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watchOS 27 removes Digital Crown double-click app-switching gesture

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.

Apple fixes Siri's Apple Watch performance issues in watchOS 27 beta 8

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 pushes beta 8 for iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, tvOS 27 and visionOS 27

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.

Apple Watch Ultra 4 rumored to double sensors and get new S-class chip

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 auto-updates watchOS apps broken by watchOS 27 beta

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.

Apple ships beta 7 of iPadOS 27, watchOS 27 and other OS updates

Apple has released beta 7 for iPadOS 27, tvOS 27, visionOS 27 and related software as it nears the end of its testing cycle. The update is focused mainly on bug fixes and stability rather than new features, with public launches expected in mid-September.

Apple, Google and Samsung set 2026 end-of-support dates for popular smartwatches

Several widely-used smartwatches, including Google's Pixel Watch 2, Samsung's Galaxy Watch 5 and 5 Pro, and multiple Apple Watch models, will lose software support in 2026. The devices will continue basic functions like fitness tracking and notifications but won't receive further feature updates or, in some cases, security patches. Apple is reportedly retiring five watch models in a single watchOS release, one of its largest support cuts to date.