Apple Seeds Release Candidate Version of watchOS 9.3 to Developers

Apple today seeded the RC version of an upcoming watchOS 9.3 update to developers for testing purposes, with the new software coming almost a month after the release of the second watchOS 9.3 beta.

watchOS 9 Feature
To install the new ‌watchOS 9.3 update, developers will need to download the configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center.

Once installed, ‌watchOS 9.3 can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software update. To update to new software, an Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life, it has to be placed on the charger, and it will need to be in range of the ‌‌iPhone‌‌ it is paired with.

According to Apple's release notes, watchOS 9.3 adds new features, improvements and bug fixes. It specifically introduces the Unity Mosaic watch face, offered to celebrate Black History Month.

Related Roundup: watchOS 26
Related Forum: Apple Watch

Popular Stories

iphone 17 models

No iPhone 18 Launch This Year, Reports Suggest

Thursday January 1, 2026 8:43 am PST by
Apple is not expected to release a standard iPhone 18 model this year, according to a growing number of reports that suggest the company is planning a significant change to its long-standing annual iPhone launch cycle. Despite the immense success of the iPhone 17 in 2025, the iPhone 18 is not expected to arrive until the spring of 2027, leaving the iPhone 17 in the lineup as the latest...
duolingo ad live activity

Duolingo Used iPhone's Dynamic Island to Display Ads, Violating Apple Design Guidelines

Friday January 2, 2026 1:36 pm PST by
Language learning app Duolingo has apparently been using the iPhone's Live Activity feature to display ads on the Lock Screen and the Dynamic Island, which violates Apple's design guidelines. According to multiple reports on Reddit, the Duolingo app has been displaying an ad for a "Super offer," which is Duolingo's paid subscription option. Apple's guidelines for Live Activity state that...
Clicks Communicator Feature

'Clicks Communicator' Unveiled — Will You Carry This With Your iPhone?

Friday January 2, 2026 6:35 am PST by
The company behind the BlackBerry-like Clicks Keyboard accessory for the iPhone today unveiled a new Android 16 smartphone called the Clicks Communicator. The purpose-built device is designed to be used as a second phone alongside your iPhone, with the intended focus being communication over content consumption. It runs a custom Android launcher that offers a curated selection of messaging...
apple intelligence black

Report: Apple's AI Strategy Could Finally Pay Off in 2026

Tuesday December 30, 2025 9:01 am PST by
Apple's restrained artificial intelligence strategy may pay off in 2026 amid the arrival of a revamped Siri and concerns around the AI market "bubble" bursting, The Information argues. The speculative report notes that Apple has taken a restrained approach with AI innovations compared with peers such as OpenAI, Google, and Meta, which are investing hundreds of billions of dollars in data...
Low Cost MacBook Feature A18 Pro

Low-Price 12.9-Inch MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Reportedly Launching Early This Year

Friday January 2, 2026 9:08 am PST by
Apple plans to introduce a 12.9-inch MacBook in spring 2026, according to TrendForce. In a press release this week, the Taiwanese research firm said this MacBook will be aimed at the entry-level to mid-range market, with "competitive pricing." TrendForce did not share any further details about this MacBook, but the information that it shared lines up with several rumors about a more...
apple fitness 2026 1

Apple Teases 'Something Big' Coming Soon to Apple Fitness+

Tuesday December 30, 2025 2:11 pm PST by
The Apple Fitness+ Instagram account today teased that the service has "big plans" for 2026. In a video, several Apple Fitness+ trainers are shown holding up newspapers with headlines related to Apple Fitness+. What's Apple Fitness+ Planning for the New Year? Something Big is Coming to Apple Fitness+ The Countdown Begins. Apple Fitness+ 2026 is Almost Here 2026 Plans Still Under ...
Apple Fitness Plus hero

Apple Announces New Fitness+ Workout Programs, Strava Challenge, and More

Friday January 2, 2026 6:43 am PST by
Apple today announced a number of updates to Apple Fitness+ and activity with the Apple Watch. The key announcements include: New Year limited-edition award: Users can win the award by closing all three Activity Rings for seven days in a row in January. "Quit Quitting" Strava challenge: Available in Strava throughout January, users who log 12 workouts anytime in the month will win an ...
Mac Pro Feature Blue

What's Happening With the Mac Pro?

Wednesday December 31, 2025 9:59 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Mac Pro since 2023, and according to recent rumors, there's no update coming in the near future. In fact, Apple might be finished with the Mac Pro. Bloomberg recently said that the Mac Pro is "on the back burner" and has been "largely written off" by Apple. Apple apparently views the more compact Mac Studio as the ideal high-end pro-level desktop, and it has almost...

Top Rated Comments

mattrva Avatar
39 months ago

So apparently, when you delete an iMessage or text from your watch it also deletes it from your phone. I thought this was purposely excluded from syncing and not a bug. I hope this is a feature you can toddle on or off. I want to be able to delete messages from my watch storage without it effecting my phone.
That seems like a fringe case. I'd venture to guess that most users want the watch messages and phone messages to be in sync.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
surfzen21 Avatar
39 months ago
So apparently, when you delete an iMessage or text from your watch it also deletes it from your phone. I thought this was purposely excluded from syncing and not a bug. I hope this is a feature you can toddle on or off. I want to be able to delete messages from my watch storage without it effecting my phone.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
twistedpixel8 Avatar
39 months ago
Does this fix Siri being unbelievably slow to respond? I remember getting instant responses on my S6 when I bought it but iOS 9 she now takes forever to reply, almost as if she’s crashed.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
QuarterSwede Avatar
39 months ago

So apparently, when you delete an iMessage or text from your watch it also deletes it from your phone. I thought this was purposely excluded from syncing and not a bug. I hope this is a feature you can toddle on or off. I want to be able to delete messages from my watch storage without it effecting my phone.
Definitely not me. I’ve been wanting sync for years, for my professional sanity at least.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
wbeasley Avatar
39 months ago
Anyone else noticed their Series 5 has a lot less battery life after the latest updates?

Used to easily get thru a day. Not heavy usage. Now get the low battery warning around 7pm. ;(

I have done a power cycle and not sure if that fixed anything.
Other options? (Besides new battery up buying a new one hahaha).
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CNebs Avatar
39 months ago

Anyone else noticed their Series 5 has a lot less battery life after the latest updates?

Used to easily get thru a day. Not heavy usage. Now get the low battery warning around 7pm. ;(

I have done a power cycle and not sure if that fixed anything.
Other options? (Besides new battery up buying a new one hahaha).
Have you tried to unpair and then repair?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)