Apple's watchOS 27 beta adds Siri AI, smarter workouts, one-handed gestures
Siri AI now follows conversations across iPhone and Apple Watch without picking up your phone.
Apple released the watchOS 27 public beta, which brings new gestures, health features, and workout tools. Siri AI, supporting follow-up questions, longer conversations, and a dedicated app, is due in English later this year ahead of the full fall release—not in the beta. One-handed controls let users tap thumb and index finger to select a Smart Stack widget. Workout Buddy compares current sessions with past performance for tailored feedback. Compatible with Watch Series 9+, Ultra 2+, or SE 3 paired with iPhone 11+ on iOS 27. Siri AI requires iPhone 15 Pro or newer; unavailable to EU users at launch.
- Siri AI allows follow-up conversations across iPhone and Apple Watch, with a new dedicated Siri app for saving and pinning past exchanges.
- One-handed controls: tap index finger and thumb together to select Smart Stack widgets, improving quick access to info like parked car location.
- Workout Buddy now remembers past training data to offer personalized coaching even without iPhone, plus updated treadmill distance accuracy.
Why It Matters
watchOS 27 reduces iPhone dependency for everyday tasks, making the Watch a more standalone device with AI-driven Siri and contextual controls.