Every New watchOS 27 Feature
watchOS 27's release candidate is out, and this should be the exact same build everybody gets on Monday. I've been running the betas on my Ultra 3 since June, so here's every new feature — plus the ones that are only coming to the Series 12 and Ultra 4.
The short version: Siri AI is genuinely better at some things and still can't tell me my step count. Double tap can finally launch an app instead of just selecting one. Shazam works offline. Find My is one app instead of three. And your watch may start offering to turn features off to save battery.
Then there's the other list. Audio Intelligence - Live Rewind and Siri Recap - requires the S11 chip, so Series 12 or Ultra 4 only. Same for the new Steps complication, which is a strange one. Readiness and the daytime Vitals view haven't shown up on my Ultra 3 either, so I'd plan on not getting those.
One thing nobody's mentioning: Live Rewind is a double-press of the Digital Crown, and that's the shortcut the quick app switcher used to live on. So the app switcher went away for everybody to make room for a feature only the new watches can use.
watchOS 27 runs on Apple Watch Series 9, 10, 11 and 12, SE 3, and Ultra 2, 3 and 4. Series 8, Ultra 1 and SE 2 don't get it this year. It arrives Monday, September 15, alongside iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27.
⌚ MY APPS
🩸 O2 Buddy — blood oxygen readings back on your Apple Watch, including watches affected by the US ban. 99¢ right now, price goes up with the next update. → https://apps.apple.com/us/app/o-buddy-blood-oxygen/id6751239297
🦶 StridePal — steps on your watch face with trends and streaks. Apple's new Steps complication needs an S11, so this one works on the watch you already own. → https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stridepal-step-counter/id6760667243
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