watchOS 27 will bring the new Siri AI, a smarter Workout Buddy and other useful new features to Apple Watch. While the wearable didn’t receive much attention during the WWDC26 keynote on Monday, Apple said watchOS will get AI-powered upgrades like the rest of its platforms.
“You can start chatting with Siri on your iPhone, pick up where you left off on your iPad, and wrap up on your Mac,” said Mike Rockwell, Apple’s VP of Siri engineering, during the keynote. “We’re also tailoring Siri AI for watchOS. So you can ask questions and take action right on your wrist. And you can also tap into the Siri app using the new app grid on Apple Watch.”
watchOS 27 brings Siri AI to Apple Watch
The Apple Watch has been coasting on incremental updates for years, but watchOS 27 changes that. It not only adds new features, but also pushes Apple Intelligence and Siri AI upgrades right onto your wrist — as long as you’re using compatible devices. (If you’ve got an Apple Watch Series 9 or later, Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later, or Apple Watch SE 3, you can use the features. Oh, and you also need to live in the right place, since Apple won’t release these features in the European Union or China.)
watchOS 27 introduces a dynamic app grid that places the new standalone Siri app at the center, surrounded by other suggested apps, which include your most popular and recently used ones. The Siri app will let you start conversations right from your wrist. Or you can also ask a question on your iPhone, then pick up where you left off on the Apple Watch. And you can pin conversations for easy access.
Siri AI can also take action in other apps on your watch. You will soon be able to share your flight details with your family, set a new goal for your Activity rings, etc., all without having to look around for these settings.
AI makes for a smarter Workout Buddy (and better workouts)
Workout Buddy, Apple’s motivation coach, also receives a huge, AI-powered upgrade in watchOS 27. It now motivates you “based on your fitness history with new data insights, including your progress for pace, distance, and workout duration,” according to Apple’s website.
Also, Workout Buddy will work even if you don’t have your iPhone nearby, meaning you can leave your iPhone at home while going on a run. And the motivational assistant will support the Spanish language.
Apple also improved the Apple Watch’s motion-tracking algorithms, so your treadmill runs and walks should become more precise.
Other watchOS improvements: Smart Stack widgets, tap gesture and more
Smart Stack upgrade: watchOS 27 brings new Smart Stack suggestions.”More widgets appear in your Smart Stack when they’re relevant,” says Apple’s website. “Wish a close contact happy birthday, see the location of your parked car, change your sleep alarm before select holidays, or pin your transit card for quick balance checks.”
New tap gesture: This will let you select a widget in the Smart Stack by tapping your index finger and thumb together.
Liquid Glass refinements: As with Apple’s other platforms, watchOS 27 will tweak the controversial Liquid Glass user interface. The company says translucent elements now have “exceptional readability with more uniform refraction and improved contrast.”
Call Context: This new feature can pull up relevant information from your apps while you’re in the middle of a call. For example, it might show a confirmation code from the Mail app when you call an airline.
Wallet app upgrades: watchOS 27 can create custom passes for any QR code or barcode-based memberships and cards. Then you can pin them in the Smart Stack or quickly access them from the Wallet app.
Perimenopause and menopause support: With watchOS 27, Cycle Tracking in the Health app will now notify you when your logged cycle patterns hint at perimenopause.
Performance tweaks: “Music playback on Apple Watch now starts faster,” Apple says. “The step count in the Fitness app syncs with steps counted in the Health app, and battery optimizations may be suggested.”
Apple will release watchOS 27, available as a developer beta now, this fall alongside the iOS 27.
