watchOS 27 to Offer New Watch Faces, Including 'Modular Ultra' Variant

[MacRumors]

For watchOS 27, Apple is testing new Apple Watch faces, and one of them is a simpler version of an existing Apple Watch Ultra watch face that could be coming to standard Series models.

Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that Apple is testing multiple new faces for watchOS 27, code-named "Orchid." One of them is said to be a "simplified take" on the Modular Ultra design.

From the report:

It has the same large clock as the Ultra face but removes the option for a big complication in the center, the row of three smaller complications above the time and information placed around the bezel. The result is a large clock that fills the top two-thirds of the display, with a row of three smaller complications beneath it.

Gurman believes the new face is an attempt to bring the Ultra look to the standard Series watches in a way that dials down the density while still offering more at-a-glance information.

In its current form, the Modular Ultra offers seven complications and six options for the size and layout of the time. With the training bezels providing Vitals and training load, it's arguably the most info-dense face there is.

Separately, Gurman reported last week that watchOS 26.5 will include a new Pride Luminance watch face, with the update expected to drop this month.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2047521953167352288

Update: Apple has unveiled its 2026 Pride Edition Sport Loop, a Pride Luminance watch face for the Apple Watch, and a matching wallpaper for the iPhone and iPad.

Article Link: watchOS 27 to Offer New Watch Faces, Including 'Modular Ultra' Variant

 

[Shalev Lazarof]

More options are always welcome

 

[Earwolf]

What is this whole Gurman situation exactly?

 

[turbineseaplane]

Great to see anything and everything happening to get more watch faces.

 

[Andy_2341]

Will it also turn red at night like the ultras do? That's what I want to have on my Series 10.

 

[Yimbaz]

New faces meant to be useful and not just pretty? It's a miracle!

 

[hubley]

Ok true story…
One time I submitted feedback that I really wanted a watch face that was just the clock and 3 complications underneath.

If this is true I’m always going to wonder if I was partly responsible for this lol

 

[CarAnalogy]

Just bring back the Dock.

 

[Fleetboy]

Just bring back the Dock.

Here Here!

 

[Godspeed8230]

About time. The lack of digital watch faces is somewhat appalling.

 

[Arran]

Will it also turn red at night like the ultras do? That's what I want to have on my Series 10.

I've not found it very useful. I tried it for a few days, but it was just difficult to read in dim (but not pitch dark) conditions. Maybe it would work better if spending hours on end in pitch dark conditions?

Even during the day, it would sometimes fade to an unreadable dim red if my watch slipped under my sleeve. That added a slight, but nevertheless annoying, delay waiting for it to brighten up.

 

[jjwwqq]

It'd be much better if they allowed 3rd party faces.

 

[Arran]

Why can't the regular series show the ultra faces? There's no technical reason, is there?

Apple doesn't need to justify the Ultra price premium with exclusive faces. They've already adequately justified it with different hardware (unlike the Hermes money-grab)

 

[turbineseaplane]

Why can't the regular series show the ultra faces? There's no technical reason, is there?

Apple doesn't need to justify the Ultra price premium with exclusive faces. They've already adequately justified it with different hardware (unlike the Hermes money-grab)

No reason beyond what you highlighted.

The AW face situation is so ridiculous.

How on Earth Apple hasn't enabled a thriving 3rd party watch face ecosystem is beyond me.
This is the sort of flexibility that software is MADE for, and yet they are gatekeeping it to artificially segment models.

Nobody is even saying make it free -- just enable the concept and let developers go to town and charge for faces!
This is one of my favorite things about my Garmin. I've never used any of the first party watchfaces.

I use one called "Hands Avoidance" which moves the data fields around to always be out of the way of my physical watch hands. It's awesome. The customization is great too and I can have just what I want on there, which is weather, step count, date & charge level. 💪

 

[Arran]

...I use one called "Hands Avoidance" which moves the data fields around to always be out of the way of my physical watch hands. It's awesome. ...


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Brilliant. I'd pay to have that feature. It's the sort of user-centric innovation Apple used to be associated with.

Apple needs to get out of their ivory spaceship HQ and start interacting with a variety of real users. Then use what they learn to drive product. I feel they've been resting on their laurels too long, sitting in their bubble dreaming up inconsequential variations on a theme.

 

[sputnikBA]

If they are downporting faces then I would love to have the wayfinder face come down to the standard models.

As much as I like the functionality of the Ultra watch, it’s just too chunky to suit me.

 

[Octavius8]

So hard to show the daily steps and heart rate in a watch face?. 10 years of Apple Watch and that is still impossible!!!. Innovation is dead at Apple since Steve passed away.

 

[foobarbaz]

About time. The lack of digital watch faces is somewhat appalling.

After 10 years, we finally dare to dream of seeing the seconds on a digital clock.

 

[Entilzha]

Just give us Modular Ultra on the regular AW. The screen is big enough now, dang it!

 

[Cadikse]

I’d love a dial with a single hand (a regulator).
Something simple like this →

 

[archvile]

Wish they would add a "Military" time option where instead of showing 14:30 it would show 1430 (no colon)