While watchOS 9, the replacement for watchOS 8 for Apple Watch 8 and earlier, was announced by Apple at WWDC 2022, a release date of September 12 was also confirmed at the 'Far Out' event on September 7. While the Apple Watch 3 will no longer be supported, it features an entirely new design for the new Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Watch 8, Apple Watch SE 2, and prior wearables from Apple. It also features a ton of new watch faces, greater running analytics, and better sleep monitoring.
Apple made a lot of mention of the Series 8's watchOS 9 reproductive enhancements, which include a body temperature sensor that can more accurately predict when ovulation might be taking place. The most recent Apple Watch will also feature "vehicle collision recognition," which uses a g-force accelerometer and an improved gyroscope to identify the exact moment of contact. Additionally, a new "battery optimization" option and a Night Mode designed just for the Ultra will be released later this year.
In light of this, the following details every announcement made at the keynotes in June and September, along with the release dates for the new software. The most recent upgrade to Apple's own wearable operating system is watchOS 9. The update will be available in the fall and will be a free download for all Apple Watch owners with compatible devices (Apple Watch 4 and above), though there is no official release date as of yet. Additionally, a "Low Power Mode" that is similar to the one on the iPhone and iPad is coming to Apple Watch Series 4 and later.
watchOS 9: New features
There will be a ton of new features in watchOS 9. A remastered Astronomy face; a Lunar watch face that supports the Chinese, Islamic, and Hebrew calendars; a Playtime face with interactive, funny numbers; and Metropolitan, with fog that dynamically expands as you move the crown, were the first four new watch faces to be introduced. A facelift is also being applied to older faces. Apple said that some of the most traditional watch faces, like Utility, Simple, and Activity Analog, now have "improved and modernized complications." Background color editing is now an option for popular watch faces like Modular and X-Large.
While Portraits displays the "depth effect" on more images, such as kittens, dogs, and landscapes, it has included Chinese scripts as possibilities for two faces, California and Typograph. New banner notifications and active apps that may be pushed to the top of watch faces are features of watchOS 9. The Apple Watch will have search and listen now buttons that may be used to access podcasts while on the go. You can start and silence calls using Callkit. Additionally indicated were French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish, making a total of six new QWERTY keyboard languages (Mexico, Spain, and Latin America).
watchOS 9: Fitness features
Many new things are here. With the addition of three new running form metrics in watchOS 9, you can now track how effectively you run. To assure accuracy, machine learning is used to distinguish your torso movement from your arm swing. New metrics for watchOS 9 include Stride Length, Ground Contact Time, and Vertical Oscillation that may be incorporated into the user-friendly Workout Views. The organization of well-known measures like splits and elevation has changed. Additionally, you may view your current Heart Rate Zone, something Polar and Fitbit have been able to do for some time. You can, however, add personalized wrist-mounted alerts that will ping you when you enter or leave a given heart rate zone, enabling you to train for particular objectives and fitness levels.
Speaking of which, unique workouts let you use interval training to enhance particular KPIs. The new power statistic may be observed in real-time throughout an exercise, including runs, hikes, bike rides, functional strength training sessions, and more. Apple's multi-sport mode competes with Garmin for the top spot. You can quickly switch between swimming, cycling, and running thanks to the new triathlon-focused mode. Apple further claims: "A SWOLF score, which combines a stroke count with the length of the pool in seconds, allows swimmers to monitor their efficiency. In the workout summary, users can see their SWOLF average for each set. "
More support has now been added for Apple Fitness+. HIIT, cycling, rowing, and treadmill routines with Fitness+ can now show on-screen instructions to your watch. Strokes per minute (SPM) for rowing, revolutions per minute (RPM) for cycling, and incline for walkers and runners are all included in this advice. Additionally, Fitness+ users no longer require an Apple TV to stream workouts. Users can now stream workouts and meditations to compatible third-party TVs and other smart devices using AirPlay, along with all the normal on-screen data.
watchOS 9: Wellness, rest, and health
The Sleep app can tell you if you're in light, deep, or REM sleep mode based on your sleep stages. There is currently nothing novel about the watch, but you can advance "the science of sleep" by sharing your data in the Research app with specialists in the field. The catchy Afib History gives heart health a significant boost. This tool compares the effects of lifestyle factors on atrial fibrillation, such as exercise, sleep, and weight, on your heart health. You can use your AH in a medical setting after Apple receives FDA permission for AFib History, which is anticipated to happen soon.
On your phone's health app or on your watch, you can monitor and control your drug regimen. You can create prescription lists or track medications with your iPhone camera by scanning the label; the medication will then be added immediately to your list. Drug interactions, which are reactions between two or more consumed medications, result in 250k hospital admissions annually in the US alone. With the help of Health Sharing, Apple can now look at your medication list to determine whether you're likely to experience serious, critical, or mild drug interactions. Your family members can easily be asked to disclose their health information.
watchOS 9: Supported devices
According to recent information, Apple Watch 8, Ultra, SE 2, and lower models will all be supported by watchOS 9, although support will extend all the way down to Series 4 devices. This is excellent news for those who own older watches because it means they can continue to enjoy many of the capabilities shown off during the keynote.
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