watchOS 11, the next free software update for Apple Watch users, won't officially come out until September. However, there are plenty of new features to talk about in more detail, such as the new offline maps and route creation features.
Finally, now you can create custom loop routes for city walks, hikes, runs, and other activities with your iPhone, Mac, or iPad, and sync them to your Apple Watch to use. Now, even if your watch is disconnected or away from your phone, the map is still very much in use, which is huge for watchOS 11.
Previously, maps had to run through your best iPhone, even if that phone was offline, unless you had an LTE watch or with Internet access as part of your cell phone plan. However, you can now create a round trip route and it will sync with your watch for use, even offline.
One of the only things that separates the Apple Watch Ultra 2 from the rest of the best running watches is its lack of GPS features, specifically offline maps and turn-by-turn directions. When I used my Garmin Epix Pro for long-distance training, I would create a course in Garmin Connect (a circular route that hit the distance goal I needed for that week), sync it to my watch as a GPX file, and then head out to start my training.
Garmin Connect makes all of this very easy to do and even has a machine learning-based routing tool to create circular routes of a given distance. Simply choose where you want the loop to take you (north, south, east or west) and Garmin will do all the work for you.
Once the route was synced to my watch, I followed the arrow on my watch, which beeped every time I needed to hang left or right, and I could swipe up to see my speed and training metrics with a simple press a button.
Once the route was synced to my watch, I followed the arrow on my watch, which beeped every time I needed to hang left or right, and I could swipe up to see my speed and training metrics with a simple press a button.
Unfortunately, Apple's Circle Routes aren't directly linked to their Workout app, which is what makes the feature not work for me. I don't think it's an extreme case of wanting to start a workout in the Workout app, like running or walking, and see where I'm going with a single swipe or touch of a button. Both of these workouts, particularly hiking, should have a mapping feature built in.
Of course, you'll be able to see a breakdown of your route once you're finalized, but to see where you're going during, you have to exit the Workout app and open the Maps app, switching between the two whenever you need metrics or directions. As someone who walks, runs, and frequently uses features like Back to Home on the best Garmin watches, having a clear separation between Maps and Training seems crazy to me. Why would you want to follow step-by-step walking instructions if you're not hiking?
While the features released in watchOS 11 are currently in beta, they are unlikely to change significantly as we get closer to launch; we're just testing for bugs and glitches. So we hope Apple makes a change to more closely link Maps and Workouts on the Apple Watch 10 and later next year in watchOS 12. Otherwise, I'll have a hard time justifying replacing my Garmin Epix Pro with an Apple Watch for any period of time beyond the test.
