Report: watchOS 27 to Improve Heart-Rate Tracking; AI Health Coach May Not Debut at Launch
Apple is prioritizing stability and performance over major new features, while adding modest heart-rate tracking and watch face updates.
- On Monday, June 8, Apple will unveil watchOS 27 at its WWDC 2026 keynote, featuring reported improvements to heart-rate tracking. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman confirmed the update prioritizes "stability, performance, and smaller refinements" over major new capabilities.
- Project Mulberry, the company's ambitious AI-powered health coach, was scaled back following recent leadership shifts within the health division. Mark Gurman reports the service may not launch until later in the iOS 27 cycle, missing the initial release.
- Consumers increasingly favor screenless devices from rivals like Oura and Whoop, which prioritize actionable wellness insights over notifications. Earlier this year, Apple paused development, concluding its offering lacked competitiveness against existing health subscriptions.
- Despite the AI delay, watchOS 27 will introduce a variant of the "Modular Ultra" watch face previously exclusive to the Apple Watch Ultra. The update also extends satellite features including Apple Maps and Messages to the platform.
- Meanwhile, Google is pushing minimalist wearable experiences, recently mandating Health 5.0 updates for Fitbit users. The new Fitbit Air launches next week, intensifying competition as the industry shifts toward passive tracking and longer battery life.
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Apple Watch may soon get smarter heart-rate tracking with watchOS 27
Mark Gurman says watchOS 27 will focus on stability, performance and smaller Apple Watch health refinements. The update may include better heart-rate tracking, while Apple's broader AI health push appears delayed.
watchOS 27 Will Add These New Features to Your Apple Watch
Apple will unveil watchOS 27 during its WWDC 2026 keynote on Monday, June 8, and a handful of new features have been rumored already. The first developer beta of watchOS 27 should be available immediately following the keynote, and a public beta typically follows in July. The update should be released to all users with a compatible Apple Watch model in September. Below, we recap watchOS 27 rumors so far.
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