The new Vision Pro mixed reality headset stole the show during Apple’s WWDC keynote address, but the company also gave everyone a first look at its upcoming watchOS 10 smartwatch operating system and new health-focused features for the iPhone and iPad.
Between watchOS 10, iOS 17, and iPadOS 17, which will arrive as public betas in July before a formal launch in the fall, there are plenty of new health-based tools to get excited about. Here are 10 features we look forward to checking out soon.
(Credit: Brian Westover)
With watchOS 10, turning the digital crown from the watch face will reveal a new Smart Stack of widgets, offering useful information like the weather forecast and the day’s latest headlines in glanceable bubbles. Leveraging machine learning technology, the feature is meant to offer pertinent, time-sensitive information just when you need it, like upcoming calendar events, medication reminders, boarding passes, and more. The Smart Stack will also dynamically prioritize widgets for apps that you have running, like Podcasts, Stopwatch, or Workout, so they are easily accessible.
2. NameDrop Your Number
(Credit: Apple)
Swapping numbers with another Apple user is about to get easier. A new NameDrop feature in watchOS 10, which relies on tech first developed for AirDrop, will let you quickly share contact information with someone by bringing your Apple Watch close to their iPhone. You can also use NameDrop by holding two iPhones near each other.
3. New Snoopy, Palette Watch Faces
Left to right: Snoopy, Palette
(Credit: Apple)
Based on the Peanuts comic strip, a new Snoopy watch face in watchOS 10 puts the character and his sidekick, Woodstock, front and center on your Apple Watch where they will “interact and play with the watch hands, react to the weather conditions in the area, or even get active when the user does a workout.” Also on tap is a new colorful, analog-style watch face called Palette that “depicts time in a wide variety of colors that shift as the time changes.”
4. New Mental Health Features
(Credit: Brian Westover)
To encourage mental health awareness, the Mindfulness app in watchOS 10 will let you log your emotions and moods so you can track them over time. The Health app in iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 will then offer insights about potential life factors such as sleep and exercise that could be contributing to your state of mind. The Apple Health app will also offer depression and anxiety assessments to help you understand whether you should see a doctor for these conditions.
5. Time in Daylight
(Credit: Apple)
A new watchOS 10 feature called Time in Daylight uses the ambient light sensor built into in the wearable to measure the amount of time you spend outside. “Time outside in natural light can promote proper eye development in kids, while everyone can benefit from its positive impacts on mood, sleep, and stress levels,” Apple said, citing recommendations from the International Myopia Institute(Opens in a new window).
6. Screen Distance
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Scrolling TikTok for hours while holding your phone just inches from your face is bad for your eyesight. A new eye health feature in iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 called Screen Distance uses the TrueDepth camera to notice when you’re holding your device too close to your face (less than 12 inches) for too long, a risk factor of myopia (nearsightedness), and encourages you to move it further away.
7. Health App Arrives on iPad
(Credit: Apple)
iPadOS 17 finally brings the Health app to Apple tablets. Already available on iOS, the Health app lets you track your menstrual cycle, medications, and view health and fitness data from your Apple Watch and compatible third-party apps. On the iPad, the Health app sports a new design that features detailed interactive charts to make use of the increased screen real estate.
8. New Cycling Features
(Credit: Brian Westover)
Starting a cycling workout on your Apple Watch in watchOS 10 will trigger a new full-screen Live Activity dashboard on your iPhone that shows your real-time speed, distance, heart rate, and more. This should be useful for cyclists who have a phone mount on their bike handlebars.
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WatchOS 10 also delivers automatic Bluetooth connectivity for third-party cycling accessories, including power meters, speed sensors, and cadence sensors, when you start an indoor or outdoor cycling workout. With a connected power meter, the Apple Watch will estimate your Functional Threshold Power (FTP), a performance metric indicating the highest level of cycling intensity you could theoretically maintain for an hour.
9. Maps Updates for Hikers
(Credit: Brian Westover)
The Maps app in watchOS 10 will offer a new hiker-friendly topographic view with hill shading, elevation details, and points of interest. The app will also include search buttons for nearby trails and trailheads, and place cards for these outdoor attractions will include useful details like trail length, type, and difficulty.
10. New Compass Waypoints for Adventurers
(Credit: Brian Westover)
For increased safety when you veer off the beaten path during outdoor adventures, the Compass app in watchOS 10 will automatically generate two new Waypoints you may need to use in an emergency. The Last Cellular Connection Waypoint will mark where you last had cell service, and the Last Emergency Call Waypoint will show the nearest spot to any available carrier’s network so you can ring 911.
For more on the latest software from Apple, check out our picks for the most promising new features in iOS 17/iPadOS 17 and macOS Sonoma.
