watchOS 8 release date, compatibility and top new features for Apple Watch

watchOS eight release date, compatibility and top new features for Apple Sentry

(Image credit: Apple | YouTube)

watchOS 8 is the Apple Sentry's latest software overhaul. The almanac refresh includes a slew of new features, upgrading the experience of owning one of the best smartwatches around with a Mindfulness app and more workout types.

And watchOS viii finally lets you lot gear up multiple timers from your wrist without needing one of the best Apple Watch apps from a third-political party developer. Finally being able to edit letters has been a game-changer for Apple Lookout, too.

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The official watchOS 8 version is available now, later on Apple tree set a release date during the September Apple result where it unveiled the new Apple Watch 7.

In addition to that watch, shipping later on this fall, watchOS viii works with the Apple Watch 6, Apple Sentry SE and select previous-generation models —fifty-fifty the older Apple Watch 3.

Here'southward everything you need to know about watchOS 8, including the release appointment, compatibility and the top new features coming to your Apple tree Watch.

watchOS viii: Top new features for Apple Picket

Mindfulness app: The new Mindfulness app not only redesigns the existing Breathe feature, but it adds a tool called Reverberate. Reflect prompts you to focus on sure moments and recollect almost things that might bring you a sense of calmness.
Respiratory rate: Now, when y'all enable sleep tracking on your Apple Watch, it will track your respiratory rate overnight. Since this metric is consistent, alter may indicate shift in your overall wellness.
More workout types: This twelvemonth, Apple is adding workout tracking for Tai Chi and new kind of pilates. At the Apple Lookout 7 release, Apple also mentioned new cycling tracking capabilities would come up to watchOS 8.
Portrait spotter confront: In that location's merely one new spotter face up this yr. It'southward called Portrait and uses portrait photos to create depth, overlaying photo subjects over your time and engagement information.
New Photos app: Apple is giving the Photos app a major facelift. At present, you can meet collages and moments like you can on your phone. You can easily share photos from your Apple Picket with contacts via Messages and Mail, too.
Editable Messages: In watchOS eight, you can correct errors in dictation using the Digital Crown to scroll precisely to the spot in a message yous want to fix. You can likewise employ multiple limerick types (ie. Scribble, emojis) in the same bulletin.
HomeKit upgrades: watchOS 8 volition brand your Apple tree Sentry a better tool for navigating your smart home devices with HomeKit. Yous tin admission your security cameras, see the condition of all your connected gadgets and more.
Multiple timers: You can set multiple timers at one time from your Apple Watch. It'southward virtually dang fourth dimension.

Y'all'll find more in-depth summaries of all the peak watchOS 8 features below.

watchOS 8: Release date and compatibility

The official watchOS 8 release date is Sept. 20 — the same day Apple will also rolled out updates for iOS 15, iPadOS 15 and tvOS 15. All those updates were unveiled at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June, the aforementioned as watchOS eight.

As for watchOS 8 compatibility, Apple will extend support for the Apple Watch 3 and after. That means if you lot have the Apple Spotter 4, Apple tree Watch 5 or one of the two new Apple Watch models released in 2020, you'll be able to download watchOS viii for free.

watchOS 8: Reverberate with the new Mindfulness app

wwdc-2021-mindfulness — (Image credit: Apple | YouTube)

The Apple Scout is getting an all-new app this year. It's called Mindfulness, taking cues from recent efforts that companies like Fitbit take made toward improving mental wellness — non merely physical.

The existing Breathe app will be folded into Mindfulness while receiving a much-needed refresh. Though Apple tree says Breathe is beingness used now more than ever, the program hasn't been updated in several years. In watchOS 8, it'll feature fresh animations.

In add-on to Breathe, Mindfulness volition offer a new tool called Reverberate. Reflect encourages you to set aside time to be more mindful with prompts that make you recollect. These mindful moments are a form of meditation you launch from your wrist, wherever you might be.

So you won't become Breathe notifications like you have in the past, just you volition receive Mindfulness notifications in the morning and at dark encouraging both Breathe and Reflect sessions.

watchOS 8: New workout types

Not a year goes by without watchOS introducing new workout types. Building on the Mindfulness app and other mental wellness initiatives, watchOS 8 will bring Tai Chi and action tracking for a new Pilates type to the Workout app.

While last yr's watchOS 7 wanted yous get moving and grooving with Dance tracking, watchOS viii leans more toward slower, flowing do. Tai Chi is a form of Chinese martial art that is referred to as "meditation in motion," promoting a more than peaceful land of mind.

Apple is adding tracking features for cycling in watchOS eight. The software will detect when you're cycling, too every bit when you start and stop. And should you fall off your bike, fall detection features are part of the software, too.

watchOS eight: Sleep App gets respiratory rate readings

In watchOS vii, Apple tree introduced slumber tracking, letting users see how much time they spend in bed and how much time they spend asleep. Just that was it — users couldn't run across advanced information about their overnight disturbances or sleep stages.

In watchOS viii, Apple is looking to develop the sleep app with metrics that inform your qualify of sleep. Your Apple tree Watch will runway your respiratory rate while sleeping now, and since your sleeping respiratory rate should be consequent, change may betoken shift in overall wellness.

Over time, your respiratory rate will exist identified with a trend you can acquire more about in the Wellness app on your iPhone. Nonetheless no Health app for your Apple Watch, unfortunately.

watchOS viii: Portrait photos scout face

According to Apple, the custom Photo lookout man confront is the most pop among Apple Watch users. At present, your Apple tree Watch display will adapt to portrait-way photos, creating depth using the existing time and date elements of the photo spotter face.

Based on the demonstration, the photo subject field will exist layered on height of your time and date, with the blurred background remaining behind your lookout's data. As long as you choose the right photo taken in portrait mode, it shouldn't obstruct the of import things you'd want to see at a glance.

Better yet, yous can change the font and colors of the time and date to complement your multilayer watch face.

watchOS 8: Redesigned Photos app

wwdc-2021-photos — (Image credit: Apple | YouTube)

The current Photos app for Apple Watch its pretty unremarkable. It lets you swipe through your camera roll, but that's most it. In watchOS eight, the Photos app gets some of the features you'll find on the Photos app for iPhone.

When the new software launches, yous'll exist able to see highlights from your Memories and Featured Photos on your watch, providing personalized galleries and collages each day.

With a few taps, y'all'll too have the option to share photos via Messages and Mail directly from your wrist. You couldn't ship photos from Apple Sentinel before — y'all could simply view them.

While Apple didn't give united states of america a keyboard like we'd hoped, watchOS 8 is bringing new tools to Messaging that should make communicating from your wrist less of a hassle.

You'll be able to combine multiple composition types in watchOS 8, meaning you can use Scribble, emojis and dictation to class the same message. Currently, you tin but utilise one method per bulletin. The new software volition also let y'all ship GIFs easily, besides as use the Digital Crown to scroll through a message when y'all demand to fix a typo.

watchOS 8: Huge HomeKit upgrades

HomeKit users will be happy to learn watchOS 8 has upgrades for navigating your smart domicile from your wrist. watchOS 8 can automatically advise actions for your nearby devices based on what yous're currently controlling. For instance, if y'all check your connected doorbell's video feed, you might see the pick to unlock your front end door's smart lock or turn on your smart lights. Similarly, watchOS viii can approximate what scenes you want to use based on the time of day.

At any time you can view your camera feeds, and see the condition of whatsoever of your other smart home devices. You tin even run across if these devices demand new batteries, or if their software needs updating.

watchOS 8: Set multiple timers

Permit's say a collective "cheers" to Apple tree for allowing multiple timers on Apple Watch. If there's i feature we can't wait for in watchOS 8, it's probably this.

watchOS 8: Other features

At that place's more than to watchOS 8 than all the features mentioned above. Here'south everything else new you can await to see your Apple Picket when watchOS 8 becomes available this coming Monday.

Lost and constitute: You tin can use your Apple Watch to find missing Apple devices in the Find My app.
AssistiveTouch: For those who demand dissimilar controls for using Apple Watch, new AssistiveTouch features leverage the picket'southward built‑in motility sensors aid answer calls and more through hand gestures.
Always‑On brandish: The Apple tree Watch'southward ever-on brandish won't render to your home watch face by default anymore, depending on the app. Alarms, Maps, Stopwatch, and even your favorite tertiary‑party apps will stay open.
Precipitation notifications: Don't get defenseless in the rain again. With astringent weather notifications, your Apple Watch can alert you to next-hour precipitation, including rain intensity if applicable.
New Contacts app: watchOS 8 makes it easier to browse, add, or edit contacts right on your Apple tree Spotter.
Audio controls: You can now encounter real‑fourth dimension headphone sound levels in your Apple Lookout's Control Centre when you're listening to media.

Kate Kozuch is a senior author at Tom's Guide covering wearables, TVs and everything smart-domicile related. When she's not in cyborg mode, you tin can find her on an exercise bicycle or channeling her inner celebrity chef. She and her robot army will rule the world one 24-hour interval, simply until and then, reach her at kate.kozuch@futurenet.com.