Apple used WWDC26 to introduce watchOS 27, with Siri AI, wider Apple Intelligence support and new women’s health tracking among the main Apple Watch changes.
The company opened its keynote from Apple Park in Cupertino. The developer conference continues through June 12, but the keynote was the main public event where Apple set out its next round of software updates across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV and Vision Pro.
For Apple Watch users, the focus was watchOS 27. This was not a hardware launch, as Apple normally saves new Watch models for later in the year. But the software still gives a clear steer on where the wrist platform is heading, especially around Siri, Apple Intelligence, health tracking and everyday usability.
Siri AI comes to the wrist
This year it is all about AI. So it should come as no surprise that the main Apple Watch change in watchOS 27 is a custom version of Siri AI built for smaller screens.
Apple says users will be able to ask questions and take actions from the wrist. That makes Siri AI more useful on Apple Watch than a simple voice search tool, assuming it can handle real tasks reliably. The watch has always needed a better assistant because typing, tapping and scrolling on a small display only gets you so far.
The AI conversation also syncs across Apple devices through iCloud. That means a Siri AI interaction does not have to stay trapped on the watch. A user could start from the wrist and continue elsewhere, which fits how Apple devices already work together.
Apple has also placed Siri AI inside a redesigned app grid in watchOS 27. That is a small interface detail, but it shows Apple wants the feature to feel like part of the normal watch experience rather than a separate AI layer bolted on top.
Unfortunately, Siri AI will have a limited launch. The European Union and China are excluded at first, so Apple Watch users there may get watchOS 27 before the new AI assistant features arrive.
Apple Intelligence leans on private cloud computing
Apple Intelligence features on watchOS 27 will use private cloud computing rather than relying on full on-device processing. That makes sense for the Apple Watch. The device has limited space, battery and thermal room compared with an iPhone or Mac, so heavier AI processing needs a different route.
The privacy claim is the important bit here. Apple says the data used for these features cannot be accessed by Apple or third parties. That gives the company a cleaner argument than simply saying it has added AI to the watch.
For wearables, privacy is not just a marketing line. The Apple Watch handles health, location, activity and personal routine data. If Apple wants users to ask more from Siri AI on the wrist, it needs to explain clearly where that data goes and what happens to it.
Smaller changes may be the ones users notice
watchOS 27 is not only about Siri AI. Apple has also added a batch of smaller Apple Watch improvements that should show up in daily use. These include faster music playback, improved Wi-Fi connectivity, quicker app extension launch times and battery optimisation suggestions.
Fitness app step count also now syncs with Health app steps. That should reduce some of the mismatch between Apple’s own activity and health data, which always felt oddly messy for such a polished ecosystem.
Find My also gets cleaned up. Apple has combined Find Devices, Find People and Find Items into a single Apple Watch app with a map-centric view. That should make the feature easier to use from the wrist, especially when trying to locate a person, device or item quickly.
Wallet and Smart Stack get attention too. Apple says Wallet can now create custom passes for cards that use a QR code or barcode, such as a library card, then make them available in Wallet or Smart Stack. Transit cards and IDs can also appear in Smart Stack, alongside new Smart Stack suggestions.
Call Context is another addition. When calling a business, Apple Watch can surface relevant information, such as a confirmation code from Mail when calling an airline. Apple says the feature is coming in English.
Workout Buddy gets more useful
Workout Buddy also gets attention in watchOS 27. Apple says it now uses fitness history to deliver more specific insights, including progress around pace, distance and workout duration.
The useful bit is that Workout Buddy can now work without the iPhone nearby. That makes it more relevant for runners and gym users who train with only the watch. Apple is also adding Spanish support, which broadens the feature beyond its initial language setup.
Cycle tracking adds perimenopause support
Cycle Tracking in the Health app can now provide notifications when logged cycle patterns are suggestive of perimenopause. Users can also track related symptoms and access educational resources.
Apple is not saying the watch diagnoses perimenopause or menopause. It is looking at logged cycle patterns and flagging possible deviations for users aged 40 and above.
This moves Apple’s women’s health tools further into longer-term health context. It is still not a medical diagnosis, but it gives users another reason to keep cycle data inside the Health app rather than using a separate tracker.
Compatibility
Apple’s watchOS 27 page lists support for Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Apple Watch Ultra 3.
The update also needs a paired iPhone running iOS 27. Apple says that means iPhone 11 or later, or iPhone SE 2nd generation or later. So compatibility depends on both the watch and the phone.
That makes this a more limited update than expected. Owners of older Apple Watch models should check Apple’s final compatibility list before assuming they will get watchOS 27.
