announced watchOS 11 at its WWDC 2024 developer conference, including new features. Now we have the iPhone 16 and Apple Watch Series 10 official, the smartwatch operating system has its final release date and compatibility specifics.
Here’s everything you need to know about the operating system that will power the Apple Watch range for the next year or more.
When will watchOS 11 be released?
Apple has a set rhythm for when new versions of watchOS make their debut. It’s normally in September, as you can see from the schedule below:
- watchOS 10: September 18, 2023
- watchOS 9: September 12, 2022
- watchOS 8: September 20, 2021
- watchOS 7: September 16, 2020
- watchOS 6: September 19, 2019
- watchOS 5: September 17, 2018
At the iPhone 16 launch event, where Apple also unveiled the Apple Watch Series 10 (but no Ultra 3 or SE 3) it confirmed that watchOS 11 will arrive on 16 September.
Apple also confirmed you’ll need an iPhone Xs or later running iOS 18, plus the fact that “Not all features are available on all devices and in all regions.”
For example, the new sleep apnea detection feature on the Series 10 will also roll out to older watches but only to the Ultra 2 and Series 9.
Apple
Which Apple Watch models will be compatible with watchOS 11?
Apple has confirmed which models will run watchOS 11 and you can see the list below. There are two surprising omissions in the Series 5 and Watch SE (1st gen).
- Apple Watch Ultra 2
- Apple Watch Ultra
- Apple Watch Series 10 (assumed)
- Apple Watch Series 9
- Apple Watch Series 8
- Apple Watch Series 7
- Apple Watch Series 6
- Apple Watch SE (2nd gen)
As noted above, you need to pair it with an iPhone Xs or later running iOS 18.
Apple
What new features will there be in watchOS 11?
Apple announced most of the watchOS 11 features back at WWDC in June.
A somewhat shocking realisation from the conference is that Apple’s anticipated AI software, named Apple Intelligence, won’t be coming to the Apple Watch.
At least it appears that way since Apple made no mention of it during the Apple Intelligence section, stating only it will come to mac, iPhone and iPad.
Nevertheless, here are the top new features coming in watchOS 11.
Customisable Activity Rings
A stalwart of the Apple Watch, you’ll now be able to take more control over the iconic activity rings in wearOS 11. You can pause them for a day, week, month, or more if you want to take a break for any reason (without affecting award streaks).
You’ll also be able to set different goals for different days of the week so you don’t feel like you necessarily do as much during the week or at the weekend.
Live Activities
As part of the more intelligent Smart Stack, Live Activities automatically show up to give you useful information when you need it so you don’t have to even go and find it.
This could include all sorts of things like the gate number for a flight or when a food order is ready.
Training Load
wearOS 11 adds the ability to measure the intensity of workouts. “Training load helps users understand the strain on their body from workouts over the last seven days compared to the last 28 days,” says Apple.
This will allow you to make more informed decisions such as recovery times and training progress.
Vitals app
The new Vitals app provides a way to track key metrics such as heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, sleep duration and blood oxygen.
You’ll also get a notification when two or more metrics are out of the typical range along with a message details why that might be, including illness.
Apple
Translate
Travelling is about to get easier with the addition of the Translation app which supports 20 languages. The latest edition of the Smart Stack will also suggest a Translate app widget when you travel to a location with a different language to the one your Apple Watch is set to.
Double tap API
The double tap feature on Apple Watch is great, but it will become even more useful with wearOS 11. Apple adding a double tap API means developers can use the gesture as a shortcuts in apps.
Soon, tapping your finger and thumb together will be able to do a whole lot more. Apple’s example in the WWDC keynote was tracking a baby falling asleep without waking them up.
It can also be used for scrolling through any app.
Improved Photos face
Apple Watch users love using photos as watch faces and this is about to get better. For starters, a new Dynamic mode means you can be greeted by a different photo every time you raise your wrist.
It will also be able to suggest the best photos from your library to make a face from, cropping it perfectly for you. Of course, you can then customise it further in various ways.
What features would we like to see in watchOS 11?
Programmable Action Button
The Side button on the Apple Watch lets you access the Quick Settings menu easily, but as the iPhone 15 range of devices now features an Action button which can be assigned to a variety of functions, we think it’s time that Apple did the same for the Side button on its Watches.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Being able to instantly start an exercise session, measure your heart rate, or get to the music controls just by tapping the Side button would make the Watch a lot more customised to the needs of the individual user.
