watchOS 5 adds powerful activity and communications features to Apple Watch

PRESS RELEASE June 4, 2018

Two Apple Watches demonstrating the new Walkie-Talkie communication feature.

watchOS 5 helps users stay healthy and connected with Apple Watch.

San Jose, California — Apple today previewed watchOS 5, a significant update to the world’s most popular watch, helping users stay healthy and connected. Apple Watch becomes an even stronger companion for fitness, communication and quick access to information with a host of new features including Activity Sharing competitions, auto-workout detection, advanced running features, Walkie-Talkie, Apple Podcasts and third-party apps on the Siri watch face.

“We’re thrilled with the positive impact Apple Watch is having on people’s lives,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer. “Apple Watch is helping our customers stay connected, enhance their fitness and, in many cases, detect life-threatening conditions. With the launch of watchOS 5, we’re excited to introduce new activity and communications features that will take the Watch to a whole new level.”

Activity Competitions

Apple Watch screen displaying the new Activity Rings software

Challenge any Activity Sharing friend to a 7-day competition.

An Activity Sharing weekly competition tracker shown on an Apple Watch

Earn one point for each percentage of the rings that are closed.

An Apple Watch displaying the screen from a user winning an activity Sharing competition

A new award is issued when the competition is won.

Building on the excitement around Activity Sharing, watchOS 5 now enables users to invite another Apple Watch wearer to compete in a seven-day Activity competition, earning points for closing Activity Rings, while receiving coaching notifications to help stay engaged and win the week.

Auto-Workout Detection

Apple Watch demonstrating the new auto-workout detection feature start screen

watchOS 5 features auto-workout detection to start and stop workouts.

Apple Watch demonstrating the new auto-workout detection feature stop screen

watchOS 5 features auto-workout detection to start and stop workouts.

For the most popular workouts on Apple Watch, auto-workout detection provides an alert to start the correct workout and gives retroactive credit. This feature also offers a reminder to end workout sessions after a period of inactivity if the user forgets.

New Workouts

New yoga workout screen displayed on white Apple Watch

Yoga and Hiking are new dedicated workout types in watchOS 5.

New hiking workout screen displayed on white Apple Watch

Yoga and Hiking are new dedicated workout types in watchOS 5.

Yoga and Hiking join 12 other dedicated workout types, accurately tracking active calories burned and exercise minutes earned.

New Running Features

Apple Watch displaying the behind target mile pace feature

A new pace alarm for outdoor runs is included in watchOS 5.

Apple Watch displaying the rolling last mile pace feature

A brand new metric, rolling last mile, shows pace for the immediately preceding mile.

watchOS 5 delivers high-performance features for running enthusiasts, including a new cadence (steps per minute) metric for indoor and outdoor runs and walks, as well as a new pace alarm for outdoor runs that alerts users when they are behind or ahead of their designated target pace. A brand new metric — rolling mile pace — is introduced as an additional option for runners to see their pace for the immediately preceding mile in addition to their average pace or current pace.

Walkie-Talkie

An Apple Watch displaying the new walkie-talkie feature screen with “Talk” button

New walkie-talkie feature offers quick voice communication with any Apple Watch user around the world.

watchOS 5 introduces Walkie-Talkie, an entirely new way to communicate with voice and just a tap of the wrist. A fun and easy way to quickly get in touch with friends and family, this new watch-to-watch connection is fast, personal and can be activated between any compatible Apple Watch users around the world over Wi-Fi or cellular.1

Apple Podcasts

Apple Watch displaying the new Apple Podcasts app screen

The popular Apple Podcasts app comes to Apple Watch.

Users can now listen to their favorite podcasts on the go with Apple Podcasts on Apple Watch and stream any podcast in the catalog by using Siri. Episodes will automatically sync to Apple Watch, and as they’re listened to on other devices, the app will automatically refresh with the latest episode. A new feature for developers allows music, audiobooks and meditation sessions from apps such as Pandora, Audible and 10% Happier to be synced to Apple Watch for playback offline without the user’s iPhone nearby.

Siri Updates

Apple Watch displaying Siri predictive scheduling screen

The Siri watch face now offers more predictive and proactive shortcuts throughout the day.

Apple Watch displaying new Siri sports scores and Maps app on screen

The Siri watch face will offer information such as sports scores for a favorite team or commute time with Maps.

Apple Watch screen displaying third-party content from Siri Citymapper and Nike+ Run Club

The Siri watch face shows actionable content from favorite third-party apps such as Citymapper and Nike+ Run Club.

Using machine learning, the updated Siri watch face on Apple Watch is an even better personal assistant. It now offers more predictive and proactive shortcuts throughout the day based on routines, locations and information such as heart rate after a workout, commute time with Maps at the appropriate time of day or sports scores for a favorite team. The Siri watch face will also show actionable content from favorite third-party apps such as Nike+ Run Club, Glow Baby and Mobike.

Enhanced Notifications

Notifications from third-party apps can now have interactive controls and be used without needing to open the app; for example, a Yelp reservation notification will have the option to modify the time or change the number of guests right from the notification.

Student ID Cards

Apple Watch screen with the new Student ID card feature

Apple Watch can now be used in place of Student ID cards.

With watchOS 5, Apple Watch replaces Student ID cards. With a raise of the wrist, students can gain access to places including the library, dorms and events, and pay for snacks, laundry and dinners around campus simply by adding their ID cards to Wallet on Apple Watch. The program launches with Duke, the University of Alabama and the University of Oklahoma this fall. Johns Hopkins University, Santa Clara University and Temple University will bring the capability by the end of the year.

Pride and Summer Bands

Apple Watch featuring a new rainbow pride band

A new Apple Watch face and band celebrating Pride is available today.

Apple Watch featuring a new peach band

Three new Sport Band colors are available today in Peach, Marine Green and Sky Blue.

Apple Watch featuring a new marine green band

Three new Sport Band colors are available today in Peach, Marine Green and Sky Blue.

Apple Watch featuring a new sky blue band

Three new Sport Band colors are available today in Peach, Marine Green and Sky Blue.

Apple also today released a new watch face to celebrate Pride, which Apple Watch users can download from the Face Gallery in the Apple Watch app. The Pride Edition Woven Nylon band is updated with a new rainbow stripe with a donation being made to the following LGBTQ advocacy organizations: Gender Spectrum, GLSEN, ILGA, PFLAG, The National Center for Transgender Equality and The Trevor Project. Apple also introduced new summer band colors in Marine Green, Peach and Sky Blue.

Pricing and Availability

  • watchOS 5 will be available this fall as a free update for Apple Watch Series 1 and later and requires iPhone 5s or later on iOS 12. watchOS 5 will not be available on the original Apple Watch. Features are subject to change. Some features may not be available in all regions.

  • WatchKit for watchOS 5 is available to Apple Developer Program members at developer.apple.com starting today. For more information, visit apple.com/watchos-preview.

  • The Pride watch face is available to add to the watch from the Face Gallery in the Apple Watch app on iPhone and requires iOS 11.4 and watchOS 4.3.1.

  • The new Pride Edition Woven Nylon band is available today on apple.com and will be available later this week at Apple Stores in the US and over 35 countries and regions, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE and the UK . The Pride Edition Woven Nylon band is $49 (US).

  • New colors of the Apple Watch Sport Band will be available to order on apple.com starting today in the US, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, UAE and the UK. The Sport Band is $49 (US).

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