Amid features like Apple Intelligence, the big Siri/ChatGPT update, the iPad Calculator app, and space photos in visionOS 2, watchOS 11 got a little lost in the noise of WWDC 2024.
The update to the operating systems of the best Apple watches brought a number of interesting new features, such as an improved widget stack, live activities, new GPS training profiles, AI assistant photo collections for the watch face, Improved women's health tracking and a new Vitales app. Some nice features, but it wasn't as big a change as we saw last year, and it was fighting for space with spectacular products like the examples listed above. As a result, watchOS 11 has been somewhat forgotten by most experts, who focus on Apple's intelligence and other AI features, and what they could mean for Apple in the future.
However, I think there's a little more to watchOS 11 than meets the eye. This year, the biggest changes to watchOS have to do with the Apple Watch's capabilities for tracking more holistic health, rather than workouts and adventurous fitness-related activities. The Vitals app, designed to track sleep, skin temperature, and recovery, along with the Sleep app's automatic sleep tracking functionality, are two such examples.
This is in line with the best fitness trackers right now – last year's Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 had a big emphasis on sleep and the best smart rings (small fitness trackers that passively and invisibly monitor heart rate, oxygen in the blood, stress and sleep quality). They are in fashion right now. Fitness is out (or at least, as “out” as it can be) and wellness is in. It's not surprising that Apple is doing the same, but there's a big barrier preventing Apple from rubbing shoulders with some of the other best sleep trackers on the market. shelves right now: that damn battery life.
At the time of writing, Apple lists Apple Watches as lasting 18 hours, less than a day. While this statistic tends to be very conservative as a general rule, if you're using some battery-draining features, like GPS workouts for running, biking, walking, or swimming, you'll likely be using less than a day. of a standard Apple Watch. The Apple Watch Ultra and Apple Watch Ultra 2 get more hours of battery life, but are much more expensive than the more basic models.
Even though Apple Watches charge very quickly, many people are not in the habit of wearing them overnight. You'll end up charging them twice: once before bed, once in the morning, and in my experience the watch is usually left off your wrist at night, often with a wireless charger.
The emphasis on sleep features this year could mean that Apple is ready to introduce an Apple Watch 10 with better battery life, a feature highly requested by almost all Apple Watch users. I'd love to see the inner workings of exactly how many people use Apple's sleep tracking features (I'm willing to bet money it's not that many), but I think a revamp of the Watch's sleep tracking capabilities signals the intent to create a device that is not designed to be removed for a long period of time.
It would be great if Apple could incorporate the Apple Watch Ultra 2's 36-hour battery life into the base Apple Watch 10. The battery life of the standard Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 maxes out at 40 hours, and I'd love for Apple to follow suit and make another cheaper watch that could last all night and into the next day.
