5 features users want to see in watchOS 11

Although Apple adds a number of new features to its annual watchOS updates, those advanced health sensors are still not being exploited to their full potential.

This year is the Apple Watch's 10th birthday, and hopefully we'll see a major new hardware upgrade along with top-notch software on the device. These are the 5 watchOS 11 features users want to see in 2024.

1. Programmable side button

The first feature users want to see in watchOS 11 is a programmable side button. Since Apple launched watchOS 10, it has changed the way users can access Control Center & App Switcher. It immediately received a lot of negative reviews. Users are confused about how to access Control Center in watchOS 10. In fact, many users do not welcome this change. Of course, users will not like Apple interfering with their long-established habits.

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Apple Watch Ultra and Apple Watch Ultra 2 have an additional programmable Action button. But the standard Apple Watch line lacks this feature. Instead of moving functionality through side buttons, swipes, and the Digital Crown, it would be nice to have a programmable side button on the Apple Watch.

2. Redesigned Nightstand mode with AOD

The other watchOS 11 feature users want to see is the all-new Nightstand mode. Since its inception, the Apple Watch has had a monotonous Nightstand mode, showing only a red/green battery icon, a digital clock, and upcoming alarms. Hopefully the 2024 Apple Watch update will bring a brand new customizable Nightstand mode.

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Continuing, users want watchOS 11 to add Always-On functionality to the Apple Watch's Nightstand mode. Currently, Nightstand mode is activated when Apple Watch is charging. The screen stays on for a few seconds and then turns off automatically until you touch the screen again. With watchOS 11, Apple should add an Always-On Nightstand mode to always display information that can be viewed at a glance.

Since Apple Watch Series 5 and later have the Always On feature, combining it with Nightstand mode won't be a problem. After all, when these smartwatches can handle AOD when it's on your wrist, why can't they do it when connected to a charger?

3. Deeper and easier to understand understanding of health

Apple Watch and watchOS have evolved over the years. However, they lack some advanced features that should have been available by now. Additionally, the Apple Watch provides cluttered information that is difficult for the average user to understand. Sometimes, there is so much information crammed in that the user cannot even decipher on that small screen. Hopefully watchOS 11 makes things smoother and easier.

Users are keen to see the following health features in watchOS 11.

Better sleep tracking

Apple introduced sleep tracking with watchOS 8 and improved it significantly in watchOS 9. However, Apple is still behind the competition when it comes to sleep tracking. Apple Watch gives you detailed information about different sleep stages, along with resting heart rate and respiratory rate. However, is this tracking smart enough? If you don't have a consistent bedtime and wake-up routine, you won't get accurate data. Additionally, current sleep tracking in Apple Watch doesn't account for naps and rest periods because these don't occur during the night's sleep schedule.

Hopefully watchOS 11 brings smarter sleep tracking that automatically adjusts to the user's habits and provides better insight into whether the user is sleeping properly.

Monitor stress and anxiety

Mental health is equally, if not more important than physical health. Stress and anxiety affect overall health.

It can hinder our ability to be our best emotionally, mentally, and physically. While the Apple Watch can track your fitness levels using the Activity app, it doesn't have any solid mechanisms for tracking mental health. Hopefully watchOS 11 can detect stress and anxiety levels and alert users in case of high stress. It will also show you how to calm down.

While you can find a number of third-party watchOS apps that can track stress levels, I longed for a built-in function that offered a more comprehensive view.

AI-generated health summary

Users are extremely excited about the upcoming iOS 18 and smarter 'Siri 2.0' based on Generative AI. With that in mind, it would be great if watchOS 11 takes advantage of AI and provides easy-to-understand health insights. Currently, Apple Watch provides information in the form of charts and reports. However, they are not easy to understand.

The AI-generated health summary feature in watchOS 11 will provide an easy-to-understand summary that covers all the essentials without any jargon. Imagine how easy it would be to understand ECG graphs and ultra-long sleep monitoring reports. Even better, you can ask Siri to show you a summary of your sleep or workout.

4. Quick access to step count

There is one thing that many users do not like about the Apple Watch, which is the complicated access to step count. Why do I have to go to the Activity app every time I want to see my steps? Of course, it won't be a problem for those who don't track steps or only do it occasionally. However, for someone who wants to see those numbers dozens of times a day to track their step goal, this is definitely a headache.

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Hopefully Apple will eliminate these annoyances with quick access to step counts in watchOS 11.

5. Watch face shop

A watch face store should definitely be on every Apple Watch user's wish list. It's been nearly a decade since Apple launched its smartwatch line, and users still have to get used to first-party watch faces. The need for third-party watch faces has been talked about since 2015 when the Apple Watch 1 was released. To satisfy users, Apple should add some new watch faces with each watchOS release.

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It would be interesting if users could add a function to the watch face or if watchOS suggests some useful functions about usage habits or the applications users use most on their smartwatches. .

Jessica Tanner

Update 29 February 2024