GoKawiil
Tech News
Apple announced the Watch Series 12, featuring a new Health Sensing System paired with its S11 chip that enables higher-frequency heart rate and HRV monitoring, along with a new readiness score. The device also introduces Audio Intelligence features and Siri AI powered by Apple Intelligence, while a redesigned Health app with a Longevity tab and Health Age metric is set to arrive later this year.
Apple used its Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 event to unveil watchOS 27, which introduces a new watch face called Siri Modular. The face revives the concept of the old Siri watch face that Apple had discontinued, now integrating the updated Siri assistant and a new Recaps feature for surfacing timely information.
Apple introduced the Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 at its September event, keeping familiar designs but adding faster processors, upgraded health sensors, and the new watchOS 27 software. The sensor update allows continuous heart rate readings every five seconds, and both devices ship alongside watchOS 27's redesigned interface and smarter Siri.
Apple unveiled the Apple Watch Ultra 4 at its 'Surprise and shine' event, keeping the rugged design of last year's model but swapping in the new S11 processor and an upgraded ECG and heart-rate sensor. The new sensor takes readings up to 60 times more often, checking heart rate every five seconds and heart rate variability every five minutes.
Ahead of Apple's expected unveiling of Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Series 12, leaker pdfu found references in watchOS 27 code pointing to a new Readiness app placed near Workout on the home screen, expanded strength-training logging with sets, reps, weight and equipment data, a new optical sensor system, and possible 128GB of storage tied to a new chip. The same leaker previously surfaced details on HomePod surround sound and iOS 27 camera features.
Apple will introduce the Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Apple Watch Series 12 alongside its new iPhones this week. Reports point to an upgraded S11 chip replacing the aging S10/S9 silicon, a returning ceramic case option, additional sensors, and possible new health features including an expanded hypertension notification system and an always-on heart rate sensor.
Apple's upcoming watchOS 27 update, expected later this month, removes the Walkie-Talkie app entirely and eliminates the double-click Digital Crown gesture that previously let users jump between two apps. It also changes single-click behavior on the Digital Crown, now always opening a dynamic app grid instead of the traditional static launcher.
Apple's watchOS 27 beta eliminates the long-standing feature where double-clicking the Digital Crown quickly toggled between two recently used apps or the last app and the watch face. Instead, a single or double click now brings up the same new 'dynamic app grid' showing Siri plus five suggested apps, meaning the quick-switch shortcut has no direct replacement. The writer flagged this to Apple as early as June and again during the July public beta, but the behavior persists as of the current beta.
Throughout the summer, testers found Siri's new AI features on Apple Watch to be sluggish and unreliable in watchOS 27 betas, struggling with basic tasks like setting timers, alarms, and controlling HomeKit devices. With watchOS 27 beta 8, those responsiveness problems appear to have been resolved, marking a notable turnaround just before the software's public release.
Apple has issued the eighth beta of its upcoming software lineup, including iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, tvOS 27, and visionOS 27, ahead of a public release. This round focuses mainly on bug fixes and performance improvements rather than new features, and is expected to be the last beta before release candidate versions arrive next week.
Ahead of a September 9 unveiling, reports suggest Apple Watch Ultra 4 will feature substantially upgraded health sensors, with Digitimes claiming the number of sensor components could double, alongside a new blood pressure-related feature reportedly under FDA review. Analyst Mark Gurman also points to fitness-tracking upgrades and a new, faster S-class chip replacing the S10 used since 2024, though reports conflict on whether the watch will get a major design overhaul.
Apple has begun silently pushing App Store updates to fix Apple Watch apps that failed to launch under the watchOS 27 beta. The updates carry a note stating Apple itself repackaged the app for compatibility, with no new features added. Apple told developers this automated fix rollout will wrap up by August 31, ahead of watchOS 27's public release expected in mid-September.