Watchos 12 is here! This is what’s showing up for the Apple Watch
The wait is almost over. In just a few days, Apple will unveil its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (the latest software features that appear in the Apple Watch and other ecosystems)WWDC), June 9th in Cupertino, California. The update is likely already fixed, but that doesn’t mean that some wish list items cannot be placed in space and they want them to stick.
The competition for your health data is getting stronger with competitors like Google, Oura, Samsung leaning hard towards AI coaching and preventive care, so this will be a good time to remind Apple why its smartwatch is still at the top of wearable games despite declining sales. Apple Watch Sales reportedly fell 19% in 2024.
I’ve worked with longtime Apple Watch users and fellow CNET editors to summarise the most requested features I’d like to see on Watchos 12, as well as some of the rumours I’ve dug up. We haven’t ruled out inspector gadget-style fassety time calls from your wrist yet, but it’s not exactly on the radar, so we’re keeping this wish list within the realm of 2025 possibilities.
See this: Watchos 12 Wishlist: Top Features Required for Apple Watch
Battery life has been improved
The long battery life may not be as exciting as some of the flashy features on this list, but it easily wins popular contests among editors (including myself). When the Apple Watch was launched 10 years ago, we didn’t have a wish list, but if there was, I think the battery life would have been on top.
CNET Editor – Large Scottstein wants longer battery life and faster charging, especially if Apple really wants to take advantage of sleep tracking.
The Series 10 charges faster than the previous Apple Watch, but the battery lasts the same amount of time.
The dream scenario is that the regular Apple Watch and SE versions have the same 3 days of battery life as the Apple Watch Ultra 2. However, software alone cannot do miracles. Must operate within the limits of physical batteries. So we will settle for progressive improvements and optimizations to watchos 12 to minimize how much The power source is used. This could be offered in the form of a smarter battery saving mode, which automatically kicks in when power-hungry features are no longer needed or automatically in a more efficient bedtime mode that won’t drain the battery by the morning.
In the first part of the developer meeting, Google itself Please wear OS 6 Increases battery life by up to 10%. It’s not a big leap, but it’s welcome – and a good reminder for meaningful improvements teeth It can be done with just the software.
UI adjustments and customization
Apple has come a long way by allowing customising the Apple Watch UI, but there is still room for improvement. For example, your app list desperately needs a refresh. You are still limited to looking at it as a grid or list, and there is no way to organize your apps by how you actually use them. Patrick Holland, the managing editor of CNET, suggests adding options to sort by favorites, or to reduce the infinite scrolling required to find what you need.
Grid view and List view are the only two options for sorting apps on your watch.
Watch Faces is another area that feels still locked down compared to other platforms like Wear OS. It’s been a long-standing request from Stein, who has been looking for the Watch Face Store since reviewing the original Apple Watch in 2015. Since then, they have gained more Watch Face options using customizable widgets and design features, but are limited to templates offered by Apple.
CNET Health Editor Anna Gragert proposed a collection of more watch faces from artists from the underrated community, similar to what the company did with Black Unity Watch at the beginning of the year.
This is more of a rumour than a request, but Apple is I’m getting a clue from Google Refresh your entire WatchOS interface design. recently Bloomberg Report by Mark Garman It suggests that Apple’s Revamp can borrow elements from the UI of Visionos, the operating system of Vision Pro Headset. The redesign focuses on semi-transparent foam, glass-like effects, and soft aesthetics.
Gestures that go further
Apple first introduced gesture controls on the Watchos 10, Series 9 and Ultra 2, but has been gradually expanding its functionality ever since. We’ve got a taste of how one-handed control feels, so we’re more prepared.
CNET senior writer Jeff Carlson admitted he was initially skeptical of gesture control. “Before I got to Series 10, I thought it was a suspicious addition. But he said.
I’m with him. I want the ability to ping me beyond the ability to program gestures iPhone9 out of 10 times, I have no spare hands to rush out the door with my hands full and tap the screen.
Apple Intelligence Features
The Apple Watch is still particularly AI-free, and that may not be a bad thing. The reality is that the clock is strong, but there is no muscle to handle yet Apple Intelligence A task in itself. But that doesn’t mean we can’t rely on the iPhone for some of the features we hope to go their way.
One of the top on my list? Genmoji. The ability to create your own emojis on the spot feels like they belong to the wrist. Apple has already brought Memojis and Animoji to the watch, so this is the natural next step that brings more personality to texting or completely replaces the need for text.
Genmoji uses Apple Intelligence to create custom emojis from the prompts.
And while we have Apple Intelligence themes, this watch may benefit from a smarter approach to notifications. iPhone notification summary is still a hit or miss, but on a small screen it could be more useful if it actually was done correctly. The current notification layout on the clock feels crowded, making it difficult to isolate important alerts from the remaining noise.
Spam handling of watches is another area where attention can be used. “I want to delete spam text and be able to report it. I’ll let you know how it can be done on iPhone messages and phones. Currently, blocking senders with watches requires several steps to beat the purpose of quick interactions to the wrist.
A smarter Siri
Offline Siri is a welcome improvement (Series 9 and later). But even offline, Siri is not the brightest light bulb. And Apple’s voice assistant has been delayed for a long time due to upgrades.
At least, if Siri can understand the request on the first attempt, that’s great. But since this is a wish list, why not ask for more? A smarter, more context-conscious response will make Siri much more convenient, especially if assistants can take advantage of the new Apple Intelligence tools. Please: There will be fewer links on the website as an answer. I’m not going to open a full webpage on my wrist.
Customizable Training
I also hope that there is a way for the Apple Watch to flag external factors such as weight and resistance that can affect training metrics. This allows you to run and walk on a weighted vest. In my case, it’s a human child on the harness.
Heart Rate Zone View lets you see how strong your training is when training is taking place, but it’s up to you to interpret it.
Currently there is no way to flag additional weights or resistance in your training than changing the weight in the settings. Instead, the clock assumes that I am not shaping when my heart rate is above average. I’d like to get extra calorie credits in my moving ring, thank you very much.
Smarter coaching for fitness and sleep
Apple Watch offers a wealth of training tools, including heart rate zones, activity rings, and VO2 Max. But it still feels difficult to turn all that data into a personalized training plan. I’d like to see a smarter, more aggressive coaching system. In real time, I can communicate in real time the time I aim to stay in each heart rate zone to achieve my goals. Even better, there is a dynamic training plan that adjusts based on the day’s calendar and energy levels.
The same applies to sleep. It’s nice to see my sleep stage, but what am I supposed to do with that information? What is the ideal balance between REM and deep sleep? And how can I improve that?
Apple Watch now has added sleep tracking to its list of metrics and can now track sleep stages.
Gragert also hopes that the Apple Watch will get queues from other wearables and provide energy and sleep scores based on the data it collects.
Sleep coaches will help you interpret your data and provide specific recommendations on how to improve for better recovery and energy. No, current bedtime reminders are not counted. It’s just a glorious alarm, and it’s a rather annoying alarm.
Smarter vitals and health coaching
Thanks to the Vitals app, which combines metrics like heart rate, sleep, breathing rate, skin temperature, and more, Apple is already putting more health data into the clock. But for now it’s still up to us to understand what that data actually means and what to do with it.
The Vitals app is the same for Series 10 and Ultra 2.
What’s next? Apple can take the same approach as what they already do with heart rate notifications. This watch warns you when your heart rate is too high or too low. Imagine this the same kind of positive insight.
Other wearables are already heading in that direction. Wella’s rings, for example, use a symptom radar that can be flagged when the body shows signs of tension, such as when it gets sick. Getting to your wrist first thing in the morning will help you plan your day better and call your sick before you drag your coworkers.
Rumors say some of this smart coaching is already on track. According to Report from Mark Garman of BloombergApple is working on a top secret project code named “Project Mulberry” and is trying to improve its health app with smart coaching and personalized recommendations. Don’t make them pay for another subscription.
On WWDC’s June 10th, we’ll find out what Apple actually has for us. Until then, nothing will prevent us from dreaming big.