Apple Unveils WatchOS 10 with Revamped Interface and Enhanced Widgets

Apple unveiled watchOS 10 at its annual WWDC presentation. The new version of the smartwatch OS gets a completely revamped interface with a greater focus on widgets. WatchOS 10 will be available this fall for the Apple Watch Series 4 and later.

WatchOS 10 retains are digital watch faces that display the time or a clock. However, when users turn the digital crown, a new ‘smart stack’ of widgets appears. According to Apple, these widgets show ‘clear’ information, which users can scroll through with the crown.

According to Apple, the ‘stack’ shows relevant widgets that ‘appear when they are needed’. For example, in the morning, before users go out, a weather forecast widget can be displayed. Tickets from the Wallet app can be displayed while traveling. The Calendar app can appear at the top of the stack to show upcoming meetings or tasks. Music or podcast apps can also be moved up when they are actively used.

Various watchOS apps also get a new look, with which they make better use of the screen surface. The Weather app, Apple Home, Apple Maps, Messages and Stocks, among others, will receive an updated interface. The Activity app and Fitness app should also make tracking daily movement easier with more details. Developers will also have the option to update their own Apple Watch apps with similarly revamped interfaces.

Furthermore, the way the buttons are used changes in watchOS 10. Control Center is opened in the new OS with the side button. With a double click on the digital crown, users return to a recently used app. WatchOS 10 also gets new watchfaces, including a Palette watch face that changes color as the day progresses. The OS also gets a Peanuts watchface with Snoopy.

Some Apple Watch apps with redesigned interfaces

The workout app will get more advanced metrics for cycling after the update. When a cycling workout is started, it is automatically shown as a live activity on iPhones, optionally in full screen view. Users can display information such as heart rate, altitude differences and routes on it. According to Apple, the Watch will also have the option to automatically connect to cycling accessories such as speed sensors via Bluetooth.

Finally, the Apple Watch gets new health functions. With the Mindfulness app, users can reflect on their state of mind by registering their emotions and moods. In the Health app on iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, users will see help that should help them identify where certain mood states can come from, for example due to lifestyle factors such as sleep and exercise.

Users can also get depression and anxiety assessments that help them estimate their risk. These can be shared as a PDF with a doctor. In addition, watchOS will have a function to register how often a user is exposed to daylight. For this, the OS uses the ambient light sensor of Apple Watches. WatchOS 10 will be available this fall, presumably at the same time as the Apple Watch Series 9. The new OS is supported on the Apple Watch Series 4 and later.

New sports and health features in watchOS 10