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watchOS 27 introduces two documented apps to Apple Watch: Siri and Readiness. Apple also brings Find Devices, Find People, and Find Items together in a redesigned Find My app, but that is a consolidation of existing functions—not a third new service. Whether you can use each feature depends on your watch model, iPhone, language, and region.

What’s new in watchOS 27?

Siri: continue conversations from your wrist

The dedicated Siri app lets you start or continue conversations. You can resume a conversation begun on iPhone, pin conversations, or start a new one from Apple Watch. Apple describes Siri AI as beta, powered by Apple Intelligence. It is initially rolling out in English, usage limits may apply, and the feature requires an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone and a supported-language setup. Apple says it is not initially available in the EU on iOS and watchOS. Apple’s watchOS 27 guide describes the feature and its limitations.

Readiness: a score for balancing effort and rest

The Readiness app gives a score intended to help you decide when to push yourself and when to rest. Apple lists it for Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 only. A watch that can install watchOS 27 does not necessarily support Readiness.

Find My: existing tools brought together

Find Devices, Find People, and Find Items are consolidated into the Find My app, with a map-centric view. This changes how existing locating functions are grouped; Apple does not describe it as a separate new service.

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#1 Best Overall
Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant
  • A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
  • KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
  • GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
  • SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
  • A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.

Which Apple Watch models support watchOS 27?

Apple lists these compatible models: Apple Watch SE 3; Series 9, 10, 11, and 12; and Ultra 2, 3, and 4. Installation also requires an iPhone 11 or later, or iPhone SE (2nd generation or later), running iOS 27. See Apple’s watchOS 27 overview for its compatibility and availability details.

Feature Compatible watch models stated by Apple Additional requirements or limits
Siri app and Siri AI Apple does not specify a separate model list in the cited feature description; watchOS 27 compatibility alone does not establish access to Siri AI. Requires an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone and supported-language setup. Initially English; not initially available in the EU on iOS and watchOS. Usage limits may apply.
Readiness Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 Not listed for other watchOS 27-compatible models.
Find My consolidation Apple does not state a separate model list for this change. Brings Find Devices, Find People, and Find Items into Find My.

Apple cautions that feature availability can vary by area, language, and model. Check the feature-specific requirements rather than relying only on the watchOS compatibility list. Apple’s guide also says some health features—including additional daytime vitals and a real-time heart-rate chart—are specific to Series 12 and Ultra 4.

Rank #2
Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Rose Gold Aluminum Case with Light Blush Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant
  • A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
  • KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
  • GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
  • SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
  • A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.

Other notable watchOS 27 changes

  • App grid: A dynamic grid highlights popular and recently used apps.
  • Smart Stack: A single-hand tap gesture can select widgets.
  • Workout Buddy: Insights can be used over Wi-Fi or cellular without the paired iPhone nearby.
  • Workouts: Treadmill distance is improved, and extended workout modes are designed to conserve power.
  • Music recognition: Shazam can identify songs offline through the Smart Stack and Music Recognition app.
  • Cycle Tracking: The Health app on iPhone adds support related to perimenopause and menopause.

Apple’s watchOS 27 update notes, published September 23, 2026, also report bug fixes, including a fix for an issue that could cause Apple Watch to restart unexpectedly.

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Should you upgrade for the new apps?

If you already own a compatible watch, the update does not by itself create a need to buy new hardware. The key model-specific question is Readiness: Apple identifies Series 12 and Ultra 4 as supported. Siri AI has separate iPhone, language, and regional conditions, while Find My is a reorganization of locating tools you may already use.

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Best Value
Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant
  • A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
  • KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
  • GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
  • SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
  • A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
Rank #4
Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant
  • GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
  • A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
  • KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
  • WOMEN’S HEALTH INSIGHTS—SE 3 has advanced sensors that track your wrist temperature while you sleep. With this smartwatch, you can log your periods and symptoms, get period predictions, and get notified of cycle deviations.*
  • GREAT BATTERY LIFE AND FASTER CHARGING—Enjoy a smartwatch with all-day, 18-hour battery life* from sunup to sundown. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just 15 minutes.*
Rank #3
Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant
  • GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
  • A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
  • KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
  • WOMEN’S HEALTH INSIGHTS—SE 3 has advanced sensors that track your wrist temperature while you sleep. With this smartwatch, you can log your periods and symptoms, get period predictions, and get notified of cycle deviations.*
  • GREAT BATTERY LIFE AND FASTER CHARGING—Enjoy a smartwatch with all-day, 18-hour battery life* from sunup to sundown. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just 15 minutes.*

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