watchOS 10 is Apple’s current operating system for Apple Watch models. Here’s what we know about the functions of this system update.
watchOS 10 is Apple’s current operating system for Apple Watch models. It brings a redesign for larger displays, a focus on widgets, apps, new workout features, and stacks to Watch Faces.
To learn more about Apple’s upcoming operating system for Apple Watch, head to the watchOS 11 guide page.Features
Here’s everything new with the Apple Watch, thanks to the watchOS 10 update.Redesigned interface, new Watch Faces, Smart Stack feature, and new Control Center button
Apple says that “virtually every app has been rethought.” These apps use the entire screen to create new places for content so you can see and do more, which is especially useful for a larger Apple Watch display. In addition, Apple added two new Watch Faces: Pallet and Snoopy.
With Smart Stack widgets, you get the information you need below any Watch Face. You just need to turn the Digital Crown to reveal widgets in the Smart Stack. It includes multiple timers, your next meeting, music playing, and more.
The Control Center is now available when pressing the side button. Pressing the Digital Crown once still opens the App Library – which has been reimagined – and pressing twice opens the cards added to your Apple Wallet.Cycling and Hiking workouts revamp
With watchOS 9, Apple revamped Running workouts. Now, with watchOS 10, the company is focused on Cycling and Hiking. Here are the highlights for each exercise.
Cycling
Automatically connect to Bluetooth-enabled accessories to add cadence, speed, and power to your Workout View
When a power meter is detected, Apple Watch will automatically estimate your Functional Threshold Power
When starting a cycling workout from your Watch, it will automatically show up as a Live Activity on your iPhone
Hiking
See a three-dimensional view of where you’ve been using Elevation Views. Get estimates of where you last had reception with Cellular Connectivity Waypoints
Search for and discover important details of nearby trails, including name, length, time, elevation, gain, and more
Topographic maps (first available in the US) let you explore mountains, valleys, lakes, and rivers in detail
Elevation alerts: get notified when you’ve passed a particular elevation threshold. watchOS 10 expands mental health awareness
watchOS 10 lets you log your state of mind by scrolling through engaging visuals to help you select how you’re feeling at that moment and during the day overall. Apple wants you to stay consistent with notifications and complications on watch faces.
In the Health app on the iPhone, it’s also possible to see your state of mind and how it could correlate with lifestyle factors. In addition, you can still see your usage of the mindfulness app and other metrics, such as heart beating, sleep data, and more. The Medications app now gives you reminders to take your pills.
Lastly, your Apple Watch Series 6 (and later), SE 2, or newer can identify how much time you spend in daylight thanks to its ambient light sensor. The data is available in the Health app.
Custom Plans on Apple Fitness Plus
New features for Apple Fitness Plus on watchOS 10 include the ability to create a custom plan for your workouts. If you have a goal, such as a personal event, or want to lose weight, you can select your weekly schedule, how long you are planning to workout per day, the length of the plan (up to 8 weeks), and the activity types you’re planning to engage.
Once you decide that, you can say exactly what kind of workout you want to practice each day, for how long, which trainer you prefer, and the kind of music. With the plan created, you can start engaging with them with suggestions for each day using your iPhone. You can rename the plan and end it once it’s set up. I also tried a five-week Apple Fitness+ custom plan to see how it went.
While this feature will improve over time, it’s possible that Apple has a different strategy for Custom Plans in the long run. In April 2023, Bloomberg reported that Apple was working on a coaching service codenamed Quartz.
It’s being designed to “keep users motivated to exercise, improve eating habits, and help them sleep better, according to people with knowledge of the project. The idea is to use AI and data from an Apple Watch to make suggestions and create coaching programs tailored to specific users.”
This report looks a lot like most of the features Apple introduced with iOS 17 and watchOS 10, such as State of Mind and this Custom Plans feature combined with sleep data, but the company hasn’t integrated them all together yet.
