Apple Watch to Get 'Some' of the UI Design Changes Coming in iOS 19

[MacRumors]

The next major Apple Watch software update arriving this year will only feature some of the new UI design changes that Apple is preparing for iOS 19, but watchOS 12 won't get a complete interface overhaul like Apple's iPhone software, according to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman.

Writing in the Q&A section of his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman says that the Apple Watch will receive "new interface elements here and there," but the changes won't be on the same scale as what's coming in iOS 19. The latter is said to be inspired by visionOS, which has an emphasis on translucency, glassy UI elements, subtle lighting effects, and includes rounded icons and buttons.

The Verifier previously reported that watchOS will eventually have "elements" of visionOS, including a look that is bolder, slightly transparent, and with a floating aesthetic. Buttons, menus, icons, and other user interface elements will reportedly also be refreshed, and Apple is said to be "working on several ideas" for the Home Screen. The report did not say when the changes would be implemented, but Gurman seems confident that they will arrive as part of watchOS 12 later this year.

Gurman reports that Apple is also planning to bring a new set of features to Apple Watch that it is branding as "powered by Apple Intelligence." Unlike iOS 18, Apple Watch does not currently have Apple Intelligence because of the high amount of local storage required by the underlying large language models, and Apple is set to keep it that way – with the watch relying on the paired iPhone to deliver AI features. Gurman did not specify what the new features are.

Apple typically releases new versions of its software for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV in the fall, around September, when new products in these categories are launched.

Article Link: Apple Watch to Get 'Some' of the UI Design Changes Coming in iOS 19

 

[Mr.Mozi]

watchOS 10 had quite of a redesign and the whole OS itself isn’t delivering much so why not focusing on the more important stuff?

 

[Zzzoom]

watchOS 10 had quite of a redesign and the whole OS itself isn’t delivering much so why not focusing on the more important stuff?

Because the more important stuff is not ready (Apple Intelligence).

 

[Juanchin]

Apple Watch already has round icons (even before visionOs), so in a certain way is ahead of ios 19. The only thing it needs is to have at least one nice face.

 

[Aeronauts]

I would rather they focus on making the watch thinner and lighter with a more basic less cluttered UI.

 

[BelgianChoklit]

New Stage Manager?

 

[TechWhisperer]

Mark “Vague” Gurman. Of course watchOS will receive minor updates. But will Apple finally deliver anything substantial?

 

[Ctrlos]

What more could they add to WatchOS? Much like tvOS, it is the lack of complexity that is the primary feature, so the OS gets out of the way rather than impeding your activity.

 

[bookcase]

I’m more curious what features the S11 will have. I skipped the 10 because the improvements over the 9 were minimal.

 

[Kylo83]

watchOS still confuses me I still never know what to press for what

 

[bluecoast]

So that means that watchOS buttons and other UI elements will look similar to iOS 19, without the full on translucency I guess.

 

[AdamHarbour]

Because the more important stuff is not ready (Apple Intelligence).

Do I need ai on my watch ! 98% of watches will be connected to a iPhone 🤷‍♂️.

 

[Parowdy]

What? No round App icons? How could they.

 

[Parowdy]

watchOS still confuses me I still never know what to press for what

Personally I’m still annoyed by the app viewer but at least it’s more like a list now and not that horrid spider grid it was before.

 

[Parowdy]

I would rather they focus on making the watch thinner and lighter with a more basic less cluttered UI.

Two entirely different teams, mate

 

[CarAnalogy]

watchOS 10 had quite of a redesign and the whole OS itself isn’t delivering much so why not focusing on the more important stuff?

New Stage Manager?

watchOS still confuses me I still never know what to press for what

All they need to do is bring back the Dock. At least as an option. Before they removed it in order to force users to use their new widget stack, that was all I needed. There's only so many useful apps. That's why they let you pin them to the Dock on every other platform.

 

[PsykX]

Because the more important stuff is not ready (Apple Intelligence).

Exactly.
This is basically to create a diversion from AI and make us think the OS really has a new feel to it.

 

[bluespark]

watchOS still confuses me I still never know what to press for what

IMO, this was intuitive before watchOS 10, and much less so after that. The side button and swipe-up need to be switched back, and it should be possible to have some sort of “favorites” dock that doesn’t involve constantly moving icons.

 

[klasma]

Because the more important stuff is not ready (Apple Intelligence).

All the more reason to focus on it.

 

[t0rqx]

Gotta leave some leftover upgrades for Watch Series 12.

 

[Trausner]

New Stage Manager?

Stage Manager for Apple Watch confirmed! Multi App and external display support before it comes to iPhone!

 

[jblank]

Apple Watch already has round icons (even before visionOs), so in a certain way is ahead of ios 19. The only thing it needs is to have at least one nice face.

How about the ability to do more customization/creation of faces? Some are so locked down you can't do much with them. I really think Apple is missing a market when it comes to making purchasable watch faces or complications a thing also.

 

[siddavis]

"Built for Apple Intelligence"... that runs entirely on the connected iPhone. So, more marketing BS that will require the newest series even though the phone is doing all the heavy lifting.

 

[Shalev Lazarof]

Would love to see more glass, depth and shadows on the watch UI, i think it will get more of an elegant vibe as a time piece.

 

[Ad47uk]

I don't know what the UI looks like, but the watch itself is not the best looking watch.