watchOS 3
watchOS 3 compatible devices
| Device Name | SOC | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 2 | S2 | 2016-09-16 |
| Apple Watch Series 1 | S1P | 2016-09-12 |
| Apple Watch (1st generation) | S1 | 2015-04-24 |
Requirements
watchOS 3 requires an iPhone 5 or later running iOS 10 or later.
Exploring watchOS 3: What's New and Exciting?
watchOS 3, released in September 2016, brought a range of new features and enhancements to the Apple Watch, focusing on performance improvements, new watch faces, and enhanced health and fitness tracking.
Performance and Navigation Improvements
watchOS 3 significantly improved app performance, making apps launch up to seven times faster than before. The new Dock, accessible via the side button, allowed users to quickly access favorite and recently used apps, replacing the previous Glances feature. This change, combined with background app refresh, ensured that information was always up-to-date and easily accessible.
New Watch Faces and Customization
The update introduced several new watch faces, including Minnie Mouse, Activity, and Numerals. Users could also customize watch faces more easily with the new Face Gallery in the Apple Watch app on iPhone. This gallery allowed users to personalize watch faces with various complications, colors, and styles.
Health and Fitness Enhancements
watchOS 3 brought significant enhancements to the Activity and Workout apps. The new Activity Sharing feature enabled users to share and compare their activity rings with friends and family, fostering motivation through social engagement. The update also introduced the Breathe app, which encouraged users to take short breathing sessions throughout the day, promoting mindfulness and relaxation.
SOS and Safety Features
A major safety feature introduced in watchOS 3 was SOS. By holding down the side button, users could quickly call emergency services, notify their emergency contacts, and share their location. This feature worked both over Wi-Fi and when connected to an iPhone, providing a reliable way to seek help in emergencies.
Improved Communication
watchOS 3 made communication more expressive with new features in the Messages app, including stickers, handwriting, full-screen effects, and invisible ink. The update also introduced Scribble, allowing users to write responses on the watch screen, which were then converted to text.
Enhanced Accessibility
The update included improvements for wheelchair users, such as tracking wheelchair-specific workouts and replacing the "time to stand" reminder with "time to roll." These enhancements ensured that the Apple Watch was more inclusive and catered to a wider range of users.
Legacy
watchOS 3 marked a significant upgrade from previous versions, focusing on performance, usability, and health tracking. These improvements positioned the Apple Watch as an even more integral part of users' daily lives, paving the way for future innovations.