Apple launched itsApple Watch Series 3on 12 September 2017 , but you’re able to get a caboodle of new feature on your survive watch – such as a range ofnew workouts and workout label – for innocent by upgrading to the watchOS 4 operating system software .
We get our first look at watchOS 4 atWWDC 2017on 5 June 2017 , but on 19 Sept it launched to the public at large , and you’re able to install it now . record on to rule out about the new feature watchOS 4 ( and after point updates – watchOS 4.1 and so on ) bring to your Apple Watch .
Apple Watch & watchOS History
This is an old variant of watchOS that has since been update . We ’re look to seeApple Watch Series 10 , Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch SE 3rd generation , runningwatchOS 11 , establish in September 2024 at the company’sGlowtime event(seehow to watch the September case ) . If you ’re in the food market for a Modern Apple Watch , see ourApple determine purchasing guide , round - up of thebest Apple Watch batch , and advice on whether you shouldbuy Apple Watch now or wait . You might also be concerned in what othernew Apple productsare amount this year , and when is thenext Apple upshot . you could come up links to all our Apple Watch reviews below .
Release date
At Apple’sevent on 12 Septemberit revealed that the watchOS 4 computer software would be available to download on 19 Sept , and it ’s freely available now .
Here’show to instal watchOS 4 .
We expect another giving update next autumn : take a look at ourwatchOS 5 rumoursarticle for the latest information on that .
Latest update: watchOS 4.3 beta
There have been a number of smaller point updates since watchOS 4 was relinquish . Most of these have added modest tweaks and glitch fixes .
watchOS 4.3 is schedule to launch in spring 2018 , and the first beta of this update came out at the closing of January . Nightstand Mode now forge in both orientations ( previously it was landscape only ) , there ’s a new charging animation , and you could expend your lookout as a remote for music playing on the companion iPhone .
This is all fairly minor stuff compare to …
watchOS 4.1
watchOS 4.1 included several significant changes . in the main these involved finally unlocking key features that were promise in watchOS 4 ( or on the Apple Watch Series 3 ) but were n’t now usable .
It allowed you to pour Apple Music on a watch using its own LTE cellular connexion – just look out for the core onbattery animation . And there was a new radio receiver app , too .
you may also use the GymKit technical school to connect your watch ( any model ) to compatible treadmills and usage cycle and get in effect data readings . We still have n’t seen any GymKit - compatible equipment in the natural state , but hopefully gym will start update their machines soon .
New features
In Apple ’s Q3 2017 financial earnings call on 1 August , Tim Cooksaid : “ Apple Watch will become more intelligent than ever this fall with watchOS4 , boast a proactive Siri sentry face , personalize action coaching , and an entirely new medicine experience . watchOS 4 also introduces GymKit , a groundbreaking technology platform to unite workouts with cardio equipment . ”
Here ’s a rundown of the new feature article watchOS 4 brings to your Apple Watch .
Health
We already bed that glucose monitoring is coming to the Apple Watch , although there ’s not much word yet on the associate ironware that will presumably be want .
At the 12 September event Apple revealed that there will be enhanced heart rate monitoring in watchOS 4 . The watch will notify you when it detects an idealistic heart charge per unit when you ’re not active .
Siri watch face
A newfangled ‘ Siri case ’ displays selective information personal to you using machine learning , like to the proactive functionality and middleman hint in iOS .
The Siri face displays information using motorcar erudition , to match your routine – so you ’ll see the information and app crosscut that are most relevant to your current needs .
you’re able to splay the Digital Crown to scroll vertically through the various notifications and apps on the facial expression .
Other new faces
Apple also revealed two other groups of vigil faces . First up is the kaleidoscope face , which you’re able to rotate using the Digital Crown , bring out a trippy impression . The visual element rotate and change shape , just like those weird toys everybody apparently loved in the sixties .
There are also new Disney faces , following on from the popular Micky and Minnie Mouse confront already available . Woody , Jessie and Buzz Lightyear ( from Toy Story ) are all coming to the Apple Watch . you may select one especial character , or go for the ( first-class ) Toy Box alternative which mixes up all of them .
These seem to be a bit more advanced , visually speak , than the former faces . Mickey and Minnie were animated , but in a fairly special elbow room – jiggling back and forth in clip with the clock , essentially . But the young font incorporate multiple , long animations that behave differently each time you rotate your radiocarpal joint .
Apple called these ‘ vignettes ’ – the character climbing on to the watch cheek from below , for good example .
Activity & Workout
bodily function ( and what we consider to be its companion app , Workout ) are almost surely the most pop apps on the watch . So we were pleased to see that Apple is continuing to pick off and add up to these apps . As elsewhere , Apple is gradually increase the influence of personalisation and automobile learning .
The notifications in Activity are now more personalised to you – they ’ll let you know if you ’re close to an achievement , for example . And there ’s ‘ smart coaching ’ , which again is personalised to you . This will offer monthly challenges , found on your history and activeness record .
There ’s a coolheaded young frothy animation to keep fill up your rings in Activity ( it looks gracious , but may fatigue after a few months … ) , and a change to the mode pool swimming workouts work . Apple say that taking a residual at one end of the pond will automatically be find and marked as the end of one hardening of laps and the origin of another – handy for exact timing .
Apple has also take in that notifications are n’t crucial during a workout , so Do Not touch will mechanically be activate when a workout is initiate , and then mechanically move around it off once the workout is complete .
Oh , and one last variety to the Workout interface : you may swipe left from the physical exercise computer menu to access music controls . ( Why has n’t this been a feature article from the beginning ? )
We ’re really proud of to see Apple follow through two - way data central with gymnasium equipment . ( The hopeless inaccuracy of treadmill - based physical exercise has long been an annoyance – when a gimmick with a more precise record is right there ! )
You plainly need to tap the NFC shred to plug in your watch with the gymnasium equipment , although obviously you ’ll need to find a gymnasium that supports it first . This is potential to take a while to filter out into the cosmos outside California , we ’d guess .
draw of novel physical exertion types were spot in the run - up to watchOS 4 ’s launch , although most of these are not immediately available from the Workout select screen and it ’s not entirely clean how they are aerate .
A newfangled sailing workout appear in watchOS 4 genus Beta 7 ; the Portuguese - language siteiHelp BRnoticed references to “ American football , baseball game , bowling , dance , skiing and other modality in the nose candy , skip forget me drug , various types of fights , surfriding and more ” ; and developer discovered consultation in aHomePodfirmware leak to yoga , wrestling , body of water Marco Polo , water seaworthiness and “ dance - pep up grooming ” .
At the time , TechCrunchargued that these were new optional labels for workout case that you programme yourself rather than fresh additions to the nonremittal workout list , and that appears to have been expect out .
There is one young addition to the workout blue-ribbon projection screen , however , and it ’s a good one : High Intensity Interval Training . This is a demanding and highly effective form of workout that uses heart rate measurement to push you to your limits – we really enjoyed using this with theMoov HR Sweatactivity tracker .
Music
The Music app on Apple Watch has been redesigned , and looks much salutary . There ’s gracious album art – you rotate the Digital Crown to scroll through .
( The Digital Crown seems to be getting far more use in watchOS 4 – which is not bad . It feels like an underused mastery in watchOS 3 . )
The new Music app strain to anticipate your needs – you ’ll automatically see music and playlists that you listen to regularly , freshly updated on your sentry . It also includes Apple - curated playlists include the ilk of Heavy Rotation , Favourites Mix and New Music Mix . Of naturally , you ’ll involve an combat-ready Apple Music subscription to see these alternative .
The Apple Watch also supports multiple playlists for the first meter .
Apple Pay
You ’ll be able to pay friends via Apple Pay on the Apple Watch via an Apple Pay Cash chronicle , although it ’s initially throttle to US users only .
Other changes
There ’s a new , redesign dock interface – you may vertically scroll through late apps using the Digital Crown . ( There it is again ! )
There ’s a new twinkle light aerate via Control Centre – useful for safe on night foot race . There ’s also a unembellished Inner Light , in either white or red .
Apple claims you ’ll see fast app responsiveness and better background app performance .
learn about theBest Apple Watch gamesandBest Apple Watch appsfor more information about what ’s presently available .
And for more information about the Apple Watch in general , read ourComplete guide to the Apple Watchand ourApple Watch gratuity & secrets .
Which Apple Watches can run watchOS 4?
watchOS 4 can be installed on any Apple Watch model – first - gen Apple Watches as well as the more late Series 1 and Series 2 , and of course the young Series 3 ( which we assume will ship with watchOS 4 already installed ) .
The only restriction is that you need to be using an iPhone 5s or later on as the fellow phone .
