Alongside the release of iOS 18 today, Apple is also releasing watchOS 11, a fairly major update for the Apple Watch.
watchOS 11 brings a number of new features, including the new Vitals app, Activity Breaks, a Revamped Smart Stack and much more.
The new Vitals app is a play towards competing with the likes of WHOOP and Garmin, for Apple. It is able to give you key health metrics measured during your sleep, including heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature and blood oxygen. Given your Apple Watch supports Blood Oxygen. And you’ll get a daily report on how you’re doing.
Apple has also made some changes to the fitness app, such as the ability to take a break. Say you’re sick, traveling or just need a rest day, now you can tell the Fitness app that, and you won’t get dinged for not closing your rings every single day.
Apple brought the Messages Check In feature from the iPhone over to the Apple Watch this year. Making it easier to check in with your close friends and family when you’re headed somewhere, so everyone knows you’re safe.
What Apple Watches does watchOS 11 support?
Apple’s long update history for the Apple Watch continues. This update is rolling out to the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen), Apple Watch Series 6, Series 7, Series 8, Series 9, Series 10, Ultra, and Ultra 2. It would be best if you also had it paired to an iPhone that is running iOS 18 or later. So you’ll need to update your iPhone first before your Apple Watch.
The update history isn’t quite as good as it is on the iPhone, but we’re still looking at 4+ years of updates for these watches, which is still more than Google’s 3 years of promised updates for the Pixel Watch. Additionally, people keep their watches much longer than their phones. There’s still a ton of people on the Apple Watch Series 3, from 7 years ago.