Ever since its inception back in 2015, watchOS has come a long way. From being a rather slow-moving OS to becoming a feature-packed offering, watchOS has become a seamless companion for Apple Watch in more ways than one. But that does not suggest watchOS 7 has ticked off all the boxes. There are still a lot of areas where the operating system can better itself. Besides, there are also quite a few pain points that Apple needs to address sooner than later. And with WWDC 2021 confirmed for June later this year, here are all the features I wish to see in watchOS 8.
What may seem unnecessary to many might be a must-have pick for some. And what may appear to be fascinating to many might seem to be superfluous to some. So, do not be surprised if you find my list of much-awaited watchOS 8 features either far-fetched or unnecessary.
- A Full-Fledged Browser
- Customizable Always-On-Display
- Native Apple Notes App
- Face/Touch ID for Apple Watch
- Support for Complications in Control Center
- Under-Screen Camera (Hardware-Specific)
- Sound Recognition Notifications
- Ability to Multitask During Phone Call
- Apple Watch Models Compatible with watchOS 8
- watchOS 8 Release Date
1. A Full-Fledged Browser
Even though I’m not a big fan of browsing the web on the Apple Watch, there are times where I feel the need to have a handy browser available on the wrist. Especially when my iPhone is stowed away in my bag or if I’m on a crowded metro train.
When there is so much emphasis on making Apple Watch independent, the absence of a browser seems hard to explain. While you can browse on the Apple Watch through a smart trick (send yourself an iMessage with a link to Google and then open it), it’s not something that I always look for.
The always-on display is one of my favorite Apple Watch features (available on Apple Watch Series 5 and 6). What I love the most about it is the ability to keep track of time and have your watch face and the most recent app at your disposal at all times.
I would like to have the ability to select a handful of watch faces that I can automatically cycle through on the always-on display. Besides, the option to show your favorite apps instead of just the recently used app would also be cool.
Have you ever felt the need to jot down your ideas right on your Apple Watch while being on the go and become disappointed to find that there is no native notes app for watchOS? I don’t know about you, but it has happened to me quite a few times.
4. Face/Touch ID for Apple Watch
While Touch/Face ID for Apple Watch might seem to be too far-fetched in 2021, I have never made peace with entering passcode time and time again on a tiny watch screen. So, it has been on my radar for a long time.
5. Support for Complications in Control Center
Control Center hasn’t seen much improvement for a while. Barring a few basic customizations like adding/removing features, the watchOS control center doesn’t have much to offer. One of the best ways Apple can revamp the control center in watchOS 8 is by adding support for complications.
Based on a patent titled “Electronic devices with two-stage displays,” Apple is exploring the possibility of embedding an under-display camera on the Apple Watch. According to Patently Apple, the technology works by layering a pixel array for showing images and an outer layer featuring an array of light modulator cells that can either block light or become transparent. Image credit: AppleInsider
With the embedded camera and flash within the display, Apple Watch could finally become a handy wrist-worn video communication tool. While I don’t think it’s going to be a reality anytime soon, I will keep my fingers crossed for it to arrive with Apple Watch 7/ watchOS 8.
The “sound recognition” feature may not be among the major highlights of iOS 14, but it remains a notable pick for me for more than one reason. First and foremost, it alerts the users about noises they may not be able to hear. Folks with hearing disability can take advantage of this feature to remain aware of the surrounding.
Whenever you receive a call on your Apple Watch, it brings multitasking to a halt. I don’t really like this behavior, and I bet I’m not the only one who despises it. As Apple has sorted it out by introducing a compact incoming call notification in iOS 14, doing the same favor to watchOS 8 shouldn’t be a big deal.
Now, if you are wondering whether your Apple Watch will get the watchOS 8 update or not, check out the list of compatible devices below:
For those unaware, watchOS 7 is compatible with Apple Watch Series 3 and onwards. The Cupertino giant is known for its extensive software support. So if I take a guess, watchOS 8 will be compatible with the same watches as watchOS 7. Apple Watch Series 3 (which is still available to buy in the Apple Store) might get one final update this year before being removed from the list next year.
watchOS 8 will be unveiled on 7th June, which is when Apple will organize its developer conference, WWDC 2021. The company will release a beta build for developers on the same day, with a beta build for general users coming a few months later.
