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Tag: WatchOS

  • Apple Watch Ultra 3 Review: Biggest Is Best, Except If It’s Not

    This past April marked the 10-year anniversary of the Apple Watch. Those early aluminum, stainless steel, and—yes—18k gold models launched without a clear idea of what they were for. Apple wanted its smartwatch to be a fashionable timepiece, a fitness tracker, a cellphone, a music player, a turn-by-turn navigator, and more. It seemed obvious that the Apple Watch could eventually replace the iPhone. A decade later, that is not only not the case, it’s looking like it may never be, though the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is ever closer (but still a far way off) from that dream.

    Starting at $800, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is not cheap. That’s the same price as an iPhone 17—a whole damn computer with great cameras, not an accessory for your phone. The first Apple Watch Ultra targeted adventurers and outdoorsy types like divers, justifying the price and large size as fitting for these groups of people who want a bigger screen, longer battery life, more precise GPS, and a customizable Action button.

    Apple Watch Ultra 3

    The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the biggest and most feature-packed smartwatch that Apple sells, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to upgrade.

    Pros

    • Big screen
    • Satellite connectivity is useful for emergencies
    • Even longer battery life
    • Rugged and durable
    • Sleep Score is great

    Cons

    • Too still huge
    • Still $800
    • Only two colors

    Fast forward three years, and I see people donning Apple Watch Ultras on their wrists even if they’re not going mountain climbing or scuba diving. My sister gifted her husband an Apple Watch Ultra because he’s got a big wrist. I have several friends with dainty wrists, and yet they don’t seem to care that the Apple Watch Ultra looks massive because the screen is large and the battery lasts for 2 to 3 days on a single charge. The Apple Watch Ultra is no longer just for enthusiasts; Ultra just means you get the most features in Apple’s smartwatch lineup.

    That pretty much sums up the Apple Watch Ultra 3. It’s still the same design as the first and second-generation Apple Watch Ultra, except now it has some more stuff. Do you need all the new features? Read my helpful little guide here. Otherwise, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is just a better version.

    Same Ultra design, now 3D-printed

    © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo

    I am not an Apple Watch Ultra user. I understand its appeal and, hell, I even like some chonky watches like G-Shocks, but I find the Apple Watch Ultra just too bulky; the case is too thick and the screen is too big. More power to you if these are things you want. The 49mm titanium case—in natural or black—is rugged, and the display is big by design. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is better at surviving unpredictable outdoor weather and conditions compared to non-Ultra models, but anybody who simply wants the durability or easier-to-see display could appreciate it. Who am I to tell you that a smartwatch is too big if you want it? For the same reasons some people prefer the tank-like iPhone 17 Pro Max over the super slim iPhone Air and its tradeoffs, I’m more a regular Apple Watch “Series” guy than Ultra.

    Invisible to the naked eye is how the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is produced. This time, instead of being CNC’d out of a block of aluminum, Apple is 3D-printing the cases using 100% recycled titanium, which not only wastes less of the metal, but is more environmentally friendly since it doesn’t require new mining. I’m not out here bashing my ​​Apple Watch Ultra 3 review unit against rocks, so I can’t confirm the rigidity of the 3D-printed case, but I did have some startling contact with my kitchen cabinet doors and a pile of 40-pound cat litter boxes, where I thought I might have scuffed or chipped the black case. But nope, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 suffered no damage. Not even a scrape.

    Apple Watch Ultra 3 Review 7
    © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo

    On the whole, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is virtually the same smartwatch as the Ultra 2. The screen is so minimally bigger because Apple thinned the black bezel around it that it’s not even measurable with a ruler. Nor does Apple even have an official display size spec for it. All of that’s to say you won’t be seeing more content on the sapphire crystal display. The screen is also equally as bright as the Ultra 2. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 display uses a more advanced LTPO 3 display technology versus LTPO 2, but that’s really more for power efficiency than making the screen any more visible.

    There’s a new “Waypoint” watch face with a compass that I like the look of, even though I don’t need to know which direction I’m facing riding on the subway from Queens to Manhattan or Brooklyn. The watch face is also not exclusive to the Ultra 3; Ultra and Ultra 2 owners can get it with the watchOS 26 update.

    Inside is a new S10 chip, but nobody is begging for more performance in the Apple Watch Ultra 3. watchOS 26 is as zippy and responsive as on my Apple Watch Series 9. If there’s anything the S10 chip enables, it’s 5G and satellite communications—two firsts for Apple Watches.

    If you cannot entertain the idea of a big smartwatch on your wrist, even with the upsides of a larger screen and longer battery life, Apple is happy to sell you an Apple Watch Series 11 or an SE 3. Smartwatch size, after all, is a matter of personal preference. Though, you will only get the highest water-resistance rating (100m) on the Ultra models.

    More health tracking features

    Apple Watch Se 3 Series 11 Ultra 3 Sleep Score Hypertension 4
    © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo

    Even though the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is mostly a spec bump update, there are two features—hypertension notifications and Sleep Score—that may sway you if you have a first-gen Ultra or an Apple Watch model that isn’t getting the two features via watchOS 26.

    I went into more detail on hypertension notifications and Sleep Score in a previous write-up. I’ve found both features to be very useful. Hypertension notifications work in the background after initial setup and are something you hope to never receive. Essentially, your Apple Watch Ultra 3 will send you a notification if it detects signs that you may have high blood pressure. The smartwatch isn’t measuring your blood pressure (it’s not a medical diagnosis), but merely using data from the optical heart rate sensor to correlate it against a “machine learning-based algorithm” for patterns typical of hypertension. The feature is FDA-cleared, which is different from FDA-approved, and means that Apple has demonstrated that hypertension notifications are safe and effective compared to other similarly marketed devices.

    Apple Watch Ultra 3 Review 6
    © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo

    The same way I hope my Apple Watch will never have to call emergency services to alert them that I’ve fallen down, there is no reason not to turn on hypertension notifications. It’s a precautionary feature that could mean the difference between life and death. Since Series 4, Apple has positioned the Apple Watch not as a healthcare provider replacement, but as a health guardian. Hypertension notifications are just another addition to the Apple Watch’s, er, watchful eye.

    Sleep Score is also the sleep tracking function that I think everybody has been waiting for. It’s catching up to other wearables and smartwatches, but in typical Apple fashion, presented better in every way. Sleep Score automatically kicks in when you fall asleep while wearing your Apple Watch Ultra 3. It measures duration, bedtime, and interruptions, and then presents them in a donut-shaped sleep ring along with a score. You’ll see your sleep classified as very low, low, OK, high, or excellent. You can scroll to see more detailed sleep data or open up the Health app on your paired iPhone to get even more in-depth metrics. All of this information is presented very clearly and in easy-to-understand charts.

    Apple Watch Ultra 3 Review 4
    © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo

    I likened Sleep Score to Activity Rings. Seeing a “low” Sleep Score every morning really did make me want to achieve “OK” or even “high.” I’ll be impressed if I ever see “excellent,” given how erratic my sleep is. But that’s the whole point of Sleep Score—to help you build daily routines that improve your sleep. We commoners may think burning the midnight oil is the way to get ahead, but sleep is health, and health is wealth. Billionaire Bill Gates and multimillionaire Arianna Huffington attribute good, consistent sleep as the secret to living longer and healthier lives. Huffington even wrote a whole book on sleep and its unappreciated powers. (My cats, Lemons and Kiwi, who sleep 12+ hours every day, also corroborate that good sleep is essential to happiness.)

    Apple Watch Ultra 3 Review 5
    © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo

    Now, am I saying the Apple Watch Ultra 3 has been successful at bullying me into winding down at my set schedule every night and getting enough shuteye? I wish it were, but I’m only human, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t prone to ignoring my Sleep Score on some days to stay up and rot my brain with Netflix and Switch 2. Maybe you’re more disciplined than I am. I have tons of friends who are addicted to closing their Activity Rings because it’s gamified in a way. If seeing a number and a donut that gets thicker or thinner helps you sleep better, then why the hell not?

    You don’t need to buy an Apple Watch Ultra 3 to get hypertension notifications or Sleep Score. Hypertension notifications are free in watchOS 26 for Apple Watch Series 9 and later, or Ultra 2. If you have an Apple Watch Series 6 and later, SE 2, or Ultra and later, the update also adds Sleep Score.

    Peace of mind with 5G and satellite comms

    Apple Watch Ultra 3 Review 2
    © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo

    Some half a decade after 5G promised to revolutionize smartphones with wicked fast data speeds and make poor connections a thing of the past, the cellular connection is finally available on all three 2025 Apple Watch models. Unfortunately, that doesn’t really translate to any noticeable real-world benefit. Cellular connectivity on the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is not considerably faster than on my Apple Watch Series 9. Built-in 5G is more for futureproofing. One day, 4G networks will be turned off the same way 2G and 3G networks were sunset. But that’s many years ahead, and who knows if the Ultra 3 will even be functional by then.

    However, the new wireless connection exclusive to the Apple Watch Ultra 3 that you might appreciate is satellite connectivity. Like the feature on iPhones, the satellite connection on the Ultra 3 works the same. You can use it to communicate with emergency services (Emergency SOS), send messages to contacts, or share your location via Find My app. How you access satellite services on the Apple Watch Ultra 3 tells you how Apple intends people to use the feature: not often, and likely only when you can’t connect to a 4G or 5G cell tower. There’s no satellite app on the honeycomb “home screen.” Instead, you access satellite services by adding a shortcut button within Control Center.

    Apple Watch Ultra 3 Review 3
    © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo

    Using satellite services on the Ultra 3 works just like on a supported iPhone. First, you need to be outside to establish a connection to a satellite in the sky. Then, you move your wrist left and right to connect, which can take a few seconds depending on where you are and what your line of sight to the sky is. Once connected, you can tap through buttons for the three features; you don’t need to keep your wrist aimed at the sky anymore. It works well, and contacts you send messages or your location to will see a label that you communicated via satellite. This is for them to know that you’re out of civilization range and may need aid if you haven’t made it safely back.

    Again, the fact that satellite services is an opt-in setting, not an app, that you need to turn on within Control Center tells you it’s for either emergencies or just check-ins. You won’t be using satellite services daily, unless you’re living off the grid all the time. But even then, satellite connections are not as fast as cellular. It’s a nice feature to have for those just-in-case moments, but you have to ask yourself whether it’s worth buying a gadget with reassurance features you’ll hopefully never need to use.

    Apple’s biggest and best smartwatch, but it may not necessarily be yours

    Apple Watch Ultra 3 Review 9
    © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo

    The same way an iPhone 17 Pro Max is just a newer iPhone with improved features, an Apple Watch Ultra 3 is still just an Apple Watch. You get some new stuff because it’s the shiny new smartwatch, but it’s fundamentally the same device. It’s no longer like the early days of the Apple Watch when new features felt foundational with each generation or two.

    Do you really need a big, thick smartwatch with all its features? Could you make do with fewer features to save some money? The Apple Watch Ultra 3, specifically, has everything that Apple could fit into a 49mm case design. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right fit for your needs and wrist size. If my Apple Watch Series 9 didn’t work just fine (and get hypertension and Sleep Score with watchOS 26), I would consider the Apple Watch Series 11 over the Ultra 3 simply because of its smaller size (I don’t need an Action button or up to 42 hours of battery life). The Apple Watch SE 3 is an incredible value for $250 if you want just the basics, but it’d be a downgrade from my model. Before I picked up a Series 9, I had a Series 4, and before that, the original “Series 0.” That’s the thing about Apple Watches—they last several years until software updates make them too slow or incompatible with iPhones.

    The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is an excellent smartwatch if its size and feature set appeal to you. But you absolutely don’t need to upgrade if you have a model from recent years. Get the Apple Watch size that literally fits your wrist best or has the features you want the most. As for Android users, you’re out of luck again since you still need an iPhone to set up any Apple Watch. Fortunately, there are great Wear OS options like Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8, Google’s Pixel Watch 4, and the OnePlus Watch 3 series.

    Raymond Wong

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  • Do You Really Need a New Apple Watch If You Already Have One?

    Reviews for the Apple Watch SE 3, Series 11, and Ultra 3 came out today. I’m in the process of reviewing them. I only have two wrists, and there are three Apple Watches to review—so yeah. Besides, I need to collect more health data before I feel comfortable pushing reviews. If you’re reading reviews and asking yourself whether or not you should get any of the new models when they become available this Friday, Sept. 19, maybe I can help you make a decision.

    As I said in my hands-on with the Apple Watches after the Awe Jawdropping event last week, Apple’s trio of new smartwatches are a relatively straightforward refresh. All three models are available in GPS-only or GPS + cellular models, come with 5G connectivity (for cellular models), have S10 chipsets, and include 64GB of internal storage.

    Get the Apple Watch SE 3 if you don’t need the latest and greatest that Apple has to offer in a wrist computer and only need the basics like excellent health and fitness tracking, an always-on display for telling the time (finally), and you don’t want to pay too much. The Watch SE 3 is a terrific value starting at $250. The SE 3 gets up to 18 hours of battery life with a single charge.

    The Apple Watch SE 3 is a stupidly good value for $250. © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo

    Get the Apple Watch Series 11 if you want some more bells and whistles like slightly larger and brighter displays, a little bit of thinner design, ECG, blood oxygen tracking (via the iPhone app), and a more advanced optical heart rate sensor for more accurate health and fitness tracking. The Series 11 also comes in titanium finishes, whereas the SE 3 is available only with aluminum cases. The Series 11 gets longer battery life compared to the SE 3—up to 24 hours with a single charge.

    The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the most feature-packed smartwatch that Apple sells. It’s got everything the Series 11 has, plus an even bigger display, satellite connectivity (emergency SOS and messages), and the longest battery of any Apple Watch at up to 42 hours with a single charge.

    That all sounds self-explanatory—options for good, better, and best—but what if you already own an Apple Watch? Should you upgrade beyond getting longer battery life? Because let’s be real, if you’ve had your Apple Watch for even a year and you’re consistently using it to track workouts, the battery is dying at a faster rate than if you’re just using it to tell the time and get notifications. Also, the batteries in Apple Watches aren’t going to last forever; they’ll inevitably go kaput one day or just not hold as long of a charge with time.

    If you’re in that boat, you really have to ask yourself this: do you care about hypertension notifications and the new Sleep Score?

    Hypertension notifications

    Hypertension, also known commonly as chronic high blood pressure, is a life-threatening condition that can oftentimes cause heart attacks or damage your organs. It’s called the “silent killer” because you typically won’t see symptoms. That’s where hypertension notifications come in. The feature received FDA clearance on Monday and will be made available in over 150 countries. The Series 11 and Ultra 3 can send hypertension notifications using data collected from their optical heart sensors, which is then processed through a “machine learning-based algorithm” designed from studies that included over 100,000 participants, according to Apple. “Apple Watch looks at your heart data and searches for patterns associated with hypertension,” reads the hypertension notifications setup screen within the Health app. The Apple Watch is not measuring blood pressure; it’s merely looking for the patterns that may match with hypertension victims.

    Apple Watch Se 3 Series 11 Ultra 3 Sleep Score Hypertension 4
    Hypertension notifications will only notify you if you’re at risk. © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo

    Setting up hypertension notifications is simple enough, but it’s not something you’ll be able to fire up on command on your Apple Watch. “The algorithm works passively in the background reviewing data over 30-day periods, and will notify users if it detects consistent signs of hypertension,” Apple states in a press release. Basically, if you’re 22 years or older and you’re not pregnant, there’s no reason not to turn it on. Ideally, you’ll never get a hypertension notification, which would indicate you’re a healthy human and have nothing to worry about. But if you do, at the very least you can take some preventive care if it’s not yet serious. The notifications could potentially save your life.

    Apple Watch Se 3 Series 11 Ultra 3 Sleep Score Hypertension 3
    Sleep Score is a terrific way to get a good overview of your sleep health. © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo

    Sleep score

    The other big Apple Watch feature that Apple announced last week is Sleep Score. This is a feature for all three of the new Apple Watches, including the SE 3. For me, it’s a big finally moment, as I’ve long found the sleep tracking on Apple Watches to be lacking compared to wearables made by other companies. Similar to the Activity Rings, Sleep Score is a way to measure three sleeping metrics: duration, bedtime, and interruptions. These three pieces of data are represented in a ring or “donut” as Apple told me (see photo at the very top), and they appear thicker or thinner based on how you achieve each one. You’re then assigned a score and one of five classifications (very low, low, OK, high, and excellent). The idea is that, at a glance, you can quickly see how well you slept and potentially make changes to improve any of the three metrics. In a way, it’s almost like gamifying sleep by guilting you into improving your Sleep Score and then maintaining it.

    I’ve been an insomniac for the past year and admittedly my Sleep Score has been ranking “low” the past week. Has the Sleep Score made me feel shameful that I have not corrected my sleep? 100%. But I’m also very good at ignoring it even when I know I have sleeping problems. Of course, that’s just me; I also ignore my Activity Rings more than I should and don’t stand when my Apple Watch tells me to. Like just a few minutes ago when I saw the notification and just blew it off! Most people I know who own an Apple Watch are more disciplined than me when it comes to getting nudged by their smartwatch to move or stand up or do something. Setting my own bad habits aside, Sleep Score is thoughtfully designed.

    Apple Watch Se 3 Series 11 Ultra 3 Sleep Score Hypertension 5
    Do you really need an Apple Watch Ultra 3? Not if you have an Ultra 2 and don’t need the longer battery life and satellite comms. © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo

    Now, back to the question of whether you should buy any of the new Apple Watches for these two features. If you want the latest and greatest Apple Watches, then by all means. But there’s really good news! If you own a Watch Series 6 or later, SE 2, or Ultra and later, you get Sleep Score for free in the just-released watchOS 26. If you have an Apple Watch Series 9 or later, or an Ultra 2 (sorry, OG Ultra owners), you get hypertension notifications for free in the same software update. So check your Apple Watch model and think a little bit about whether these features appeal to you or not. You may be able to save a few hundred bucks just by downloading the new update.

    Raymond Wong

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  • Apple Watch Series 10 review: Legacy and sequel in equal measure

    Apple Watch Series 10 review: Legacy and sequel in equal measure

    The Apple Watch has been around for ten years. Looking at pictures of the device then, it might not seem like much has changed — even the apps drawer seems identical. But subtly and quietly, the Apple Watch – the company’s first new product line of the post-Steve Jobs era – has evolved to become capable of so much more today. Over the last few years, there have been some big leaps forward for the Apple Watch’s featureset, up to and including wrist-based ECG and heart-rate readings that were once the purview of science fiction. We’ve heard many testimonials, mostly from Apple at its events, about how the Apple Watch has saved lives — whether it be by detection of a fall or atrial fibrillation. Smartwatches as a category have matured and found their place, it seems, and the Apple Watch has carved out a comfy spot within the space.

    So color me surprised when the Series 10 launched to very little fanfare last week. I guess I was expecting Apple to be a bit more self-congratulatory, but the company seemed to gloss over the product’s birthday. Instead, we got to learn about the device’s thinner profile and bigger screen with greater viewing angles. It also has smaller onboard speakers, apps for water sports enthusiasts and health features like the new sleep apnea monitoring and alerts. It may sound underwhelming compared to the seemingly futuristic features we were seeing in the Apple Watch’s early days, but the Series 10 is just following in the footsteps of the iPhone. It’s a mature product that’s traded massive annual overhauls for iterative updates that add up over time. For a smartwatch that has consistently been called the best in its class, the Series 10 largely continues that tradition, even as it walks back a feature or two thanks to ongoing copyright litigation.

    Editors’ Note: While we’ve been testing the Apple Watch Series 10 for about a week, there are some features — including sleep apnea alerts — that we’d like to spend more time evaluating. As such, we’ll be returning to this review with further evaluation followed by a final rating in the near future.

    Compared to the Series 9, the latest Apple Watch is ever so slightly bigger and noticeably thinner and lighter. It’s not such a great difference that you’ll notice without having the two side by side, but every time I pick up the Series 10 I definitely feel a tiny spark of joy. The squatter shape, slimmer profile and more rounded corners somehow make the new watch feel a bit like a biscuit, while the Series 9 comes off more like a smaller mahjong tile.

    Both sizes of the mainstream Apple Watch have grown ever so slightly, with the 41mm version now coming in at 42mm and the 45mm one sitting at 46mm. I’ve worn the smaller Series 10 and Series 9 on both wrists for a few days now and genuinely don’t find there to be a major difference in daily use. As significant as I think the thinner body and lighter weight is on the Series 10, it’s not like I was having trouble squeezing its predecessor through jacket sleeves before. I will say that the new model will certainly be more comfortable under the snuggest of my cuffs.

    Apple cutting the Series 10 down to just 9.7mm thin is certainly a feat, considering the Pixel Watch 3 is still a pretty chunky 12mm thick. Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 7 is the same height, so Google needs to play a bit of catch-up here.

    The Series 10’s bigger screen does make some things easier to see, like road names on Maps and the clock when you’re in Spotify. You’ll likely find greater gains here by choosing larger font sizes, which is a bit of an obvious note but at least on the Series 10 you’ll have more room to work with. If you need something even bigger, you should consider the Watch Ultra 2, which has a 49mm screen.

    Apple’s also using a wide-angle OLED this year to make things easier to read even if your wrist is simply resting on the table, not held up in front of your eyes. Again, in my side by side observations, the change is noticeable but not in a huge way. There does appear to be greater contrast between the digits of the time against the photo in the background, too, which makes the clock more visible at an angle.

    The Apple Watch Series 10 on a wrist held in mid-air, with a Series 9 held up next to it.
    Cherlynn Low for Engadget

    However, it’s worth pointing out that when you’re staring at the Series 10 face on, you might find its bezels noticeably thicker than on the Series 9. Even if you’re planning on upgrading from a Series 9, where you’ll be most primed to feel the bigger bezels’ impact on design, it’s still a tiny complaint, if at all. Thicker borders don’t really affect the watch’s performance.

    Apple introduced some new watch faces with the Series 10, as it does with every successive generation. This time, the Flux face is supposed to make full use of the display’s wider angle view as it spills over the sides (sort of). There’s also a bit of an animation that mimics a second hand ticking across the screen, which is nice, but doesn’t add much to the experience.

    There are other small design changes around the watch. For example, instead of an inch-long slit on the left edge for the speaker output, there now sits two half-inch grilles which blend more seamlessly into the watch. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t at least mention the new jet black case color option, as well as the polished titanium models that replace the previous stainless steel ones. They’re nice options to have, if you can afford the $300 upgrade for the new lighter material.

    Finally, part of why the Series 10 got thinner is its redesigned metal back, which allowed Apple to integrate the antenna into the case and compress two layers into one. There’s also a little so-called isolation circle to help maintain cellular performance. This isn’t something you’ll feel necessarily, but it does contribute to the Series 10’s overall thinness.

    Something Apple brought to the Series 10 is the ability to play music and podcasts through the watch’s onboard speaker. It might seem silly to want to use the tiny device for any sort of media, especially things like songs where you’d like at least some semblance of sound quality for the experience to be enjoyable. In the few days I’ve had the Series 10, I never found the need to stream songs from the speaker on the watch, until I had to test it.

    At the maximum loudness in a quiet conference room, I enjoyed listening to Running Through the Night by Seori and Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter. It wasn’t as bass-heavy as I’d like for a regular listening session, but given the circumstances and the size of the watch, the mids and trebles were plenty clear and punchy. You’re not meant to rely on this for long periods anyway, and it’s just there to scratch an itch if or when it arises. With noisier environments, though, it’s a struggle.

    Three screenshots in a composite showing the setup process for Sleep Apnea notifications. Three screenshots in a composite showing the setup process for Sleep Apnea notifications.

    Screenshots

    Arguably the biggest feature coming to the Series 10 is sleep apnea monitoring (though that feature is also available on the Series 9 and Ultra 2 via watchOS 11). This is only for people who haven’t been diagnosed with sleep apnea, meaning if you already know you have this condition, it’s not designed to help you see if your CPAP machine is effective, for instance.

    I’ve not been diagnosed with sleep apnea, and might very well be one of the 80 percent of people that has the condition and don’t know it. Still, it would be nice to know for certain and when watchOS 11 dropped yesterday, those of us on iOS 18 with compatible Apple Watch models were able to opt in to notifications. I went to the Health app to set this up, answered a series of questions about my age and whether I’d been diagnosed with sleep apnea, and was informed I was set up for the feature.

    In the explanation Apple provides during the onboarding process, it says “Apple Watch tracks your breathing while you’re asleep and records any disturbances in a 30-day period.” It can notify you if those disturbances “are suggestive of sleep apnea,” so you can go to a doctor for a proper diagnosis.

    It’s been only about a week since Apple announced sleep apnea notifications were coming, and clearly 30 days haven’t passed. I have yet to glean enough information for any alerts, and cannot yet gauge the impact of this feature.

    Barring changes that come with watchOS 11, which older Apple Watches will also get, the Series 10 is essentially the same as its predecessor when it comes to tracking your activity. As long as you’ve set things up right, you’ll get reminders to log your mood, take your meds and move after you’ve been idle too long.

    Having just reviewed Google’s Pixel Watch 3, I can’t help but wish Apple were a tad more sensitive and consistent at automatically prompting me to start logging a walk. There’s no real guidance as to how long you have to have been active for the watch to suggest you’d been working out. That leads to some confusion and pure frustration when you think you’d walked or run enough for the auto detection to kick in, but only to find out you maybe hadn’t moved in the right way or for long enough.

    I’ve been a yearslong Apple Watch user, so I’ve grown extremely familiar and reliant on its interface and the data it collects. I like diving into my calendar view and looking proudly at all the days I closed my rings. The Health app does a good job of presenting my recent trends and how that compares with my performance a year ago, subtly shaming me into realizing I should maybe take a few more walks a week. The Series 10 doesn’t differ much from the Series 9 in that way, and if you’re already in Apple’s ecosystem, this will largely feel extremely familiar.

    The Apple Watch Series 10 with a Photos watch face open on its home screen, worn on a wrist held in mid-air.The Apple Watch Series 10 with a Photos watch face open on its home screen, worn on a wrist held in mid-air.
    Cherlynn Low for Engadget

    There are some new tools on the Series 10 that are borrowed from elsewhere in the family, though. Apple’s brought the Watch Ultra’s Depth app over and introduced a new Tides app across the Series 10 and Watch Ultra 2 that should be helpful for those who spend a lot of time in the water.

    I’m not a big water sports girl, but I do occasionally hang out at beaches. Whether it’s Long Island’s pristine, sandy shores or the rocky terrain of Red Hook’s Valentino Pier, I’ve certainly encountered sudden swells in water level that I’ve had to run to avoid. It’s not the biggest problem, of course, but I can see how the Tides app would help anyone plan a day. I launched the app, and in a few seconds, the Series 10 located the closest beach, informing me that the tide was falling and that water levels would hit their lowest at about 2:07AM.

    I didn’t verify this by going to Newport Beach at 2:07AM to measure water levels, but even from my brief testing it appears to be a helpful app for those who need to know this information for a full day of surfing, for example. It’s also useful for those who want a convenient way to locate the closest body of water, since the map view shows beaches around you.

    It’s hard to imagine the Depth app being useful for a non-snorkeler or non-scuba diver like me, as I’ve watched one too many videos of underwater cave diving gone wrong. But the Depth app and water temperature sensor could theoretically be useful in other scenarios. If you have a deep enough tub, you could potentially stick the Series 10 on your wrist into the bottom and get a reading for whether the water is too hot for your kid.

    Unlike on the Apple Watch Ultra (1 and 2), which go down to 40 meters (131.2 feet), the Series 10’s depth gauge will only provide readings up to 6 meters. That does mean you won’t want to take this scuba diving, and it’s not rated for that, either. All three models I mentioned here offer the same water temperature capability, though.

    In the few days I’ve had the Apple Watch Series 10, it’s generally outlasted the Series 9, not usually by much. One day, after a cross-training workout at 8AM followed by a GPS-enabled walk and a day full of Slack and Telegram alerts, the Series 10 still managed to have 46 percent left at 11:45PM when I got home. The Series 9 was struggling at 19 percent, and both had the same display and Always On settings. This is one aspect that I’d like more time testing to better understand, but considering the new watch’s slimmer profile and bigger screen, the fact that it even has similar runtime at all would be respectable.

    Apple also updated the charging setup on its latest smartwatch, which should bring the Series 10 back to 80 percent in 30 minutes. It’s worth noting you’ll have to use a fast-charge-certified accessory, such as a charging cable from the Series 7 or later, which you can tell by confirming that the wire is braided. Faster recharge speeds are nice, since they make up for any shortfalls in battery life by making sure you don’t need to wait too long for your device to get back up to a healthy level.

    Still, considering many devices from Garmin, Fitbit and even Samsung can last longer than two days and even up to seven days per charge, the Apple Watch’s day and a half feels like a number that could be higher. If the company were looking for ways to push the envelope further, battery life is certainly the area to investigate. I don’t mind charging my watch every morning (or night), but some people want to be able to go camping over a long weekend and not have to worry about bringing along chargers. Don’t tell them to buy an Apple Watch Ultra for that benefit.

    It’s hard to sum up how I feel about the Apple Watch Series 10. On one hand, I definitely still need more time to form a conclusion about things I don’t feel familiar with yet, like sleep apnea alerts. On the other, I feel like I already know this product very well, thanks to its similarity to its predecessor(s). Plus, with watchOS 11 bringing a lot of similar features to the Series 9, Watch Ultra 2 and more, it feels difficult to recommend anyone with a recent device spring for an upgrade. Some of my friends considering the Series 10 are coming from the Series 8 or older, and for them Apple’s latest certainly feels worthwhile.

    However, those using an older model should be aware that upgrading to a newer Apple Watch would cost them access to the blood oxygen detection features. The company has yet to bring back the Blood Oxygen app that it removed from the Series 9 and Ultra 2 that it sells in the US, as a result of a patent lawsuit filed by Masimo. It’s entirely possible the company is able to revive this feature simply through a software update, but if this measurement is crucial to your daily life, it might be worth sticking with your Series 8.

    Those looking for a huge leap forward because of the number “10” in the device’s name should be prepared to be underwhelmed. But just because the Series 10 isn’t a reinvention of smartwatches doesn’t mean it isn’t still an excellent companion device and well-rounded health-tracker. If you’re simply looking for a new Apple Watch or don’t care for SpO2 readings, and are coming from a model that’s at least two years old, the Series 10 will feel like a solid upgrade. And it’s still the best for any iPhone owner.

    Cherlynn Low

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  • Everything Announced at WWDC 2024: Apple Intelligence and a Smarter Siri

    Everything Announced at WWDC 2024: Apple Intelligence and a Smarter Siri

    At WWDC 2024, Apple unleashed a blitzkrieg of software updates to put AI, or “Apple Intelligence,” front and center in your iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
    After Samsung and Google pushed AI on phones, it’s now Apple’s turn to try and flip the script to make smartphones, tablets, and laptops “smarter” by introducing an AI of its own.

    Apple Unveils Its iPhone 15 and Apple Watch Series 9

    If you woke up this morning hoping for some big hardware announcement, or hell, even a hint or teaser for a new phone or Mac design, it’s best you return to your comfortable cave and hibernate until the next big Apple showcase. Regarding software, Apple Intelligence will be available in most user-end apps with automatic summarizations and AI-enhanced photo editing. ChatGPT is coming to the latest iPhones as the Cupertino, California tech giant is set to make the chatbot accessible anywhere on the phone without needing the app.

    WWDC 2024 — June 10 | Apple

    If you have no interest in AI, there are a few new updates to get excited about. iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 are incoming, promising some long-awaited features. One is the iPhone lock screen update, which allows users to place their widgets and icons where they want. Another is the update to Messenger that will finally enable it to use the RCS protocol. Say goodbye to those green bubbles forever.

    Meanwhile, iPads and Macs are getting a few new, unexpected features, like a full-on Calculator app that supports scribbling and iPhone mirroring on macOS Sequoia. Many of these updates are slated for fall of this year, though the betas should start rolling out in the next few months.

    What’s Up With ‘Apple Intelligence’

    Apple Intelligence is Apple’s Big AI Product for All of its Ecosystem

    Screenshot: Apple

    First on the list is “Apple Intelligence.” The Cupertino company’s AI is just what it says on the tin: an entire ecosystem for navigating users’ lives. There’s a lot going into it, but—eventually—the software should be able to include multimodal AI vision capabilities and work within all the apps on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The only problem is that we still don’t know exactly when any or parts of these features should be available.

    Apple Intelligence can Rewrite or Proofread Text

    Apple promises the new AI writing tools can summarize your text and add an easy “TLDR” to the top of emails. Like Google’s Gemini, the rewriting feature could include different text styles to make it sound more “Friendly” or “Concise.” You also have the option to add tables, lists, or summaries to the text. This should work in pretty much all Apple apps and some third-party apps.

    Apple’s Emails Will Summarize Important Points Before You Open them

    The Priority feature in the Mail app will show you your most important emails or messages for when you have a lot of them coming in at once. These condensed notifications will show this right on the lock screen of your iPhone. This works with a new Focus that cuts down on the number of notifications and only shows the most important ones.

    Apple Will Let You Create AI Images, Including ‘Genmojis’

    Image for article titled Everything Announced at WWDC 2024: Apple Intelligence and a Smarter Siri

    Screenshot: Apple

    Of course, Apple wouldn’t stay its hand from the AI image generation game. The new Image Playground is built into Pages, Messages, Freeform, and several other apps.

    You have three styles on offer: animation, illustration, or sketch, but you have the regular prompt bar to make it create whatever (somewhat disturbing) images you desire. There are also new AI-generated emojis called ‘Genmoji,’ which will come out as a sticker or Tapback. You can also create one of your friends if you trust it enough. Apple promises all its images are generated on-device.

    There’s also a new Magic Eraser-like tool in Photos to remove unwanted elements from an image before filling in those missing pixels.

    The Apple Intelligence Can Pull Up Your Files and Photos

    There’s a lot of big promises coming about thanks to AI. Apple claims their new AI system will eventually let the AI perform rather complex actions, like pulling up photos and files from any of your apps. It should be able to work between apps so that it will know when your meetings are and what your plans are for that day when you ask it to send a text that helps you work around your schedule.

    Apple Promises Its AI Won’t Save Your Data

    Some of the AI running on Apple’s devices are on-device, but those are supposed to run through Private Cloud Compute. Apple promises to maintain your privacy by determining if a request needs any off-device AI. Then, it will only send parts of the request to the cloud. Apple promises outside agencies will be able to look at Apple’s servers to verify the big privacy claims.

    Siri Has a New Look and a Whole Lot More Capabilities

    Image for article titled Everything Announced at WWDC 2024: Apple Intelligence and a Smarter Siri

    Screenshot: Apple

    Poor, beleaguered Siri is finally receiving those long-rumored AI upgrades, but we may need to wait a long time to see them in action. The Siri updates will allow the assistant to interact with iPhone and iPad apps far more than it currently can.

    For one, Siri now has a new logo and look, making the borders of the screen wavy whenever the assistant gets called up. Siri will maintain conversational context and will be able to work off your previous requests. Now you can type to chat to Siri as well. Double tapping on the bottom of the screen allows you to communicate with Siri directly.

    Siri can also take actions happening on-screen. It can also take actions across apps, like adding a photo from the Photos app to the Notes app. Eventually, the idea is that Siri can take specific actions in more apps over time.

    The digital assistant should also become more engrained with users’ “Personal Context.” Siri should know your emails, plans, calendar events, and texts to find all the necessary information.

    Siri Will Be Your Best How-To Machine for Apple Products

    Siri should be able to send you a how-to guide for anything related to your Apple products. This comes baked into Siri and will work with all the most commonly asked questions about Apple products.

    Siri Can Use ChatGPT ‘Seamlessly’

    Image for article titled Everything Announced at WWDC 2024: Apple Intelligence and a Smarter Siri

    Screenshot: Apple

    While we don’t have a good idea when Siri will receive its most important updates, we know that the current stopgap will be ChatGPT integration directly on users’ devices. The app will be accessible straight from Siri and the new compose feature. You can use the chatbot to generate DALL-E images as well. Apple promises this integration will be powered by GPT-4o for free without paying for an account.

    Apple promises your activities won’t be logged, and you can access the ChatGPT paid features if you link your account. ChatGPT integration will be coming to all the Apple ecosystem’s new updates later this year.

    iOS 18 is Promising some Long-Awaited Customization Features

    iOS Now Supports RCS

    Image for article titled Everything Announced at WWDC 2024: Apple Intelligence and a Smarter Siri

    Screenshot: Apple

    As a last-minute note to end its talk about iOS 18, Apple confirmed that the next version of iOS will support RCS protocol. There’s no word yet exactly what form this will take, though Android Authority first recognized that it could be RCS Universal Profile 2.4. This could be the true end to green bubble tyranny, but we’ll learn more as we get close to release.

    iOS 18 Lets You Finally Rearrange Your Home Screen Apps

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    Screenshot: Apple

    iOS 18 will be a big one for folks who have long demanded Android-like customizability on the iPhone. Now, you can rearrange all your apps and widgets on the home screen however you like, so you can finally frame your background wallpaper without having an app covering up your kids’ faces. Apple goes further by allowing users to set the tint and tone of the app’s icons themselves.

    You Can Soon “Lock” Any App in iOS 18

    The next iPhone update will allow users to lock and hide apps so anyone using your phone won’t have immediate access without biometric scanning or a PIN. Similarly, you can now hide away apps into a select hidden folder if you don’t want visitors to your iPhone to get into some of your more sensitive apps without a passcode.

    Messenger Includes Full Emoji Tapbacks

    Image for article titled Everything Announced at WWDC 2024: Apple Intelligence and a Smarter Siri

    Screenshot: Apple

    Are you annoyed you can’t do full emoji reactions to texts like you can on Android? The iOS Talkback feature is receiving full emoji support, so you can respond to your friend’s queries with as many poop emojis as their messages require.

    Messenger Text Effects Will Let You Emphasize Certain Words

    The Messenger app in iOS 18 is expanding the ability to emphasize words. Now, instead of just emphasizing the names of people or other words, users can use Text Effects to make certain words blow up or jiggle. The app will automatically suggest specific effects for certain words. There are new effects, and you can add them to any text you want.

    Messages are also gaining the ability to use text formatting, allowing you to underline, bold, or italicize words or phrases.

    Game Mode on iPhone

    Mac’s Game Mode is getting a version on iPhone. The mode should automatically kick in while in a game. This minimizes background tasks to put as much processing power into the game. It should improve latency with controllers or AirPods.

    Messages Via Satellite

    If you find yourself without cellphone service, Apple will let you use your iPhone to text friends and family when off the grid on Messages. You can still send emojis and Tapbacks, and Apple claims its E2E encrypted. This will only be available with the iPhone 14 or later, which comes with satellite support.

    Apple Maps Now Allows You to Get Hiking Trail Info

    Image for article titled Everything Announced at WWDC 2024: Apple Intelligence and a Smarter Siri

    Screenshot: Apple

    Apple Maps now has access to topographic trail maps, allowing hiking loops on your phone. This will show the overall length and elevation gain of the trail or loop and the various entry points on the app.

    Tap to Cash Allows You to Pay Your Friends With Your Phone

    Those iPhone users keen on Apple Cash will soon be able to send money to each other using the same action you can use to send folks your contact information. Hovering both phones with the active cash app will send and receive money from your wallet. Additionally, event tickets are being redesigned to show you details about the venue and other essential information.

    Photos App is Gonna Look a Hell of a Lot Different

    The Photos app now has a new design that shows all your photos in a single grid. You can find different photos based on months or years and filter your photos to eschew screenshots.

    The new Collections will let you section different photos into topics like People & Pets or Recent Days. This will let you see your photos in a collage. In selections like Trips, you can find your vacations or travels by date. You can also pin different collections.

    The Favorites carousel now shows you a slideshow of photos from various favorite collections.

    iPadOS 18 Promises Some New and Unique Features for Apple’s Tablets

    Floating Tab Bar on iPad Might Make it Far Easier to Use

    Image for article titled Everything Announced at WWDC 2024: Apple Intelligence and a Smarter Siri

    Screenshot: Apple

    Apple is introducing a new floating tab bar for iPadOS 18. It essentially works as an easy-to-access menu that can morph into a sidebar for even more fine-tuned controls. It should work with most Apple apps on the iPad. There are also new animations to accompany this update. Apple added it’s working to make browsing through documents easier on Apple’s tablets.

    SharePlay Tap and Draw Will Let You Remote Control Another iPad

    The new SharePlay update will let you make annotations on a foreign device and act as a remote control for another person’s iPad. So, if you’re trying to describe to your mom how to access her iPad photos, you can use SharePlay and draw an arrow straight to them. Once you get frustrated enough, you can take control.

    Calculator on iPad (‘Yay’)

    Image for article titled Everything Announced at WWDC 2024: Apple Intelligence and a Smarter Siri

    Screenshot: Apple

    Finally, the iPad is getting a calculator app, but it’s far more interesting than that. It may look like It also works with Apple Pencil. Math Notes comes up from the calculator button, and if you write out an equal sign, it solves it for you, updating it live depending on your different functions. It also works with lists that let you tabulate numbers rather quickly. Notes also have the same math capabilities as Calculator.

    Notes’ Smart Script Will Fix Your Chicken Scratch as You Write

    The AI will make your writing more legible as you go. The on-board AI should be able to take your loose handwriting and make it a bit more legible while keeping your writing “style.” You can paste it directly into the Notes app, which should mimic your handwriting style.

    So, What’s New in macOS Sequoia?

    macOS Sequoia Will Allow You to Mirror Your iPhone on Your MacBook

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    Screenshot: Apple

    macOS Sequoia is getting a lot of the features you can find on Apple’s other products. Continuity will let you access universal apps on the rest of the Apple ecosystem. More importantly, it will let you mirror your iPhone on a Mac. Users can then select and work on any of the iPhone’s apps. The audio also comes through Mac.

    The iPhone stays locked while you mirror it and works with Standby mode. When your phone is connected to the laptop, iPhone notifications will also appear on Mac, and when you click on them, your iPhone mirror will open up.

    You Can Place Your Mac Windows into Tiles, Like Windows 11

    Image for article titled Everything Announced at WWDC 2024: Apple Intelligence and a Smarter Siri

    Screenshot: Apple

    macOS Sequoia is adding a few new tiling features to make organizing your desktop more seamless. Bringing a window to a corner of the screen should automatically reorient and morph to fit a clean style.

    You Can Preview Your Camera When Doing a Facetime

    Before hopping into a video meeting, Macs will let you preview what you look like on camera. It is better to help you fix your makeup or remember to put on a shirt. There’s also a built-in background replacer if you can’t access one in whatever app you use.

    Passwords App Will Show All Your Stuff

    There’s now an all-new Passwords app to act as your one-stop shop for your keychains and important, sensitive information. It should be present across the entire Apple ecosystem. This should contain everything from WiFi passwords to verification codes to Passkeys.

    Safari Reader Function Summarizes Text

    Image for article titled Everything Announced at WWDC 2024: Apple Intelligence and a Smarter Siri

    Screenshot: Apple

    The new updates to Safari introduce several new AI functions. At the top of the list are AI-generated summaries for the content on web pages. The Reader mode changes the website’s look and brings up a table of contents. There’s no look whether it also removes ads while it’s at it.

    Game Porting Toolkit 2 Adds Better Windows Compatibility

    Apple first announced its Game Porting Toolkit last WWDC, and now there’s a sequel that promises to make porting more hardcore titles easier to Apple’s framework. The company detailed several new games coming to Mac, including Frostpunk 2 and Control. Assassins Creed: Shadows is also coming to iPad, and Prince of Persia: Shattered Crown is coming to Mac.

    How About watchOS 11 and AirPods?

    AirPods Can Sense Your Head Nods For Saying Yes to Siri

    Image for article titled Everything Announced at WWDC 2024: Apple Intelligence and a Smarter Siri

    Screenshot: Apple

    If you’d rather not be that asshole in the elevator talking on your Bluetooth headset, AirPods will soon get a feature that should track your head movements. If there’s an incoming call, you can nod or shake your head to respond yes or no to taking it. After it rolls out to AirPods, we’ll have to see what other uses this gesture has.

    Apple Watch’s watchOS 11 Gets Training Mode 

    There are a few new features on the Apple Watch for those fitness fans. With Training Mode, an AI algorithm tells you what kind of effort you made during your recent exercise. This might tell you if you were going too soft or too hard on your recent workout. Plus, you can customize your Fitness app to see what kind of data you want to see at a glance.

    The Next watchOS Update Includes a Vitals App

    Image for article titled Everything Announced at WWDC 2024: Apple Intelligence and a Smarter Siri

    Screenshot: Apple

    The Vitals app will look at your entire health data to check all your health metrics and even tell you whether your drinking has impacted your health. This might show your heart rate and tell you whether that’s in your typical range. If it’s not within normal levels, the app should give you a rundown of what’s happening and what could be causing the issue.

    Apple Watch Will Open Up Different Widgets Depending on Context

    Apple’s smart stacks will automatically add weather or translation widgets to your main screen if it thinks you need them. This might come up when it looks like it’s about to rain or if you’re traveling around a foreign country.

    The Apple Watch Will Determine Which Photos Work Best for Your Home Screen

    Image for article titled Everything Announced at WWDC 2024: Apple Intelligence and a Smarter Siri

    Screenshot: Apple

    Like its new TV update, Apple Watches will look through your photos and select those with enough blank space to fit the time. It should also be able to stick the time in front or behind certain photo elements, making it look far more like the photo belongs on the home screen.

    If you’d rather not be that asshole in the elevator talking on your Bluetooth headset, AirPods will soon get a feature that should track your head movements. If there’s an incoming call, you can nod or shake your head to respond yes or no to taking it. After it rolls out to AirPods, we’ll have to see what other uses this gesture has.

    AirPods Pro Now Have Voice Isolation and Spatial Audio in Gaming

    AirPods Pro is getting an update that will add voice isolation to remove background noise for the sake of whoever’s on the other end. Additionally, developers can access an API to add spatial audio for games. This will add a surround-sound type experience to the game, first coming to Need for Speed Mobile.

    Is There Anything New Coming to Apple TV+ and Vision Pro?

    AppleVision OS 2, the Squeekquel, Will Let You Project Your Mac Screen Into nearly 180 Degrees

    Image for article titled Everything Announced at WWDC 2024: Apple Intelligence and a Smarter Siri

    Screenshot: Apple

    Apple released Vision Pro in February, and its first major update of the year is a sequel to the first visionOS coming down the pike just a few months later.

    The big new update includes several new spatial photo updates. The Vision Pro can turn 2D images into 3D-ish Spatial photos. You can share those spatial photos with SharePlay. Apple is adding a few new gestures to tap to open the home view or open the control center by turning your wrist. Later this year, Apple plans to update the OS to add better Mac screen integration. This will expand the total view of your projected Mac screen, and with dynamic foveation, it can create a wraparound screen that travels nearly 180 degrees.

    InSight on Apple tvOS Will Offer a Few Details on What You’re Watching

    Apple’s new InSight feature on Apple TV+ is essentially Amazon’s X-Ray. It lets you get a quick summary of the content you’re watching, plus information about the actors on screen and perhaps a little trivia about the scene as it plays. Plus, there are a few new screensaver animations, like one from Peanuts’ Snoopy, but your photos will now reframed to fit with a timestamp and look like they belong on-screen.

    Kyle Barr

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