Apple's preview of watchOS 9 includes several new watch faces and features.
WatchOS 11: Best New Apple Watch Features to Try
Starting with those watch faces, watchOS 9 will add four options to the currently available selection list. Lunar will display a lunar calendar, Playtime is a dynamic work of art designed by Joi Fulton, and Astronomy uses an updated star map and displays up-to-date cloud information. Finally, there’s Metropolitan, which has a sort of art deco style with a display that can be customized via the Digital Crown.
The Workout app is getting an update with the ability to rotate between workout views using the Digital Crown, and a new Heart Rate Zones monitoring feature that can track workout intensity. Custom workouts are also being added for more personalized structure, and new alerts for different stats can be set to go off at certain points during a session. You'll also be able to track more running metrics, including stride length, ground contact time and vertical oscillation, to help study efficiency.
Sleep tracking is also improving, with the ability to determine REM, core, or deep sleep stages, while the Apple Watch itself can display more sleep metrics on its screen. And while the Apple Watch is already able to monitor a user’s ECG and has helped those with atrial fibrillation (AFib), it can now also keep track of AFib history. Once cleared by the FDA, the feature can keep a close eye on users’ heart conditions and provide notifications and alerts. Data can also be saved as a PDF and easily shared with a doctor.
