In a recent WWDC keynote, Apple announced WatchOS 11 for the Apple Watch, bringing several new features to enhance the device's functionality. Among these features are Vitals and Training Load for health tracking. The Vitals app tracks heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, and blood oxygen levels while sleeping. The Training Load feature measures workout intensity based on age, height, weight, heart rate, elevation and more to provide a score from 1 to 10. Users can also pause their activity rings in WatchOS 11 when they need rest or recovery. Additionally, Apple Watch will support pregnancy tracking in WatchOS 11. Smart Stack widgets are expanding with new features like Shazam, Photos, Distance and more. Live Activities are coming to Smart Stack for real-time updates on events and apps.
However, WatchOS 11 will not be supported by the Apple Watch Series 4, Series 5 or the original Apple Watch SE. Some of the new features include: tracking strain and recovery, pregnancy support, Vitals app for health insights, Training Load feature for workout intensity measurement, and Smart Stack widgets expansion with new features like Shazam, Photos Distance and more. Live Activities are also coming to Smart Stack for real-time updates on events and apps. However, the Apple Watch Series 4, Series 5 or the original Apple Watch SE will not support WatchOS 11.
The new operating system is expected to be released this fall and promises to make the Apple Watch an even more essential companion by offering users additional actionable insights into their health and fitness. The updates come as rumors suggest a major redesign of the Apple Watch this fall, possibly including blood pressure monitoring and sleep apnea detection. However, these features are not included in the watchOS 11 update.