Apple has officially announced the latest watchOS 7 that comes with a range of exciting new features. You can already download the developer beta, which will be followed by a public beta version sometime next month. So let’s check out some of the top watchOS 7 features that you need to know about.
watchos 7 Supported Devices
watchOS 7 requires iPhone 6s or later with iOS 14 and one of the following Apple Watch models:
- Apple Watch Series 6
- Apple Watch SE
- Apple Watch Series 5
- Apple Watch Series 4
- Apple Watch Series 3
Unfortunately, Apple Watch Series 0, 1, and 2 will be left behind as the hardware can’t keep up with the latest software’s enhanced features, as explained below.
watchos 7 Features
- Customized Watch Faces and Sharing
- Fitness App
- Sleep Monitoring & Wind Down Mode
- Siri Updates
- Family Setup
- Cycling in Maps
- Handwashing Detection
- Hearing Health
Customized Watch Faces and Sharing
One of the most notable features of watchOS 7 is the enhanced personalization through multiple complications. You can configure your watch face to show you the information you value most.
For instance, new parents can use the Glow Baby app to track their child’s feeding, nap times, and more, all from the face of their watch. That is, a single app can show multiple pieces of information.
Similarly, anyone can customize their Apple Watch face to suit their lifestyle and display info from their most-used apps. Further, with Face Share, your personalized watch Face can also be shared with others through Mail, Message, or links on websites and social media. Further, you can also download custom watch faces from the App Store.
Lastly, watchOS 7 will bring us some awesome new Watch Faces such as:
- Chronograph Pro that has an integrated tachymeter to calculate the speed of travel
- Photos face that offers color filters, and
- X-Large face that allows you to add a rich complication
Fitness App
The popular Activity app has been reimagined and renamed as Fitness in watchOS 7. It offers plenty of new features, but the most significant is support for tracking Dance workouts. This includes a range of forms such as Hip Hop, Latin, and Bollywood.
watchOS 7 uses the accelerometer and gyroscope to detect both arm and leg movements and combine them with heart rate data to calculate accurate calories burned.
Further, the Fitness app also brings a range of new workouts for core training and functional strength training.
Sleep Monitoring & Wind Down Mode
watchOS 7 finally presents the much-awaited sleep tracking feature. This will sense micro-movements to assess breathing and track sleep quality and sleep trends. This will help you gain a holistic picture of your nightly rest.
It also incorporates an innovative and customizable wind-down mode that limits distractions closer to bedtime. So you can opt to snooze notifications, open meditation apps, or listen to a soothing music playlist.
Further, you’ll be able to set gentle audio alarms or even more discreet haptic feedback, which subtly buzzes you awake without making a sound or disturbing anyone else in the room.
Siri Updates
watchOS 7 brings several enhancements to your favourite personal assistant, Siri. For instance, the new on-device dictation feature will improve search results as well as voice-to-text messaging
You can use the intelligent new translation features to seamlessly communicate in other languages. To start with, this will support eleven popular languages.
Family Setup
watchOS 7 makes it possible for your family members to enjoy using an Apple Watch without needing an iPhone of their own. You can set up a watch for a child or an older member of your family through your phone to enable them to benefit from a range of communication, health, and safety features.
For instance, they can stay connected with you through calls, messages, and location sharing. They can also use the Calendar and Reminders on their watch to follow their schedule and know about upcoming family events. Similarly, they can keep fit with personalized goals on the Activity app and set up Emergency SOS to stay safe when out and about.
Moreover, helpful third-party apps can be downloaded from the Apple Watch App Store for learning, mindfulness, etc. All in all, Family Sharing offers lots of customizations for both children and older adults to help enhance their day-to-day experience with the Apple Watch.
Cycling in Maps
Maps on watchOS 7 will have better cycling directions, initially for New York City, the San Francisco Bay Area, Shanghai, and Beijing. It will provide you details like time and distance traveled as well as info about bike lanes, stairs, traffic, and the kind of terrain you are approaching.
These intelligent insights will help you plan your route and navigate better on your bike to get around with ease. This focus on cycling is especially significant in current times due to the need to avoid public transport for health concerns.
Handwashing Detection
Another watchOS 7 feature that caters to the need of the hour is automatic handwashing detection. The sensors on your Apple Watch will be able to know when you are washing your hands and provide a countdown to help you stick to the 20-second guideline. If you stop earlier, it’ll prompt you to keep going.
Hearing Health
We all love music-on-the-go, but it’s recommended to limit exposure to sounds above 80 decibels to a maximum of 40 hours a week. watchOS 7 will let you know when you’ve reached this level each week and provide options to protect your hearing.
Summing Up
WatchOS 7 boasts some pretty amazing new features, and there are probably several more that have not been officially announced yet, such as blood oxygen measurement. What are you most excited to experience on your Apple Watch? Let us know in the comments below.
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