watchOS 27, released September 14, removes the Digital Crown double-click app-switching feature for all Apple Watch models and reserves it exclusively for the new Live Rewind audio transcript feature on Series 12 and Ultra 4. Older model owners lose functionality without gaining the new feature, and Apple offers no option to customize the button assignment or disable Live Rewind.
watchOS 27 removes the double-click Digital Crown shortcut for app switching on older Apple Watch models to make room for Live Rewind, a new 15-second audio transcript feature exclusive to Series 12 and Ultra 4. Older watches now open a dynamic app grid with the same gesture, disappointing users who relied on the quick multitasking feature.
Apple released iOS 27, macOS Golden Gate 27, and other 2026 OS updates featuring Siri AI, a large language model-based assistant with natural language understanding and app integration capabilities, plus refinements to the Liquid Glass design interface across platforms.
Apple released watchOS 27 with enhanced Siri AI capabilities, a new Siri Modular watch face, Smart Stack improvements including single-handed gesture controls, and various system enhancements. The update is compatible with Apple Watch Series 9 and later and requires an Apple Intelligence-capable iPhone for full Siri AI functionality.
Apple has released watchOS 27 with major updates including Siri AI, new Health features, a Siri modular watch face, and Tap gesture navigation. The update drops support for older Apple Watch models and brings improved performance through bug fixes and battery optimization.
Apple has released iOS 27, watchOS 27, iPadOS 27, and visionOS 27 with Siri AI as the headline feature, offering an AI-powered overhaul of the Siri assistant initially in English beta, with support for five additional languages coming in October. The updates also include new UI features like Liquid Glass opacity sliders, updated app icons, improved widgets, and device-specific enhancements across iPhones, Apple Watches, iPads, and Vision Pro headsets.
Apple released iOS 27, watchOS 27, iPadOS 27, and visionOS 27 today, with Siri AI as the headline feature offering an overhaul of the assistant in English, with support for French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish coming in October. The updates also include new UI features like Liquid Glass opacity controls, redesigned app icons, improved performance across devices, and Vision Pro enhancements.
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 improves upon the Ultra 3 with extended battery life (up to 50 hours vs. 42 hours), advanced health tracking with enhanced heart rate sensors and new metrics like readiness scores, and the S11 chip enabling AI features such as Siri recap and audio intelligence. The design remains largely unchanged with subtle refinements for comfort, while maintaining durability and premium aesthetics.
Apple unveiled the Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 with new Audio Intelligence features including Sound Recognition for alerts, Live Rewind for audio transcription, and enhanced Shazam music identification. Most features launch in September, though Live Rewind and Siri Recap arrive later via beta.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 features a new S11 chip with doubled RAM, an upgraded Health Sensing System with improved heart rate and HRV tracking, and extended battery life reaching 50 hours versus Ultra 3's 42 hours. New exclusive features include a Readiness app for daily fitness capacity analysis and Audio Intelligence capabilities like Sound Recognition and Live Rewind.
Apple is introducing Live Rewind on Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, a feature that transcribes the last 15 seconds of audio when activated via Digital Crown press. The company has implemented safeguards including an audible chime, visual indicators, and on-device processing in a Secure Exclave to prevent secret activation and address privacy concerns.
Apple Watch Series 12 features a re-architected sensing system with upgraded photodiodes and LEDs for more accurate health readings, including a new Readiness app that scores daily wellness on a 0-10 scale based on activity, sleep, and vitals. New Audio Intelligence tools like Siri Recap and Live Rewind offer AI-powered features, while the Health app receives a significant redesign with Apple Intelligence summaries.
Apple's new Watch Ultra 4 and Series 12 models feature double the RAM of their predecessors—4GB compared to 2GB—a significant upgrade not mentioned in Apple's official announcement. The discovery was revealed through Xcode 27 analysis, as Apple typically doesn't publish memory specifications for its Watch devices.
Apple released release candidate versions of iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, macOS Golden Gate, tvOS 27, visionOS 27, and iOS 27 following its September event, with full availability to all users beginning Monday, September 14. The RC builds represent the final shipping software, though critical issues may prompt RC 2 releases. New features unveiled at the event, particularly for watchOS 27, are now available for developer and public beta tester testing.
Apple unveiled the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 with the faster S11 chip, enhanced health sensors, and watchOS 27 featuring improved Siri AI capabilities including real-time transcription and translation. The Series 12 reintroduces a ceramic case option, while the Ultra 4 gains extended 50-hour battery life and expanded wellness tracking features.