Apple has unveiled watchOS 27 — one of the most significant updates for its smartwatches in recent years. The new version of the system features a major artificial intelligence upgrade, a radically redesigned interface, and new gesture-based controls. However, this expansion of functionality comes with a serious reduction in the list of supported devices.
Siri powered by Apple Intelligence and contextual understanding
The main innovation of watchOS 27 is the migration of the voice assistant to the Apple Intelligence platform. To process complex requests, the watch will utilize the computing power of a connected smartphone. This means that for full AI functionality, an iPhone 15 Pro or newer model is required.
Siri has gained the ability to analyze the user's personal data. The assistant can now provide a driver's license number, a password from a recently saved note, or find accommodation booking details. Furthermore, the AI assistant is capable of performing complex chains of actions: adding photos to albums, reading out schedules, sending emails, or launching personal fitness goals.
A dedicated Siri app will appear on the watch, storing the entire history of text and voice dialogues. Initially, the new version of the assistant will be available only in English, with support for other languages promised in the future.
Full independence during workouts
The Workout Buddy platform has received updated activity tracking algorithms. The key change is complete independence from the smartphone. Users no longer need to take their iPhone on runs to get detailed analytics. All data on pace, distance, and progress is calculated by the watch's processor in real-time.
Motion recognition in indoor environments has also been improved. This should eliminate the problem of inaccurate mileage counting on treadmills in gyms, where watch data often significantly diverged from actual figures.
New gestures and Liquid Glass design
Developers have expanded the capabilities of touchless control. Quickly pinching the index finger and thumb now allows users to select and expand widgets in the Smart Stack. This simplifies access to messages, balance checks, alarm changes, or finding parking spots.
The visual aspect of the system has fully implemented the Liquid Glass style. Font contrast has been improved, and light refraction optimized for better screen readability under direct sunlight. Instead of a chaotic set of icons, a dynamic grid will appear, automatically bringing frequently used apps to the forefront. Siri takes center stage in this structure.
Three separate search utilities (Find Devices, Find People, Find Items) have been merged into a single Find My app with a map-based interface. The Cycle Tracking app has received medical tools for analyzing phases and alerting users to signs of perimenopause or menopause.
Reduction in the list of supported devices
To ensure stability and the operation of new features, Apple has removed legacy code and significantly limited the list of supported models. watchOS 27 will officially support only six versions of watches: starting from Series 9, Series 10, Ultra 2, and newer current lines.
The first beta version is already available to developers, with open public testing starting in July. However, experts recommend that users wait until the official release in the fall, as downgrading from a beta version to a stable firmware is not possible at home.