GoKawiil
Tech News
Apple has published full release notes for watchOS 27, the major software update arriving alongside the new Apple Watch Series 12 and Watch Ultra 4. The update brings a more conversational Siri with natural-sounding voices, a dedicated Siri app, Apple Intelligence upgrades to Workout Buddy and Phone call context, expanded perimenopause-related cycle tracking, and a redesigned Siri Modular watch face.
Apple's Series 12 smartwatch features a redesigned sensor layout with more diodes and electrodes for greater skin contact, enabling more frequent and accurate heart rate and HRV readings. This data powers a new Readiness app that generates a daily 0-10 score based on activity, sleep and vitals, alongside a redesigned Health app with Apple Intelligence summaries for compatible iPhones.
Apple's GymKit feature, which lets gym equipment exchange workout data with Apple devices via NFC tap, is expanding beyond the Apple Watch. With iOS 27, iPhones can now tap compatible cardio machines to sync data, while AirPods Pro 3 measure heart rate, letting people without an Apple Watch use the feature. The underlying requirement for GymKit-enabled gym equipment remains unchanged.
Apple has begun accepting preorders for its Series 12 and Ultra 4 smartwatches, both powered by the new S11 chip with upgraded audio and sensor features. The Series 12 starts at $399 for the 42mm model, with a ceramic case option returning for the first time since the Series 5 at $899, while the Ultra 4 starts at $799 with GPS and 5G support. Both devices, available through Apple, Amazon, and Best Buy, ship September 18th alongside the iPhone 18 Pro line.
Apple introduced Siri Recaps, an Audio Intelligence feature on the new Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 that continuously monitors ambient audio to generate summaries of a wearer's day, including conversations. Apple says the feature processes sound in real time without recording, storing, or transcribing audio, distinguishing it from wake-word-only listening used for Siri commands.
Apple's new Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, available for pre-order now and shipping September 18, introduce an Audio Intelligence system that can transcribe and summarize ambient conversations through features called Live Rewind and Siri Recap. The devices also add Sound Recognition for accessibility alerts and automatic Shazam-based Music Recognition, with both conversation-focused tools entering beta in late 2026.
Apple's latest product event introduced hardware like the Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, AirPods 5, iPhone 18 Pro models, and the foldable iPhone Duo, but not everything ships immediately. While the Watch and AirPods models arrive September 18 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, the iPhone Duo won't ship until October 23, and several Apple Intelligence features—including expanded Siri AI language support—won't roll out until later in 2026.
Apple confirmed that not all products and features unveiled at its latest event will ship simultaneously. The Apple Watch Series 12, Watch Ultra 4 and AirPods 5 arrive Sept. 18, followed by the iPhone 18 Pro models on the same date, while the foldable iPhone Duo won't ship until Oct. 23. Software updates including iOS 27 land Sept. 14, but Siri AI remains a beta feature rolling out gradually, first in English, then in French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish by October.
watchOS 27 introduces a single new watch face called Siri Modular, available on both Apple Watch Series and Ultra models, though the Ultra version offers extra customization like bezel options. The face includes a top line complication, centered time, a wide complication, and three circular complications, with three clock-height styles and multiple color and font choices. The feature is included in today's release candidate build of watchOS 27.
At its latest hardware event, Apple unveiled new Apple Watch capabilities including Audio Intelligence, Live Rewind, and Siri Recap, which use on-device AI to detect ambient sounds and transcribe spoken conversations. The features combine accessibility benefits, like alerting deaf or hard-of-hearing users to sirens or crying babies, with more invasive capabilities like live transcription of nearby speech.
Apple's 'Surprise and Shine' event introduced the company's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, marking a major shift in its product lineup. The event also featured the Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 with unchanged pricing, AirPods 5 with upgraded noise-canceling, and iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models in four colors. The 81-minute presentation is available for replay on Apple's website and YouTube, and marked new CEO John Ternus's first major public event.
Apple's fall event, its first under new CEO John Ternus, introduced the company's first foldable device, the iPhone Duo, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max and new AirPods. The Duo has a 7.6-inch inner display with an under-display camera, a 5.4-inch outer screen, and dual 48-megapixel cameras, starting at $1,999 with pre-orders opening October 16 and availability October 23. The 18 Pro models keep last year's design but gain a 48-megapixel main camera with a variable six-blade aperture and expanded manual photo controls.