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watchOS 27: Everything we know about the new features landing on your Apple Watch


At WWDC 2026, Apple announced watchOS 27, bringing Siri AI, a new Siri app, a dynamic app grid, better Smart Stack suggestions, expanded fitness features, and new health tracking tools to the Apple Watch.

The Apple Watch works best when it helps you get small things done quickly without reaching for your iPhone. watchOS 27 leans into that idea with updates that make it easier to start workouts, find apps, open Wallet passes, and check important information from your wrist. Here’s what’s new.

Siri AI is the main upgrade

One of the biggest additions in watchOS 27 is Siri AI, Apple’s next-generation assistant powered by Apple Intelligence. The upgraded Siri can understand personal context, answer more complex questions, and take action across apps.

watchOS 27
watchOS 27 Apple

On the Apple Watch, these improvements are especially useful because the smaller screen makes typing and navigating apps more cumbersome. Siri AI lets users ask more natural questions, get workout suggestions, access wellness-related information, and carry on back and forth conversations directly from their wrist.

Siri can also pull from personal information when needed. For example, it can help find a saved driver’s license number, a door code stored in Notes, or details from other personal content.

Siri Ai on watchOS 27
Apple

watchOS 27 also adds a dedicated Siri app. Users can continue conversations, start new chats, revisit previous interactions, and pick up conversations started on iPhone. Important conversations can also be pinned for quick access. The assistant can also complete tasks inside apps, such as sharing flight details, playing a trainer-recommended song, changing an Activity ring goal, sending an email, resuming a podcast, or adding music to a workout playlist.

Siri AI is not available in the first beta release, though it is expected to arrive in a subsequent beta update. Additionally, Apple Intelligence features will not initially be available on watchOS in the European Union due to the Digital Markets Act, and Siri AI will not be available in China at launch while Apple works through regulatory requirements.

The app grid and Smart Stack are getting smarter

Wristwatch, Arm, Body Part
Apple

The Apple Watch app grid now has a dynamic layout that highlights Siri-suggested apps, frequently used apps, and recently opened apps. For users with many installed apps, this update makes it easier to find and open the apps they use most often or are likely to need at that particular moment. That said, accessing the entire app grid is now a two-step process instead of a single press of the Digital Crown.

WatchOS 27 gesture to open Smart Stack widget
Apple

Smart Stack is also more context-aware. It can surface widgets based on relevant situations, such as birthday reminders, parked-car locations, sleep-alarm suggestions before select holidays, and transit card information. There is also a new tap gesture for Smart Stack. Users can tap their index finger and thumb together twice to open Smart Stack, continue to double-tap to scroll, and use a single tap to open the selected widget.

Workout Buddy gets more useful

Workout Buddy has received several upgrades in watchOS 27. The feature now uses fitness history to deliver more personalized motivation during workouts. Instead of generic encouragement, Workout Buddy provides updates tied to pace, distance, workout duration, and other performance metrics.

Apple Watch using Siri Ai for workout tips
Apple

Apple is also making the feature more flexible during workouts. Workout Buddy keeps working without users needing to carry their iPhone in a pocket or hand during exercise. However, the feature still requires a paired Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone and Bluetooth headphones or speakers. Users also have the option to use Workout Buddy in Spanish

Indoor run and walk tracking is more accurate

Tracking indoor runs and walks on treadmills is generally more challenging than outdoor tracking as GPS data is unavailable. That is why the new update includes improved motion-tracking algorithms, which help the watch estimate treadmill distance more accurately using wrist movement data.

Health tracking expands with menopause support

Cycle Tracking has been part of the Apple Watch and Health app for several years, allowing users to log menstrual cycles, track symptoms, and receive predictions about upcoming periods and fertile windows. The feature is designed to help users better understand changes in their reproductive health over time.

watchOS 27 Cycle Tracking feature in action
Apple

With watchOS 27, Apple is expanding Cycle Tracking with new perimenopause and menopause support. The Health app can now notify users when logged cycle patterns may indicate possible perimenopause and provides symptom tracking tools along with educational resources.

Find My gets a unified app

Apple watch Ultra Find My feature on watchOS 27
Apple

The new Find My update brings all location-tracking features under a single roof. Instead of using separate apps to locate people, Apple devices, and AirTag-equipped items, watchOS 27 combines Find Devices, Find People, and Find Items into one unified Find My app with a more map-focused interface. This is a nice quality-of-life change for the app since it now requires fewer taps to keep track of everyone and all your things.

Wallet adds support for custom passes

custom pass created on iPhone 17 Pro Max syncing to Apple Watch Ultra 3
zollotech (Youtube)

Wallet is also more useful for everyday cards that do not already have official Apple Wallet support. Users can create custom passes on their iOS 27 devices and sync them to the Apple Watch. For example, it can be used for memberships and cards that use QR codes or barcodes, such as library cards and gym memberships. These passes can be stored in Wallet and pinned to Smart Stack for quicker access.

Call Context surfaces important information during calls

Calls with businesses often require confirmation numbers, booking details, or information buried in Mail or Messages. watchOS 27 has added Call Context to handle that. The feature surfaces relevant information while users are on a call with a business. For example, a flight confirmation code stored in Mail can appear automatically during a call with an airline.

Liquid Glass and other small fixes

The Apple Watch display is small, so readability matters more here than on most other Apple devices. The new software refines Apple’s Liquid Glass design language with more consistent refraction effects and improved contrast, which should improve readability across notifications, widgets, controls, and apps.

watchOS 27 new notification mute button on Apple Watch Ultra 3
HotshotTek (Youtube)

Several smaller improvements are included as well. Music playback is now faster, step counts in the Fitness app are synced more accurately with data from the Health app, and the watch can suggest battery-saving adjustments to help extend battery life. Apple has also made it easier to mute notifications, allowing users to select a notification and access the mute option from the bottom-right corner of the screen. Sleep tracking is also said to be more accurate, although Apple has not yet shared specific details about the improvements.

Apple is also expanding child safety features. Through Child Accounts and Apple Watch For Your Kids, parents can set up an Apple Watch for a child who does not have an iPhone, allowing the device to be used for communication and safety features.

Which Apple Watch models support watchOS 27?

watchOS 27 requires an iPhone 11 or later, or an iPhone SE (2nd generation) or later, running iOS 27.

The compatible Apple Watch models are:

  • Apple Watch SE 3
  • Apple Watch Series 9
  • Apple Watch Series 10
  • Apple Watch Series 11
  • Apple Watch Ultra 2
  • Apple Watch Ultra 3

The cutoff is stricter than usual. Apple Watch Series 8, the first-generation Apple Watch Ultra, and Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) will not receive watchOS 27, even though they were supported by the previous major update. This means Apple is drawing the line at watches equipped with the S9 chip or newer.

When can you download watchOS 27?

watchOS 27 will be released publically for elligible watches this fall. The company has already made watchOS 27 available for developer testing. Siri AI will arrive in a future watchOS 27 beta before its broader rollout later this year. A public beta is expected ahead of the final release.

Installing developer software on a primary device carries risks. Apple Watch software is particularly difficult to roll back compared with iPhone or iPad software, so most users are better off waiting for the public beta or the final release.



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Recent Reviews

I’m a lawn expert, and here’s my favorite trick for finding your perfect robot mower


Robot mowers on a yard

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

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The perfect robot mower for you is not nearly as fancy and feature-heavy as you may think. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: it’s not the lawn mower, it’s all about the yard. A robot mower may be a market leader with top-of-the-line specs and still not be a good fit for your yard.

Here’s the great news: There’s a perfect robot mower for almost any yard. As someone who’s tested numerous types of robot lawn mowers, I’ve learned that many of the specs that brands market as groundbreaking are simply not vital for most shoppers. A mostly flat, fenced-in 0.10-acre yard doesn’t need the power that a hilly, sectioned, unfenced one-acre yard does.

Also: I tested the Ferrari of robot mowers for a month – here’s my verdict

If you’re looking to choose the best mower for your home, be sure to check out ZDNET’s robot mower buying guide. 

Here’s what you don’t need to stress over when buying a robot mower

Eufy E15 Robot Mower

Maria Diaz/ZDNET
For yards with… Best robot mower type Examples
No fences A wired boundary is best, but a great GPS/RTK robot mower can stick to the map you make with it. Yardcare E400, Mammotion Luba 3
Fences A LiDAR robot mower that can be dropped to mow with little setup and learn its map as it navigates. Eufy E15, Ecovacs Goat A3000
A lot of trees A LiDAR or wired boundary mower, since trees can interfere with satellite signals. Husqvarna iQ series (optional wire, EPOS)
Unbordered garden beds A GPS/RTK robot mower that you can set up to avoid flower beds when mapping. Mammotion Luba 3, Husqvarna iQ Series
Bordered garden beds A LiDAR, GPS, or wired boundary robot mower works for these yards. If you choose a wired boundary, you may have to bury wire around the flower beds, unless the borders are tall enough for the mower to avoid. Mammotion Yuka, Navimow Series H
pets A LiDAR robot mower that can adjust its navigation in real-time in reaction to its surroundings. Mova LiDAX Ultra 2000, Segway Navimow i2
Hills and uneven terrain An AWD robot mower capable of handling steep slopes, regardless of the navigation type. Mammotion Luba 3, , Husqvarna iQ

1. Don’t focus on: ‘AI-powered’ or other marketing buzzwords

Segway Navimow X3 Series robot mower

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

Artificial intelligence (AI) has surpassed the popularity of acid-wash jeans in the 80s and Baby G watches in the early 2000s. And tech companies — including robot lawn mower manufacturers — are capitalizing on its appeal.

Most of these “AI-powered” or “intelligent mowing” terms are vague, geared to grab shoppers’ attention with buzzwords. That doesn’t mean that the robots don’t use AI to navigate, however. 

The key is to find out how the robot uses AI to its benefit, and whether that will meet your AI expectations. 

Also: This robot mower took care of my lawn for months – and it’s currently $300 off

AI algorithms typically process data captured by the robot’s hardware to help it make quick decisions and adjustments. For example, a robot lawn mower may have a set of sensors and cameras to capture its surroundings. The robot’s processor then uses AI to convert that information into actionable data, so it knows whether to swerve to avoid an obstacle or slow down around a retaining wall.

Instead, look for: The navigation tech under (and on) the hood

Instead of AI and other buzzwords, you should focus on matching the robot lawn mower’s hardware and navigation system to your yard. This includes whether the robot uses RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) for positioning, and whether it features LiDAR, cameras, and sensors. 

Then look at real user reviews to assess how accurately the robot mower maps and how well it performs around various types of obstacles.

There’s no blanket rule for robot mowers, but most do well with the following guidelines.

2. Don’t focus on: Premium extras

Yardcare E400 robot lawn mower

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

Skip the premium extras that don’t match your yard. You really don’t need the most advanced robot mower; you need the one that will best handle your lawn. 

Most US homeowners have mostly flat lawns, simple rectangular layouts, minimal obstacles, and small yards. Yet some of the most popular mowers advertise features that don’t match this, and you don’t want to spend an extra few hundred dollars on advanced features that won’t deliver a noticeable difference in your yard.

Instead, look for: Only as much as you need

Do you have a mostly flat lawn with no fences and need a robot that can navigate to several sections separated by paths? Then you can skip AWD models and commit to superior mapping and navigation features, like multi-zone intelligence.

Also: I let a modular yard care robot mow my lawn – here’s my verdict after a month

Similarly, if you have a yard with dense trees covering most of it, it’s safe to skip the RTK models and go for LiDAR or boundary wire options instead. 

3. Don’t focus on: Flashy app features

Mammotion Luba 2 robot mower path

The path lines created by the Mammotion Luba 2, as captured by our Bink Outdoor camera, is one flashy app feature I can’t quit.

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

Any dependable robot lawn mower requires an equally reliable mobile app to let you use it effectively. However, manufacturers market many flashy app features that end up being unnecessary for many users. 

Don’t make app features the deciding factor unless it’s something you genuinely care about. Many users don’t rely on voice control to run their mowers and don’t mind using a separate app for their robot rather than integrating it into an existing home automation system.

Also: I let a smart planter maintain itself for 2 months – here’s the result

A robot lawn mower with mediocre navigation and cutting performance can still have a flashy app — all while leaving behind missed patches or taking longer to finish mowing.

Instead, look for: The features you’ll actually use

Most robot mower users keep them running on a schedule to get the lawn-cutting chore off their minds. The majority of the most popular models offer basic features beyond scheduling, such as remote start and stop, basic mapping, automatic rain delay, and theft protection. 

It’s easy to find robot lawn mowers with these features, but if you’re looking for anything beyond that, just be sure that the feature is worth it, especially if you’re paying extra for that model.

Also: I’ve tested robot mowers for years – here’s my expert advice for every yard type

An example of a flashy app feature that is completely unnecessary, but I love having? The Mammotion’s pattern cutting. I can select the cutting pattern I want on the Mammotion app, whether I want lines or checkered, but I can also have the robot cut in custom patterns, like letters and numbers. I don’t care for mowed letters in my yard, but I like that it always has that freshly mowed checkered patterned with no effort from me. 

4. Don’t focus on: Cutting system extras

Segway Navimow X3 Series robot mower

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

The cutting width and system specs are important, as they can determine whether a robot can cover a given area in a day. However, most robot mowers use similar multiple-blade mulching systems. 

Unlike traditional lawn mowers with large blades for aggressive cutting in a single pass, robot mowers typically feature a set of small blades that constantly spin. Because of this, robot mowers trim smaller amounts of grass with each pass than a traditional mower, but they also cut more frequently and leave behind smaller grass clippings that decompose naturally.

Also: I powered my 3,000-sq-ft home with an EcoFlow battery in a blackout – here’s how it kept my AC on

Because the robot mowers have a smaller, compounding cutting system, the real-world differences between the cutting systems from one brand to another are often smaller than you’d expect. Other issues, like poor navigation, will be glaringly obvious before small differences in blade design.

Instead, look for: Cutting width and yard size

The average US yard would benefit more from navigation quality, consistency, and connectivity than blade design. Instead, you should focus on matching the mower to your yard size.

The robot’s capacity is measured in how many acres it can cover in a day. Among other features, this is calculated based on your robot’s battery size and cutting width. Essentially, most users want a robot that can mow an entire yard in a day, so you can set it and forget it and always come home to a mowed yard. You get this by getting the appropriate robot for your yard size.





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