Introducing watchOS 10, a significant update for Apple Watch that brings redesigned apps, a new Smart Stack, additional watch faces, new features for cyclists and hikers, and tools to support mental health.
Apple unveiled watchOS 10 today, offering Apple Watch users an enhanced experience with redesigned apps, a new Smart Stack for convenient widget access, and delightful watch faces. Cyclists will benefit from new metrics, Workout Views, and Bluetooth connectivity, while hikers can enjoy Compass Waypoints and Maps capabilities. The Mindfulness app provides additional tools for mental health support. watchOS 10 is available as a developer beta now and will be a free software update in the fall.
Kevin Lynch, Apple’s vice president of Technology, stated, “watchOS 10 is a major milestone and an energizing new approach for Apple Watch, introducing a fresh new design for quickly viewing information, delightful new watch faces, new features for cyclists and hikers, and important tools for health.”
watchOS 10 – All You Need to Know
With watchOS 10, apps have been redesigned to display more information at a glance, and navigation has been improved for quick content access. The new Smart Stack allows users to view relevant information from widgets with a simple turn of the Digital Crown, while still enjoying their preferred watch face. Developers can update their apps with the new design language, providing improved functionality and aesthetics.
Two new watch faces, Palette and Snoopy, add artistic and joyful elements to Apple Watch. Palette displays time in a variety of colors that change as time passes, while Snoopy brings the beloved Peanuts characters to life, interacting with the watch hands and reacting to weather conditions and workouts.
For cyclists, watchOS 10 offers advanced metrics, views, and experiences. A cycling workout started on Apple Watch will automatically appear as a Live Activity on iPhone, providing an optimized view with metrics such as Heart Rate Zones, Elevation, and Cycling Speed. Bluetooth connectivity allows Apple Watch to connect to cycling accessories for additional metrics and Workout Views. Hikers benefit from the Compass app’s new features, including Last Cellular Connection and Last Emergency Call Waypoints, as well as an Elevation view and improved topographic maps on Apple Maps.
The Mindfulness app in watchOS 10 provides tools for logging momentary emotions and daily moods discreetly and conveniently. The Health app in iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 offers insights and assessments for mental health, connecting users to resources and enabling them to share assessments with healthcare professionals.
WatchOS 10 also introduces vision health features, including measuring time spent in daylight to promote eye health and encouraging users to maintain a safe screen distance. Additional updates include NameDrop for easy contact sharing, offline maps for navigation, playback of FaceTime video messages, support for Group FaceTime audio, and enhancements to Apple Fitness+.
For enterprise customers, watchOS 10 introduces Mobile Device Management (MDM) support, allowing remote app installation and configuration on Apple Watch devices, enhancing productivity and safety in the workplace. API updates enable workout app developers to create compelling experiences, utilizing motion data and accessing specific metrics for various activities.
watchOS 10 brings significant enhancements to Apple Watch, delivering a more intuitive and feature-rich experience for users across different aspects of their lives, from health and fitness to productivity and outdoor activities.
