Apple Seeds watchOS 27 Beta 2 to Developers

Tuesday June 23, 2026 11:18 am PDT by Juli Clover

Apple today seeded the second beta of watchOS 27 to developers, with the update coming two weeks after the launch of the first beta.

The beta can be downloaded through the Watch app on the iPhone with a free developer account. The Apple Watch will need to be on the charger, connected to Wi-Fi, and have a battery level of 50 percent or above for new software to be installed. The beta is available for all Apple Watch models compatible with ‌watchOS 27‌ except for the Apple Watch Ultra 3.

‌watchOS 27‌ will include Siri AI, the smarter, more capable version of ‌Siri‌. ‌Siri‌ can hold back-and-forth conversations, plus it has access to general world knowledge and your personal data to answer questions and find information. ‌Siri‌ AI on Apple Watch requires an iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence, including the iPhone 15 Pro and later.

There's a new Dynamic app grid that highlights ‌Siri‌ suggested apps, and more intuitive Smart Stack Suggestions. You can find your parked car, see pinned messages, get noise alerts, and view identity and transit cards.

Liquid Glass has been updated to improve legibility, and Workout Buddy works on the Apple Watch even when an iPhone isn't nearby. Workout Buddy also gains new metrics like progressive increases to distance, pace, or duration. Apple added a new all-in-one Find My app with support for Precision Finding, and there are performance optimizations that improve battery life.

More on what's new in ‌watchOS 27‌ is available in our watchOS 27 roundup.

Related Roundups: watchOS 26, watchOS 27

Related Forum: Apple Watch

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Top Rated Comments

IIGS User

16 weeks ago

I hope they let older EU-devices use the version 27 since AI is blocked anyway. My original Watch Ultra is still so capable but Siri AI it does not need. However everything else would be nice.

Oh, you sweet summer child. Apple doesn't get you to buy a new watch by making that Watch OS upgrade available to you just because the other AI features aren't.

There's no doubt Apple COULD make a version of Watch OS 27 that doesn't include the AI features and make it available to just people in the EU, but that's not the play.

See if it's available to you in the EU, they have to make it available to people elsewhere, and that doesn't fit the planned obsolescence model that Tim Cook is pushing as he heads for the exits.

Shame on Apple. The Ultra 1 should obviously be supported longer than it has. And security updates with no OS update falls short. Especially for an $800 wearable that's only at the longest 4 years old.

I like Apple products. I'll buy a new iPhone this year and all that. But I'm pretty sure my Ultra 1 is my last Apple Watch. I'll go back to my old Citizen watch I don't have to charge. Ever.

Every time I see this thing on my wrist, I feel like a sucker. That's not the emotional response you want to give customers who purchase your most expensive items.

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Ament

16 weeks ago

AWU3 is omitted.

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)