watchOS 2
watchOS 2 compatible devices
| Device Name | SOC | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch (1st generation) | S1 | 2015-04-24 |
Requirements
watchOS 2 requires an iPhone 5 or later running iOS 9 or later.
Exploring watchOS 2: What's New and Exciting?
watchOS 2, released in September 2015, brought a wealth of new features and enhancements to the Apple Watch.
New Watch Faces
watchOS 2 introduced new watch faces, including time-lapse videos of iconic locations like Hong Kong, London, and New York, and the ability to set a favorite photo or photo album as a watch face. These new faces added a personal and dynamic touch to the Apple Watch.
Time Travel
One of the standout features was Time Travel, which allowed users to turn the Digital Crown to see events from the past, present, and future. This feature was particularly useful for viewing upcoming appointments, weather forecasts, and other complications directly on the watch face.
Nightstand Mode
Nightstand Mode turned the Apple Watch into a bedside alarm clock when placed on its side while charging. The Digital Crown and side button acted as snooze and off buttons for alarms, respectively, making it a convenient feature for nighttime use.
Native Apps
With watchOS 2, apps could run natively on the Apple Watch, improving performance and allowing greater access to the device's hardware features like the Taptic Engine, Digital Crown, accelerometer, heart rate sensor, speaker, and microphone. This enabled more powerful and responsive apps, such as Facebook Messenger, GoPro, and iTranslate.
Enhanced Communication
The update brought the ability to reply to emails directly from the watch using voice dictation, emojis, and preset responses. Additionally, the Friends feature was expanded, allowing users to add multiple Friends screens, each holding up to 12 contacts, and organize them into groups.
Tetherless Wi-Fi and Transit Information
watchOS 2 introduced tetherless Wi-Fi, allowing the Apple Watch to connect to known Wi-Fi networks without needing to be paired with an iPhone. It also added transit information to the Maps app, providing detailed schedules and directions for public transportation in select cities.
Improved Siri and Activation Lock
Siri became more versatile, capable of starting specific workouts, checking glances, getting transit information, looking up words, and calculating tips. Activation Lock was introduced to enhance security, requiring the user's Apple ID and password to activate the watch if it was ever lost or stolen.
Legacy
watchOS 2 built on the foundation of the original watchOS, introducing significant enhancements that improved the usability, personalization, and functionality of the Apple Watch. These updates positioned the Apple Watch as a more capable and indispensable device for daily use.