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Apple Watch Ultra 3

Nina Raemont/ZDNET

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After unveiling WatchOS 27 at WWDC 2026, Apple made the developer beta version available to users. While most watch users will receive a free software update to iOS 27 this fall (though availability may vary by carrier, region, and local regulations), you can get access as early as right now in a few simple steps. 

WatchOS 27 is the successor to WatchOS 26, the latest operating system for Apple’s lineup of smartwatches. Notably, the WatchOS 27 software will not be available for the Apple Watch SE (2nd generation), Apple Watch Series 6, 7, 8, and 9, and the first-gen Apple Watch Ultra. 

Also: Apple WWDC 2026: iOS 27, Siri and Tim Cook’s last event as CEO

If you’re interested in being one of the first to test the new WatchOS 27, you can now install the developer beta on your device, followed by the public beta in July. Remember that beta versions always come with bugs or glitches, so ZDNET recommends backing up your data and keeping an open mind. 

This WatchOS won’t be flawless, but it does come with some new upgrades like a dedicated Siri app, a new dynamic app grid, a single-tap gesture to open a Smart Stack widget, more fitness insights with Workout Buddy, enhanced cycle tracking, and more. 

How to install the WatchOS 27 developer beta

  1. Download iOS 27 beta first 

iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

To access the latest WatchOS 27, you’ll need to first install the iOS 27 developer beta. Here’s how to do so. 

2. Navigate to the Watch app on your iPhone

Apple Watch Series 11

Nina Raemont/ZDNET

Then, open the Watch app and navigate to General > Software Update > Beta Updates to select the WatchOS 27 beta. Remember that WatchOS 27 is limited to Apple Watch Series 10 and newer.

When will WatchOS 27 be released?

Apple released the WatchOS 27 developer beta during WWDC 2026, and the public beta version will likely be released in July. If past years are any indication, the general release of WatchOS 27 will take place in September, following the iPhone 18 event.

Which Apple Watches are compatible with WatchOS 27?

  • Apple Watch SE (3rd Gen) 
  • Apple Watch Series 10
  • Apple Watch Series 11
  • Apple Watch Ultra 2
  • Apple Watch Ultra 3

WatchOS 27 also requires an iPhone 11 or later, or iPhone SE (2nd generation or later), running iOS 27. As in previous versions, if you’ve got an older Apple Watch, certain features may not be available upon update. 


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Which Apple Watches are not compatible with WatchOS 27? 

WatchOS 27 cuts support for Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen), Apple Watch Series 6, 7, 8, and 9, and the first-gen Apple Watch Ultra.

How do I install the WatchOS 27 public beta version?

To install WatchOS 27 beta, you’ll first need to have iOS 27 beta installed on your iPhone. Here’s a guide from ZDNET expert Maria Diaz on how to do so. After you complete these prerequisites, you can open the Watch app and navigate to General > Software Update > Beta Updates to select the WatchOS 27 beta. WatchOS 27 additionally has tight hardware requirements: it’s only limited to Apple Watch Series 10 and newer.

How do I install iOS 27 when it’s available?

The public release of WatchOS 27 is expected this September. Depending on the carrier, region, and local restrictions, compatible Apple Watch users will be able to upgrade after it’s available. If your device doesn’t automatically push its own update when the time is right, you can always manually begin the process by ensuring your watch has at least 50% battery. Then you can use the Apple Watch app on your iPhone or the watch’s Settings to download and install the update. 





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How we power our homes has become one of the most important conversations in consumer technology. Not in the abstract, policy-heavy way it used to be discussed, but in a far more personal sense. People want homes that are smarter, more resilient during outages, less affected by rising electricity costs, and increasingly capable of running more of daily life independently. 

The growing interest in residential solar reflects this dramatic shift. What was once framed as an environmental decision or a long-term cost-saving measure is now evaluated through an entirely different lens. Reliability matters. Ease of ownership matters. Design matters. Integration with the rest of the connected home matters even more. 

Tesla Solar Panels are engineered with that expectation in mind, bringing the same simplicity, visibility, and seamless integration people already expect from modern consumer technology to the way a home generates and manages energy.  

Tesla designs solar panels to withstand whatever conditions the weather brings 

Most solar systems perform well in ideal conditions. Real rooftops rarely operate that way. Shade shifts throughout the day, debris accumulates over time, chimneys interrupt sunlight, and weather conditions vary across seasons. 

Tesla designed its solar panels specifically to maintain more consistent energy production under real-world conditions. The panels feature three times more power zones than conventional systems, allowing shade or debris to affect only a smaller portion of the panel array rather than the entire array’s output. For homeowners, the advantage is straightforward: more stable energy generation throughout the day, even when rooftop conditions are less than perfect. 

Consistency matters because residential solar is increasingly seen as core home infrastructure rather than an optional upgrade. Homeowners expect systems that perform reliably without requiring perfect conditions. 

Tesla is bringing consumer-tech design standards into residential solar 

One of the most persistent criticisms of residential solar has little to do with performance. Traditional installations often meant bulky rails, raised panels, and exposed hardware that felt visually out of place on the homes beneath them. 

Tesla takes a more refined approach. The low-profile panels sit flush against the roofline with a sleek all-black finish that reduces visual clutter and blends naturally into modern architecture, complementing the overall appearance of the home rather than working against it. 

The same philosophy extends to installation. Tesla manages design, permits, installation, and activation directly, giving homeowners one point of contact throughout the entire process instead of coordinating across multiple contractors. 

For many homeowners, that streamlined ownership experience may be just as important as the technology itself. Residential solar adoption has stalled less because of limited interest in clean energy and more because of the complexity traditionally associated with installation and ongoing maintenance. 

The conversation around solar is no longer just about lowering electricity bills  

As homeowners increasingly want more control over how energy is produced and used inside the home. Long-term reliability has become part of the equation as well, particularly for consumers viewing solar as a foundational home technology investment expected to last for decades.

Tesla Solar Panels come with a 25-year warranty covering both performance and manufacturing defects, reinforcing a focus on long-term ownership rather than short-term savings alone. 

The bigger picture comes into focus when the ecosystem works together 

Residential solar is only the starting point. Tesla’s broader energy ecosystem brings solar generation, battery storage, home charging, and energy monitoring together, managed entirely from a single app.

Through the Tesla app, homeowners can monitor solar production, track savings, and manage their energy use from anywhere. Adding Powerwall home battery takes it further, storing excess solar energy generated during the day for use during outages or periods of high electricity demand. 

For Tesla vehicle owners, that stored energy can also support home charging. Solar generates it, Powerwall stores it, the app manages it, and the vehicle uses it. This is where Tesla’s approach separates itself from conventional solar providers, functioning less like individual products and more like a unified experience built around convenience, visibility, and long-term control. 

Tesla’s current Next Million Powerwall Rebate also helps eligible customers save up to $1,000 when pairing solar with Powerwall.

Visit Tesla to explore pricing, rebate eligibility, and the full home energy ecosystem. 

 



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