watchOS 5
watchOS 5 compatible devices
| Device Name | SOC | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 4 | S4 | 2018-09-21 |
| Apple Watch Series 3 | S3 | 2017-09-22 |
| Apple Watch Series 2 | S2 | 2016-09-16 |
| Apple Watch Series 1 | S1P | 2016-09-12 |
Requirements
watchOS 5 requires an iPhone 5s or later running iOS 12 or newer.
Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) and Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS + Cellular) require an iPhone 6 or later running iOS 12 or later.
Users with an Apple Watch Series 1 or Apple Watch Series 2 paired with an iPhone 5 or iPhone 5c cannot update their watches to watchOS 5.
Exploring watchOS 5: What's New and Exciting?
watchOS 5, released in September 2018, introduced a range of new features and enhancements to improve the functionality and user experience of the Apple Watch.
Competitions and Activity Tracking
One of the significant additions in watchOS 5 was the introduction of Activity Competitions. Users could challenge friends to seven-day fitness competitions, earning points based on the percentage of Activity rings they closed. This feature aimed to motivate users to stay active through friendly competition and personalized notifications.
Auto-Workout Detection
watchOS 5 introduced auto-workout detection, which could identify when a user started a workout and suggest starting the appropriate workout in the Workout app. It also offered reminders to end workouts if the watch detected that the user had stopped exercising.
New Workouts
The update added new workout types, including Yoga and Hiking, with custom calorie and exercise tracking to provide more accurate metrics for these activities.
Walkie-Talkie App
A notable new communication feature was the Walkie-Talkie app, which allowed users to engage in quick voice conversations with other Apple Watch users. This feature worked over both Wi-Fi and cellular networks, providing a convenient way to stay in touch.
Podcast App
watchOS 5 introduced a dedicated Podcasts app, enabling users to stream their favorite podcasts directly from their wrist. The app synced with the Podcasts app on iPhone, making it easy to continue listening across devices. Streaming requires Apple Watch Series 3 or later.
Siri Updates
Siri became more intelligent with watchOS 5, featuring the new Siri watch face that displayed proactive shortcuts and personalized information throughout the day. Users could also interact with Siri by raising their wrist and speaking directly, without needing to say "Hey Siri". Raise to Speak requires Apple Watch Series 3 or later.
Improved Notifications and Web Content
Notifications were enhanced to be more interactive, allowing users to perform actions directly from the notification. Additionally, watchOS 5 supported viewing web content through WebKit, enabling users to see limited web pages when receiving links in Messages or Mail.
Enhanced Health and Fitness APIs
Developers received new APIs for creating richer health and fitness experiences. These included background audio capabilities for apps like meditation and workout guidance, and new motion data for tracking specific activities more accurately.
Legacy
watchOS 5 significantly expanded the capabilities of the Apple Watch, enhancing fitness tracking, communication, and user interaction. These updates positioned the Apple Watch as a more integral part of users' daily lives, supporting a wide range of activities and interactions.