The Apple Watch is about to get significant new health features

By Bryan M. Wolfe Published June 7, 2024

Apple Watch Series 7 on wrist from the back. — Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

We’re just days away from Apple’s huge Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2024) keynote. At that time, the company is expected to announce new software for its top-selling products, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Vision Pro, and Apple Watch.

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Among the many announcements, Apple is expected to unveil watchOS 11 for the Apple Watch. One of the significant features of this software update pertains to the Health app.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the Apple Watch Health app is gaining “improved blood pressure data management — in preparation for future Apple Watches to have hypertension detection.”

That’s correct. The new feature is being prepared for a future Apple Watch, possibly the Apple Watch Series 10, which is set to launch this fall. However, whatever is announced next week may also be available in some form on current Apple Watches, including the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2.

Gurman also says the Health app “will better tailor data, such as cycle tracking, if a person is pregnant.” The watchOS 11 update is also expected to introduce an updated Siri interface and “major changes” to some key apps such as Fitness.

The WWDC 2024 keynote address will start at 10 a.m. PT on on Monday, June 10. As with previous events, it will be live-streamed on various platforms, including the web, Apple TV, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube. If you can’t watch the event live, you can stream it later on your schedule on the same platforms.

Besides watchOS 11, WWDC will introduce the world to iOS 18, iPadOS 18, tvOS 18, visionOS 2, and macOS 15. A big focus of all these software updates should be AI, although other topics will surely be touched on.

Former Mobile and A/V Freelancer

Bryan M. Wolfe has over a decade of experience as a technology writer. He writes about mobile.

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Mobile

Apple Intelligence is coming to the Apple Watch in a limited capacity

A person wearing the Apple Watch SE 2.

In his most recent Power On newsletter, Apple insider Mark Gurman says the Apple Watch won't be receiving onboard Apple Intelligence, but it will still get useful features that are powered by AI. While the Apple Watch isn't receiving a major overhaul, Gurman says it will get some new interface elements and give users a "smaller taste of the big shifts underway at Apple."

These upcoming changes will be announced in more detail at Apple's Worldwide Developer's Conference (WWDC). Gurman says the two main subjects of the June event will be Apple Intelligence and something called Solarium, the internal name for a new design language Apple plans to implement for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.

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watchOS 12 / watchOS 26: everything you need to know

The next major update for Apple Watch devices is almost upon us, and its name could change quite significantly

The Apple Watch SE 2 with the Apple Watch Series 10.

One of the great things about modern smart devices is that they’re gifts that keep giving, thanks to their frequent software updates. Whether it’s a phone, a watch, or even a TV, chances are the device you’re using today isn’t quite the same as the one you bought three or four years ago.

That’s equally true for the Apple Watch. When Apple releases its watchOS 12 / watchOS 26 update, many Apple Watch owners will have an even more powerful wearable than the one they originally purchased.

Mobile

Apple is finally fixing the alarm situation on its smartwatches

A person wearing the Apple Watch Series 3.

Apple is prepping the release of a thoughtful new feature that will bring some peace of mind to smartwatch users. The upcoming watchOS 11.4 update will give users an option to activate the alarm sound even when the Apple Watch is put on silent mode.
The change was first spotted in the update notes for watchOS 11.4 RC (Release Candidate) built, which means the stable update is right around the corner. “An option to allow Sleep Wake Up alarm to break through Silent Mode,” says the release document.
In its current shape, the Silent Mode only provides vibration-based haptic feedback for all kinds of alerts, including alarm rings. After all, the whole idea behind it is to keep audible distractions at bay.
https://x.com/aaronp613/status/1904223745662669099
There are, however, scenarios when a sound cue could come in handy. For example, if you’re charging your watch near your bed while silent mode is enabled, you would ideally want it to play the wake-up alarm.
An alarm should beep. Period.

A healthy few people aren’t comfortable with sleeping with a watch on their wrist, because it’s an uncomfortable experience to begin with. Moreover, a strong alarm vibration on the wrist isn’t always the most pleasant way to wake up each morning.
I fall into the latter category. From time to time, however, I keep my Apple Watch close to my headrest so that I can hear the alarm beep the next morning. So far, that has meant keeping the watch in general mode, but watchOS 11.4 will finally allow some much-needed flexibility.