Fahad X 6/26/26 Fahad X 6/26/26

A thinner Apple Watch Ultra 4 would be a regression.

With the alleged release of an Apple Watch Ultra 4 this Fall, it begs the question:

Should we expect a full redesign or just a more optimized watch like the 3 generations before it? No one knows, but if Apple does go the thinner route, that would be a huge step backwards in my opinion.

Everyone wants more battery life out of their Apple Watch, and people have even higher expectations with Apple Watch Ultra. The Ultra is branded and marketed as the ultimate sports and fitness tracker, and nothing matters more to athletes than great performance and better battery life. It’s already huge and bulky, so why try to make it a sleeker device when the regular Apple Watch does that very well?

Apple already trifurcated the Apple Watch lineup (SE, Series, Ultra), and have made each distinct from one another just like with iPhone 17, iPhone Air, and iPhone 17 Pro. The value-packed, budget Apple Watch SE is the iPhone 17, the thinner, sexier Apple Watch Series 11 is the iPhone Air, and Apple Watch Ultra is the iPhone 17 Pro - beefy, powerful, feature-rich, no holds barred.

I’m not asking for a thicker watch - just keep it the same thickness, and give us more battery life. Chips will inevitably get smaller, more powerful, and more efficient, leaving more space for battery. And for the love of God Apple, please fix the software experience. My Ultra 3 should not be more sluggish than my Series 10.

With the alleged release of an Apple Watch Ultra 4 this Fall, it begs the question:

Fahad X 6/22/26 Fahad X 6/22/26

The 1st-generation Apple Watch Ultra was on the chopping block the day it was released because of its processor.

Although people are frustrated with the lack of support for watchOS 27 on older watches, you have to realize how Apple cycles its Apple Watch processor upgrades. Matt Popovich sums it up quite well:

Apple watch’s main upgrade happens every ~3 years whenever the processor (SiP = System in Package) gets upgraded:
~S4 SiP = Series 4, 5, SE
~S6 SiP = Series 6, 7, 8, SE2, Ultra
~S9 SiP = Series 9, 10, 11, SE3, Ultra 2, Ultra 3
Even though Apple has an S6, S7, and S8 SiP, each one of those have the same CPU and are thus basically the same chip, just renamed. So you won’t see much (if any) performance difference between them.
The takeaway from this is if you’re going to get, for example, a series 5, you’re better off getting a series 6. If you’re going to get a series 8, you’re better off getting a 9. It’s only a one year jump in watch but a ~3 year jump in processor. The processor will be faster and the watch will be supported with software updates for a few years longer.

Knowing these facts, the 1st-generation Ultra debuted with an S8 chip alongside the Series 8 and SE2, and doesn’t meet Apple’s performance standards for running watchOS 27 because it is an S6 chip at the end of the day. Think of it from this perspective - Apple Watch Ultra will be 4 years old this Fall, but its processor will be 6 years old.

The other thing to note is a new chip is released a year before Apple redesigns its mainstream Series numbered watch, starting with the S6 chip:

Faster S6 chip with Series 6 in 2020 - redesigned Series 7 watch in 2021
Faster S9 chip with Series 9 in 2023 - redesigned Series 10 watch in 2024
Faster S12 chip with Series 12 in 2026 - redesigned Series 13 watch in 2027

I like this pattern because each design of the Apple Watch ends its design cycle with the best possible processor at the time. Also note that the S10 chip in the Series 10 was followed by…an S10 chip in the Series 11 and Ultra 3. Apple didn’t even bother to rename the chip because it’s literally the same chip.

The S12 chip is only a prediction, but it makes perfect sense because Siri AI is going to be processor intensive, and Apple Watch needs an upgraded processor designed around Siri AI to sustain the next 3+ years of updates. The S9 and S10 chips are going to support Siri AI, but remember - Apple hasn’t shipped Siri AI for Apple Watch yet, nor demoed it, and currently Apple says it will be ready “later this year.”

I fully expect Apple to ship Siri AI on Apple Watch as promised since they don’t want to go through another Siri debacle, but if you want the best possible version of Siri AI, it will be on the next generation of watches.

Although people are frustrated with the lack of support for watchOS 27 on older watches, you have to realize how Apple cycles its Apple Watch processor upgrades. Matt Popovich sums it up quite well:

Apple watch’s main upgrade happens every ~3 years whenever the processor (SiP = System in Package) gets upgraded:
~S4 SiP = Series 4, 5, SE
~S6 SiP = Series 6, 7, 8, SE2, Ultra
~S9 SiP = Series 9, 10, 11, SE3, Ultra 2, Ultra 3
Even though Apple has an S6, S7, and S8 SiP, each one of those have the same CPU and are thus basically the same chip, just renamed. So you won’t see much (if any) performance difference between them.
The takeaway from this is if you’re going to get, for example, a series 5, you’re better off getting a series 6. If you’re going to get a series 8, you’re better off getting a 9. It’s only a one year jump in watch but a ~3 year jump in processor. The processor will be faster and the watch will be supported with software updates for a few years longer.

The other thing to note is a new chip is released a year before Apple redesigns its mainstream Series numbered watch, starting with the S6 chip:

Faster S6 chip with Series 6 in 2020 - redesigned Series 7 watch in 2021
Faster S9 chip with Series 9 in 2023 - redesigned Series 10 watch in 2024
Faster S12 chip with Series 12 in 2026 - redesigned Series 13 watch in 2027

Fahad X 6/21/26 Fahad X 6/21/26

Apple Watch ultimate comparison chart.

Apple only allows you to compare 3 watches side-by-side, but if you really want to compare more watches together with more detail, check out this extremely detailed spreadsheet by Matt Popovich.

I was wondering how on line 40 he got those numbers for estimated processor performance, but what he did was take Apple’s typical statement from each keynote where the new processor is up to whatever percent faster than the previous generation, and just did the math.

One correction though - the S1P and S2 chip had the same processor speed, so the math leading to the current S10 chip would make the S10 chip up to 8x faster than the original Apple Watch, not 12x.

Apple only allows you to compare 3 watches side-by-side, but if you really want to compare more watches together with more detail, check out this extremely detailed spreadsheet by Matt Popovich.

One correction though - the S1P and S2 chip had the same processor speed, so the math leading to the current S10 chip would make the S10 chip up to 8x faster than the original Apple Watch, not 12x.

Fahad X 6/19/26 Fahad X 6/19/26

Apple Watch shows you the disconnected, “red iPhone of death” in more places in watchOS 27.

I only saw it once, but I got receipts. When I went inside of my Messages app, I noticed the disconnected iPhone logo (aka the red iPhone of death). I opened multiple apps, and I saw the same logo next to the time. Looks like Apple did make it more prominent than before. Previously, the only way to see your iPhone connection status was in Control Center. In ancient times, it was on the watch face itself which is what I want, but this is a step in the right direction.

I couldn’t replicate this experience no matter what I did, and now it only shows the “red iPhone of death” in Control Center. Weird, but we’re still in Developer Beta 1 so I’m optimistic (my previous rant can be read here).

Fahad X 6/7/26 Fahad X 6/7/26

Weird but cool glitch on the Chronograph Pro watch face.

It’s just much easier to watch a video on this instead of me trying to explain it with words, but I will say:

Dear Apple, please turn this glitch into a feature.

Tiktok

Youtube

It’s just much easier to watch a video on this instead of me trying to explain it with words, but I will say:

Dear Apple, please turn this glitch into a feature.

Tiktok

Youtube

Fahad X 6/1/26 Fahad X 6/1/26

Apple Watch improvements I would like to see in watchOS 27.

WWDC is right around the corner, and there are quite a few Apple Watch niggles that need to be addressed. The good thing is this year has been unofficially dubbed, “the year of stability” for Apple software releases, and Apple Watch is definitely in need of stability and improvements. I’ve discussed them in detail in the past, but I’ll link all my wish list items below:

1. Smoother Swipe to Switch Watch Face

Still a broken experience that needs to go back to its watchOS 8 roots. You can see the difference between watchOS 8 and watchOS 10 onwards. It still looks like a beta feature in its current state. Notice how the time in watchOS 8 stays in sync and doesn’t have to refresh every, single, time you switch watch faces.

2. Dynamic watch face complications that utilize the 1 Hz refresh rate of the display

From a previous post:

To complicate things further, there are plenty of complications such as the digital time and digital seconds complications that would make this feature pop even more on the watch. Your always on display would look more realistic, with ticking “components” constantly updating every second without sacrificing battery life. That “magical” touch would sell more watches, because we are visual creatures, and to see the Apple Watch acting like an actual watch that ticks and doesn’t stop moving will blur the line between digital and traditional watch faces.
Watch enthusiasts will appreciate it even more, and won’t scoff (as much) at us digital watch wearers. They will still scoff at us when they notice its quartz-like movement, but appreciate the technological step forward and will purchase one, probably a more expensive model to boot.

3. A more apparent “Apple Watch is disconnected from your phone” icon.

Dear Apple, watchOS 8 would let us know immediately when our iPhone was disconnected from the watch - please bring that back.

4. General stability

My Ultra 3 and Series 10 are very slow and have slow frame rates when going into Control Center and when using the Digital Crown to scroll rapidly between watch faces. This is more apparent on my Ultra 3 even though I set it up from scratch to see if that would fix it, to no avail. Why is the experience on my Series 5, released almost 7 years ago, smoother than a brand new “Ultra” watch?

5. Better watch face representation in Smart Stack

All new watch faces in the last 2 years have had this update and older watch faces would benefit.

1. Smoother Swipe to Switch Watch Face

2. Dynamic watch face complications that utilize the 1 Hz refresh rate of the display

From a previous post:

To complicate things further, there are plenty of complications such as the digital time and digital seconds complications that would make this feature pop even more on the watch. Your always on display would look more realistic, with ticking “components” constantly updating every second without sacrificing battery life. That “magical” touch would sell more watches, because we are visual creatures, and to see the Apple Watch acting like an actual watch that ticks and doesn’t stop moving will blur the line between digital and traditional watch faces.
Watch enthusiasts will appreciate it even more, and won’t scoff (as much) at us digital watch wearers. They will still scoff at us when they notice its quartz-like movement, but appreciate the technological step forward and will purchase one, probably a more expensive model to boot.

3. A more apparent “Apple Watch is disconnected from your phone” icon.

Dear Apple, watchOS 8 would let us know immediately when our iPhone was disconnected from the watch - please bring that back.

4. General stability

5. Better watch face representation in Smart Stack

All new watch faces in the last 2 years have had this update and older watch faces would benefit.

Fahad X 5/24/26 Fahad X 5/24/26

Apple Watch independence for all?

Imthaz over at Volatile Inputs talking about his WWDC 2026 wishlist, ending with a banger:

The third thing is Apple Watch independence. Apple still considers the Watch an accessory to the iPhone, just like AirPods. But AirPods are not stuck to one device — you actually don’t even need an iPhone to use them. The Watch still doesn’t work that way. Last year I spent a while with an iPhone 13 Mini. The camera is what eventually pushed me away from it, but even when I considered carrying two phones, the Apple Watch killed the idea. It syncs to one phone. When I go to the gym I want a smaller device that keeps me connected. When I’m out, I want the best camera I can carry. Either the Watch intelligently switches between iPhones, or there should be something in Control Centre where you can pick which iPhone it’s paired to, the same way you switch audio output for AirPods. […]
Apple has the hardware and the ecosystem, the software just has to catch up.

I would love this feature, and to add to this, Apple Watch should also have Continuity with iPad showing you workout metrics like it does on iPhone. Sometimes you just need your iPad and your watch when working out and monitoring your metrics would be better on a bigger display while you catchup on some YouTube.

Imthaz over at Volatile Inputs talking about his WWDC 2026 wishlist, ending with a banger:

The third thing is Apple Watch independence. Apple still considers the Watch an accessory to the iPhone, just like AirPods. But AirPods are not stuck to one device — you actually don’t even need an iPhone to use them. The Watch still doesn’t work that way. Last year I spent a while with an iPhone 13 Mini. The camera is what eventually pushed me away from it, but even when I considered carrying two phones, the Apple Watch killed the idea. It syncs to one phone. When I go to the gym I want a smaller device that keeps me connected. When I’m out, I want the best camera I can carry. Either the Watch intelligently switches between iPhones, or there should be something in Control Centre where you can pick which iPhone it’s paired to, the same way you switch audio output for AirPods. […]
Apple has the hardware and the ecosystem, the software just has to catch up.

Fahad X 5/23/26 Fahad X 5/23/26

Modular Ultra watch face - how does it look on a regular Apple Watch?

I took some screenshots on my Apple Watch Ultra, put them on my regular Apple Watches, and I’m really impressed with how the Modular Ultra face looks and scales. When you choose the large time, the complications are the same size as the Modular watch face as discussed near the end of my previous piece, so you won’t notice a difference unless you use the bezel complication.

You can try it yourself with this process:

Save photos (linked below) to the Photos app and mark them as Favorite.
On Apple Watch, open the Photos app and scroll to Favorites.
Select the image and use the digital crown to fit the image to your display.

Images:

Here are photos using the smaller 40mm, 41mm, and 42mm Apple Watch sizes being sold today. 📓

You can try it yourself with this process:

Save photos (linked below) to the Photos app and mark them as Favorite.
On Apple Watch, open the Photos app and scroll to Favorites.
Select the image and use the digital crown to fit the image to your display.

Images:

Here are photos using the smaller 40mm, 41mm, and 42mm Apple Watch sizes being sold today.

*40mm* *Apple Watch Series 5 Ceramic* *- this is the same size as the current 3rd generation Apple Watch SE.*

*Retro analog nostalgia* *with this 41mm Apple Watch Series 9 - even on the smaller size, a maxed out Modular Ultra watch face is doable, but…*

*I prefer the large time with 6 complications to keep it simple.*

*42mm Series 10 in Slate Titanium. The complications do get pushed closer together when the bezel complication is active.*

Fahad X 5/21/26 Fahad X 5/21/26

The Modular Ultra watch face would be an upgrade for regular Apple Watch users, even when downgraded.

A new watch face for the standard Apple Watch that mimics the theme of the Modular Ultra watch face may be headed our way. From Mark Gurman’s Power On Newsletter a few weeks ago (quoted from MacRumors):

It has the same large clock as the Ultra face but removes the option for a big complication in the center, the row of three smaller complications above the time and information placed around the bezel. The result is a large clock that fills the top two-thirds of the display, with a row of three smaller complications beneath it.

Sounds unique, but a more useful watch face would be…📓

It has the same large clock as the Ultra face but removes the option for a big complication in the center, the row of three smaller complications above the time and information placed around the bezel. The result is a large clock that fills the top two-thirds of the display, with a row of three smaller complications beneath it.

Sounds unique, but a more useful watch face would be the Modular Ultra watch face the way it is.

Just keep it simple.

Most regular users will be delighted to have it since they probably don’t know about this watch face, and power users who prefer the more compact Apple Watches will also appreciate it.

It’s a win-win.

Having a maxed out Modular Ultra watch face does make things more claustrophobic, but the beauty is you can customize it how you want. If you can’t read the fine print, you can go bezel-less with the big time. If you have hawk eyes and can read the fine print, then more power to you.

Either way, it can’t be worse than the Photos watch face:

This messages complication is comically small. Who can actually read how many unread messages they have? 😅 pic.twitter.com/echnKWXqTM
— Fahadx (@onefahadx) August 7, 2025

Let’s say Apple does decide to downgrade the Modular Ultra for the normies and calls it “Modular Pro.” This watch face should have:

6 circle complications.
One clock size option (large time with or without seconds).
No bezel complication.

Apple’s current Modular watch face has 6 complications, but only 5 of them are truly customizable while the 6th one is destined to be a ‘date’ complication. That ‘date’ complication takes up a whole row of pixels that could easily allow space for um, you know, 3 more complications.

*Getting rid of the date complication on top would allow for 3 more complications and still plenty of space for a large digital clock.*

If you remove the bezel complication, the circle complications will be the same size as those on the Modular face, making size a non-issue.

Notice how the 3 complications on the bottom grow in size when you remove the bezel complication (middle). The complications are more spaced out as well, but not as much as the standard Modular complications (right).

*All of the different clock size options for Modular Ultra. The two middle options are a perfect upgrade for a new “Modular Pro” watch face.*

Fahad X 5/20/26 Fahad X 5/20/26

More Zenith font in Apple Watch Ultra please.

Interesting experiment from David Smith, developer of Widgetsmith, who created his own custom fonts for his Apple Watch Ultra complications. He wanted to match the aesthetic of the Ultra’s signature font referred to as Zenith.

It’s a nice, oxymoronic, minimalist Modular Ultra watch face.

Fahad X 4/19/26 Fahad X 4/19/26

How to share your Apple Watch face with others.

After yesterday’s advice, it only seems right to explain how to share your watch face with others:

Go to the Watch app.
Select the watch face you want to share.
Click on the Share icon.

After yesterday’s advice, it only seems right to explain how to share your watch face with others:

Go to the Watch app.
Select the watch face you want to share.
Click on the Share icon.

Fahad X 4/18/26 Fahad X 4/18/26

Maybe there is a way you can save your favorite Apple Watch face from being eliminated?

With watchOS 11, Apple discontinued several watch faces, the most notable one being the Explorer watch face. The cancelling continued with watchOS 26, with more (admittedly worth cancelling) watch faces that got burned and bit the dust. I’m not sure how Apple decides what faces to discontinue, but it has to be based on user preference. Apple has a ton of data on what Apple Watches are active, and they must know what watch faces are actively being used. There is probably a different metric for a watch face being active on your display, vs a watch face that is in your carousel of watch faces but isn’t actively being used. You made the watch face, but it rarely becomes your active watch face.

My guess is if you really want a particular Apple Watch face to live another year, make sure you’re actively using that watch face. If you want to go beyond the call of duty, you can share and promote that watch face to your friends, family, and even foes. The more people using it, the less likely it will be discontinued (at least that’s my theory).

In that regard, I’m evangelizing the Motion Watch face with the beautiful Jellyfish.

Fahad X 4/14/26 Fahad X 4/14/26

watchOS 27 feature request: more triple, bite-sized widgets in Smart Stack please.

Smart Stack is great, but it becomes a drag to scroll through all your widgets when you just need a lot of different info as quick as possible. I love the default triple widget, but can we get more than one as an option? I know it will eat into my total widget count, but I’m OK with 6 of my 10 widgets being tied up into 2 blocks.

There are other triple widgets such as alarms, messages, and even the weather widget, but I want the truly independent triple widget that is not a subset of a particular app. Ideally I would like 2 triple widgets that have the following:

Messages
Digital seconds
Prayer timings
Activity Rings
Alarms
Start a Workout

Smart Stack is great, but it becomes a drag to scroll through all your widgets when you just need a lot of different, small bits of information as quick as possible. I love the default triple widget, but can we get more than one as an option? I know it will eat into my total widget count, but I’m OK with 6 of my 10 widgets being tied up into 2 blocks.

There are other triple widgets such as alarms, messages, and even the weather widget, but I want the truly independent triple widget that is not a subset of a particular app. My 2 triple widget setup would look like this:

Messages
Digital seconds
Weather temperature
Activity Rings
Prayer timings
Start a Workout

Fahad X 3/31/26 Fahad X 3/31/26

The European Union gets major features with iOS 26.5 Beta 1

Juli Clover at MacRumors mentions all the new features as part of her iOS 26.5 Beta 1 coverage:

European Union Third-Party Wearable Changes
Apple is working on new interoperability features in the EU to comply with the requirements of the Digital Markets Act. Apple has tested these features in prior betas, but the Live Activity sharing feature is new.
Proximity pairing - Devices like earbuds will be able to pair with an iOS device in an AirPods-like way by bringing the accessory close to an iPhone or iPad to initiate a simple, one-tap pairing process. Pairing third-party devices will no longer require multiple steps.
Notifications - Third-party accessories like smart watches will be able to receive notifications from the iPhone. Users will be able to view and react to incoming notifications, which is a capability normally limited to the Apple Watch. Notifications can only be forwarded to one connected device at a time, and turning on notifications for a third-party device disables notifications to an Apple Watch. Notifications from select apps can be forwarded, or from all apps.
Live Activities - Live Activities are able to sync to a third-party wearable, similar to other notifications. This is a feature that appears to be new to iOS 26.5.
There's no word on when the EU third-party wearable features will launch, and Apple also tested them in the iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 betas before removing them when the software was released to the public.

Proximity pairing sounds neat and convenient, but Notifications and Live Activities on third-party smart watches sounds like a huge mess:

What if the manufacturer of a 3rd-party smartwatch releases an update that accidentally breaks iPhone notification compatibility?
With Apple Watch, you can pair up to 5 Apple Watches with one iPhone and easily switch them out to activate them, simply by wearing the other watch. Notifications only go to the Apple Watch you’re wearing. How smooth will the transition be when going from a 3rd-party watch to an Apple Watch or vice versa?
What 3rd party devices will be supported and for how many years? iPhone and Apple Watch compatibility already has a lot of tiers depending on how far back you go, but you almost need a Doctorate just to figure out if an iPhone and Apple Watch are compatible. I can’t even imagine how that will be for 3rd party devices.

Juli Clover at MacRumors mentions all the new features as part of her iOS 26.5 Beta 1 coverage:

European Union Third-Party Wearable Changes
Apple is working on new interoperability features in the EU to comply with the requirements of the Digital Markets Act. Apple has tested these features in prior betas, but the Live Activity sharing feature is new.
Proximity pairing - Devices like earbuds will be able to pair with an iOS device in an AirPods-like way by bringing the accessory close to an iPhone or iPad to initiate a simple, one-tap pairing process. Pairing third-party devices will no longer require multiple steps.
Notifications - Third-party accessories like smart watches will be able to receive notifications from the iPhone. Users will be able to view and react to incoming notifications, which is a capability normally limited to the Apple Watch. Notifications can only be forwarded to one connected device at a time, and turning on notifications for a third-party device disables notifications to an Apple Watch. Notifications from select apps can be forwarded, or from all apps.
Live Activities - Live Activities are able to sync to a third-party wearable, similar to other notifications. This is a feature that appears to be new to iOS 26.5.
There's no word on when the EU third-party wearable features will launch, and Apple also tested them in the iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 betas before removing them when the software was released to the public.

Proximity pairing sounds neat and convenient, but Notifications and Live Activities on third-party smart watches sounds like a huge mess:

What if the manufacturer of a 3rd-party smartwatch releases an update that accidentally breaks iPhone notification compatibility?
With Apple Watch, you can pair up to 5 Apple Watches with one iPhone and easily switch them out to activate them, simply by wearing the other watch. Notifications only go to the Apple Watch you’re wearing. How smooth will the transition be when going from a 3rd-party watch to an Apple Watch or vice versa?
What 3rd party devices will be supported and for how many years? iPhone and Apple Watch compatibility already has a lot of tiers depending on how far back you go, but you almost need a Doctorate just to figure out if an iPhone and Apple Watch are compatible. I can’t even imagine how that will be for 3rd party devices.

Fahad X 3/29/26 Fahad X 3/29/26

Smart Stack on Apple Watch needs this cool upgrade for older watch faces.

If you notice all of Apple’s newer watch faces, they have a mini version of said watch face in Smart Stack. It’s a nice little touch that Apple cares about, but not enough to back port it to older watch faces.

At least, not yet…📓

At least, not yet.

We had a similar issue when the Series 10 was released, with only 3 watch faces having the Always On Display with ticking seconds hand. I won’t give Apple too much grief over this Smart Stack request because they didn’t announce it as a feature of the watch. They didn’t get on stage and say:

“We’ve updated Smart Stack to have a more lively watch face in the corner, giving you a more intimate look at the time representing your current watch face.”

Every new watch face since the debut of the Series 10 has this new feature. Take a look at Flux for example:

*The smaller time in Smart Stack looks and behaves just like the real version with the solid line filling up the screen.*

Here are more examples of newer watch faces having this feature:

*Apple started keeping the “soul” of the watch face in Smart Stack.*

The detail is pretty impressive, especially for Exactograph and Waypoint. In Waypoint, the compass is actually functional in Smart Stack which is overkill, but cool. We need some of this love for older watch faces. I say “some” because it doesn’t make sense for certain watch faces, and the generic analog and digital watch faces are fine.

Here are some analog watch faces that could be spruced up:

*BEFORE: Notice how the Utility watch face is used as the generic Smart Stack watch face for most analog faces.*

*AFTER: Smart Stack keeps the watch face identity intact.*

There’s also a ton of digital watch faces that could use this new feature: For example, having the digital time with a small typeface doesn’t make sense on the X-Large face, which is all about accessibility. In Artist, sure the color is matched in Smart Stack, but the face can be shrunken down to fit with similar sized font as the current digital clock.

*Before - not enough distinction with just a few color variations.*

*After - Each watch face keeps its identity and makes Smart Stack a fun place to hang out.*

Will we see an updated Smart Stack in watchOS 27? Maybe, but let’s hope we also get smoother swipes between watch faces.

Fahad X 3/25/26 Fahad X 3/25/26

Apple releases updates for watchOS 5 and watchOS 8 in order to keep core functions alive.

Juli Clover from MacRumors:

watchOS 5.3.10 is available for the Apple Watch Series 1, Series 2, Series 3, and Series 4, while watchOS 8.8.2 is available for the Apple Watch Series 3, Series 4, Series 5, Series 6, Series 7, and original Apple Watch SE.
According to Apple's release notes, the updates extend the certificate that features like device activation, iMessage, and FaceTime need to function. The certificate update ensures that these apps and features will continue to work after January 2027, which is when the existing certificate was set to expire.
watchOS 8 is the final version of watchOS that's supported on the Apple Watch Series 3.
watchOS 5 is the final version of watchOS able to be installed on an Apple Watch Series 1 or Series 2 using an iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, or iPhone 6 Plus. The Series 1 and Series 2 do support watchOS 6, but installing watchOS 6 requires an iPhone 6s or later.

To add to Juli’s bit:

Series 4, Series 5, and the original Apple Watch SE can be updated to watchOS 10, but watchOS 10 requires an iPhone XR, XS, or later, and relearning the controls.
Series 6 and Series 7 can be updated to watchOS 26, but watchOS 26 requires an iPhone 11 or later, or iPhone SE 2nd generation or later.

Juli Clover from MacRumors:

watchOS 5.3.10 is available for the Apple Watch Series 1, Series 2, Series 3, and Series 4, while watchOS 8.8.2 is available for the Apple Watch Series 3, Series 4, Series 5, Series 6, Series 7, and original Apple Watch SE.
According to Apple's release notes, the updates extend the certificate that features like device activation, iMessage, and FaceTime need to function. The certificate update ensures that these apps and features will continue to work after January 2027, which is when the existing certificate was set to expire.
watchOS 8 is the final version of watchOS that's supported on the Apple Watch Series 3.
watchOS 5 is the final version of watchOS able to be installed on an Apple Watch Series 1 or Series 2 using an iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, or iPhone 6 Plus. The Series 1 and Series 2 do support watchOS 6, but installing watchOS 6 requires an iPhone 6s or later.

To add to Juli’s bit:

Series 4, Series 5, and the original Apple Watch SE can be updated to watchOS 10, but watchOS 10 requires an iPhone XR, XS, or later, and relearning the controls.
Series 6 and Series 7 can be updated to watchOS 26, but watchOS 26 requires an iPhone 11 or later, or iPhone SE 2nd generation or later.

Fahad X 2/28/26 Fahad X 2/28/26

Apple corrected its spelling mistake for turmeric.

Updated my watch to the latest watchOS 26.4 Developer Beta, and lo and behold, they spelled it right. Maybe someone at Apple does read my posts? I’m quite flattered.

Fahad X 2/2/26 Fahad X 2/2/26

New updates for old Apple Watches says a lot about what people are really using.

Apple just released new software updates for older iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches, but let’s just focus on Apple Watches for now. From Aaron Perris (reported by 9to5Mac):

Apple has released the following new software updates:
watchOS 10.6.2 (build 21U594)
watchOS 9.6.4 (build 20U512)
watchOS 6.3.1 (build 17U224)
These releases are all for older versions of iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch software. […]
Per Apple’s online support documents, they appear to be focused on extending iMessage, FaceTime, and device activation certifications on older devices.
From Apple’s website regarding the Big Sur update:
“This update extends the certification required by features such as iMessage, FaceTime, and device activation to continue working after January 2027.”

watchOS 10 is actually smoother than watchOS 26 in a lot of ways, partly because Liquid Glass has made watchOS more buggy and even my iPad Pro 4th generation isn’t as speedy as it was on iPadOS 18. This update isn’t much of a surprise, but I’m glad they have extended compatibility for these older watches, especially the Series 5.

watchOS 9.6.4 is a “black hole” version of watchOS because all watches compatible with watchOS 9 (Series 4, 5, SE 1st gen), are able to upgrade to watchOS 10, but if it is synced to an iPhone 8 or iPhone X, it won’t upgrade to watchOS 10.

That means we still have a lot of iPhone 8 and iPhone X users out there. Phones released in late 2017.

WatchOS 6.3.1 is compatible with, wait for it, the Series 1, released back in September 2016. It featured the same dual-core processor as the Series 2, while the original Apple Watch was too slow for its own good.

The main reason for all these updates: to extend device functionality past January 2027.

Wow.

It’s great that they released the update now because it might take till January 2027 to sync your iPhone 6S Plus with your Apple Watch Series 1. And yes, there are still people using an iPhone 6S Plus.

Apple just released new software updates for older iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches, but let’s just focus on Apple Watches for now. From Aaron Perris (reported by 9to5Mac):

Apple has released the following new software updates:
watchOS 10.6.2 (build 21U594)
watchOS 9.6.4 (build 20U512)
watchOS 6.3.1 (build 17U224)
These releases are all for older versions of iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch software. […]
Per Apple’s online support documents, they appear to be focused on extending iMessage, FaceTime, and device activation certifications on older devices.
From Apple’s website regarding the Big Sur update:
“This update extends the certification required by features such as iMessage, FaceTime, and device activation to continue working after January 2027.”

That means we still have a lot of iPhone 8 and iPhone X users out there. Phones released in late 2017.

The main reason for all these updates: to extend device functionality past January 2027.

Wow.

Fahad X 1/31/26 Fahad X 1/31/26

Apple Watch Series 5 Ceramic Edition - is it worth buying in 2026? Full hands-on.

There’s only one 6 year old Apple Watch worth buying, and even then it’s only for the die-hard Apple fan:

Apple Watch Edition, Series 5 Ceramic. 📓

Update 3/11/26 - added some Neon Yellow Sport Band photos, and updated the performance section in regards to widgets in Smart Stack.

There’s only one 6 year old Apple Watch worth buying, and even then it’s only for the die-hard Apple fan:

Apple Watch Edition, Series 5 Ceramic.

It came in two sizes, 40mm and 44mm, equivalent to today’s Apple Watch SE 3. If you’re OK with the thicker bezels on the SE 3, you’ll be fine with a Series 5. I’ve been using mine over the past few days, and it still holds up really well today - much better than the Series 3. Of course, the Ceramic Edition has some perks, with the main one being the premium pearly white finish that is smooth and scratch resistant. You get the bonus of a sapphire display which is also scratch resistant.

It better be sapphire when you consider this bad boy was $1,299 at launch.

*Ceramic Edition Series 3 and Series 5.*
*Fun fact: the larger Series 3 case (left) has a slightly smaller screen than the smaller sized Series 5.*

The downside - both ceramic and sapphire are more shatter prone, so you don’t want to daily this watch or use it for workouts since replacement units can cost up to $800. If your battery has less than 80% health, it is worth the additional $99 to get it replaced since more than likely, Apple will simply swap out the device, giving you a new watch for an additional $99. Hurry up though, because the Series 5 is now vintage. Apple’s definition of vintage per Apple:

Products are considered vintage when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 5 and less than 7 years ago. […]
Owners of iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, AirPods, Apple Vision Pro, and Beats products may obtain service and parts from Apple service providers for a minimum of 5 years from when Apple last distributed the product for sale.
Service and parts may be obtained for longer, as required by law or for up to 7 years, subject to parts availability.

In less than two years (if not sooner), the Series 5 will become obsolete, ceasing all repairs and service.

If you’re still interested, I’ve done some testing to see if it’s worth it for you.

Initial boot up

Once again I did a boot up test to see how quickly it can ping my iPhone Air. With this test you get a feel for how quickly the watch connects to the phone. From the Apple logo boot up screen to a successful phone ping I got the following times:

Series 3 - 8 minutes, 50 seconds
Series 5 - 1 minute, 53 seconds (1st attempt)
Series 5 - 2 minutes, 27 seconds (2nd attempt)
Series 5 - 2 minutes, 27 seconds (3rd attempt)
Ultra 3 - 1 minute and 6 seconds

2.5 minutes is perfectly acceptable for a 6 year old watch, especially compared to the extremely sluggish Series 3.

Size comparison

When you compare the Series 5 to any modern Apple Watch of the same size, the size is very similar, and almost unnoticeable to the naked eye. It’s when you get to full-screen watch faces that you notice the bigger bezels. Not a huge deal if you ask me, especially if you use darker watch faces.

*Each small Apple Watch generation body style. Left to right: 38mm Series 2, 40mm Series 5 Ceramic, 41mm Series 9, 42mm Series 10. The Series 5 display is smaller, but not by much.*

*The Series 3 bezels are ancient (far left), making the Series 5 (2nd from left) more acceptable. The Series 10 (far right) looks like it has a bigger bezel than the Series 9 to its left,* *but it’s actually more complicated*.

What bands look best on the Ceramic body?

The great news is most bands look amazing on the white ceramic body, the only exception being silver bands. It’s not ugly, but it definitely has a retro Nike type of vibe.

*It kinda works if you really try hard.*

Honestly, any band from Apple that doesn’t have silver lugs looks amazing with Ceramic. Sorry Grand H owners.

I have a plethora of sport bands but none that are punchy except for my purple band, making the watch more spunky and fun. Lighter colors give it a more adventurous look, while darker colors scream business casual. The ultimate flex is the black link bracelet, giving you that nice contrast at the upper echelon of business casual, leading to big merger acquisitions on the golf course.

Hardware

If you want to know the look and feel of the Series 5, look no further than the new Apple Watch SE 3. It has the same exterior hardware when it comes to screen size and dimensions. The one difference? I’ll pull up what I said about the Series 3 Ceramic Edition since it applies here:

The Ceramic models have a distinct lip or “shelf” between the display and the body, resulting in a break in the fluid feeling when you slide your finger off the screen and onto the body. This was a limitation of the Ceramic manufacturing process because even the entry-level aluminum and mid-tier stainless steel models had the seamless feel and look between screen and body. As beautiful as the Ceramic Edition is, it’s a shame they couldn’t make it as seamless considering the original $1,299 price tag.

*Series 3 Ceramic’s bigger shelf vs the more flush display on the aluminum Series 3.*

*Series 5 Ceramic maintains the bigger shelf vs the Series 5 Stainless Steel. Both displays are Sapphire, so the only variation here is the body.*

Battery

The Series 5 was the first Apple Watch to feature an Always On Display (AOD), making it a game changer for many. I tested the battery with the AOD on the smaller 40mm size, and got pretty good results. I have a replacement watch from Apple so I also had 100% battery health.

Day 1 - 100% at 9AM…24% at 10:15PM
Day 2 - 94% at 7:26am…8% at 10:39PM

You can easily get a full day, but you will have to strategically charge the watch if you like sleep tracking, which this watch supports. I say strategically because the Series 5 does not support fast charging. Going back to sleep tracking, it’s nowhere near as robust as more modern watches, and you won’t get sleep apnea notifications nor a sleep score if that’s your thing. Expect a solid day of battery life for casual use, and 24 hours (or more) on Low Power Mode, with even better numbers if you’re going for 44mm.

Performance

I was surprised by the performance considering this watch is over 6 years old. I never noticed any lag or hiccups during my casual daily use, mainly replying to messages or using voice activated Siri to turn on and off lights. If you’re a power user, you might run into some slowdowns, especially if you use cellular or On-device Siri frequently. Sorry, no 5G here.

The Series 5 ended software updates with watchOS 10 as its last major release, so you do get the same controls as current Apple Watches, without the hiccups and slowdowns of Liquid Glass on watchOS 26. Some of my favorite features on watchOS 10 are still supported:

Configuring a specific watch face with specific Focus Modes.
HomeKit compatibility.
ECG and heart rate notifications.
Fall detection.
Menstrual cycle tracking (for the ladies of course).
Auto workout detection - I was standing up and patting my baby girl’s back, and the watch thought I was starting an elliptical workout.

Here’s a full feature list comparing it with the SE3 and Series 11.

Update: 3/11/26 - the Series 5 supports 6 widgets in Smart Stack compared to 10 widgets in newer watches. Still plenty of widgets for most people. Just make sure you know what constitutes as a widget.

Unique quirks

Besides being the last generation of Ceramic Apple Watches, the only other quirk you will notice is some older watch faces that were removed with future updates. Of course that also means you won’t have many of the newer watch faces. I ain’t going to lie though - most of these now extinct watch faces are not worth bringing out the pitchforks for, except for the Explorer watch face, and maybe Numerals.

Full list of watch faces available on watchOS 10.

*That pollen colored band 😮‍💨. Source:* *Hodinkee*

*At least with Numerals, you can tell what hour it is without having to guess.*

How much do they cost today?

The market is highly varied online, with eBay being your main source to purchase one. People are asking anywhere from $300-$2,000 depending on size, condition, battery health, and other accessories that are bundled together.

The best strategy - buy one for cheap with a battery health lower than 80%, and take it to Apple to get the battery replaced for $99. You’ll most likely end up with a brand new watch with a new battery from my personal experience and also from others on reddit. I was fortunate enough to get a free replacement, which I explained in detail.

Who should buy the Series 5 Ceramic Edition?

You know who you are if you’re trying to get a Ceramic Series 5. You can get an infinitely better Apple Watch by buying an SE 3, but that’s not what you’re here for.

You want the Ceramic finish.

You want the luxurious feel.

You want a different look on your wrist.

If you’re that type of enthusiast, you won’t regret it. It’s a weekend watch, and if you get one with good battery health, it can still last you for another 5 years.

Fahad X 12/10/25 Fahad X 12/10/25

Smart Stack on Apple Watch - how many widgets can you really have?

The tricky thing is determining what actually is a widget, because you would think each rectangular block is a widget..📓

Assuming you turned off widget suggestions, you can have up to 10 widgets on the Series 9, 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 3. I’m assuming you can also have 10 widgets on the Ultra 2 and Series 11, which I don’t have for testing but they all use the same processor. On my much older Series 5, you can have 6 widgets.

The tricky thing is determining what actually is a widget, because you would think each rectangular block is a widget, but if you use the rectangular block with 3 circle widgets, each circle counts towards your total widget count. So on my Ultra 3 for example, I can have 7 widgets, and an 8th widget that holds the 3 circle widgets (total of 10). You can have only 1 or 2 circle widgets if you like, and add more full-sized widgets totaling 10.

Bottom line - you can’t treat the 3 circle widgets that occupies the space of one widget as one widget. They count as 3 separate widgets.