Apple introduces watchOS 10 with a new widget based interface: Here’s everything you need to know

Smart Stack

Dubbed ‘Smart Stack’, the new widget-based interface adapts to the user’s behaviour and can be revealed by simply turning the Digital Crown from any watch face. For example, Smart Stack can show the weather forecast when you start your day, display meetings from Calendar and boarding passes from Wallet.

Here’s what the new widgets look like in watchOS 10 (Image Source: Apple)

Apple says Smart Stack takes up only a portion of the watch face, so users can look at their watch face without any problem. Developers will also be able to make use of the Smart Stack with apps like Waterllama showing users their hydration status from the last seven days.

The Control Center on watchOS 10 can now be accessed by pressing the side button from any app and shows as an overlay. Users can also double-click the crown to go back to the previous app anytime.

New workout metrics

Apple is also bringing new workout metrics for cyclists and hikers. When users start a cycling workout from their watch, it will automatically pop up as a Live Activity on the iPhone. Tapping on it will take you to a new interface that shows information like Workout Views, Heart Rate zones, Race Routes, Elevation, Custom Workouts and the new Cycling Speed View on the iPhone.

With watchOS 10, Apple Watch can also be connected with supported Bluetooth-enabled cycling accessories like power meters, speed and cadence sensors. To improve their performance, cyclists can also check out personalised Power Zones that display the current zone and track and how much time they spend in each.

For hikers, watchOS 10 automatically generates two waypoints. The ‘Last cellular connection waypoint’ will show the estimated location of the place where you last had cellular reception, while the ‘Last emergency call waypoint’ shows the last location where an emergency call can be made.

The updated operating system also offers a new Elevation view that shows a 3D view of saved waypoints using data from the altimeter. It can also search for nearby trails and trailheads and view information like trail length, type and difficulty.

New watch faces

Apart from the redesigned interface, watchOS 10 also introduces two new watch faces – Palette and Snoppy. Apple says Palette ‘depicts time in a wide variety of colors using three distinct overlapping layers, and as the time changes, the colors on the display also shift’.

The Snoopy and Woodstock watch face comes with several animations. (Image Source: Apple)

The latter brings the Peanuts comic strip to life with Snoopy and Woodstock playing with the watch hands, reacting to weather conditions and getting active when doing a workout.

Apple Fitness+ custom workout plans

Apple has also introduced new custom plans for Fitness+ users which suggests things like meditation schedule and workout type. While the Audio Focus feature helps users prioritise the volume of music over the trainer’s voice or vice versa, Stacks will let you select multiple workouts and meditations back to back.

Daylight intake measurement

Another useful feature baked in watchOS 10 is the ability to measure the amount of time spent in daylight using the ambient light sensor. The information can be viewed using the Health app on iPhone or iPad. In case your children don’t have an iPhone, you can use Family Setup to pair their Apple Watch and view the amount of time they spent in daylight.

Which Apple Watch will get watchOS 10 update?

Apple has also shared a list of watches which will get the watchOS 10 update. The company also stated that not all features will be available on all devices and that some resource-intensive features might be limited to the newer models. The company said it will start rolling out watchOS 10 sometime this fall.

Another thing to note here is that watchOS 10 will require an iPhone running iOS 17, meaning the new update might be limited to those who own an iPhone XS, iPhone XR or later.

Apple Watch Series 4

Apple Watch Series 5

Apple Watch SE (All models)

Apple Watch Series 6

Apple Watch Series 7

Apple Watch Series 8

Apple Watch Ultra

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