The best Apple Watch features of watchOS 11 that you should be using

Apple announced watchOS 11 in June this year and started seeding the latest software version for compatible Apple Watch models a few months ago. Many older models are eligible to get the OS update, so you don’t need to get a new Apple Watch. As usual, the latest version from the Cupertino-based tech giant comes with a host of new features out of which some are notable additions that bring convenience to your wrists. 

If you’re using the Apple Watch Series 6 and above, you can update your models to the latest version. However, those on the older models are out of luck as you won’t get any future updates.  

7 best watchOS 11 features

If you’ve yet to update your Apple Watch to the latest watchOS 11 or already have it installed and are not aware of all the new apple watch features, we’ve got you covered in this article. Here are the coolest apple watch capabilities that come with the watchOS 11 update.  

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1. Translate
2. Live activities and Smart stack
3. Vitals app
4. Pause activity rings
5. Set custom activity goals
6. Better pregnancy tracking
7. Scroll with digital crown

1. Translate

Apple has introduced a dedicated Translate app with support for 20 languages on the watchOS 11. This means that you don’t have to reach your smartphone and can perform the translation tasks directly on the wrist. Notably, the translation widget appears automatically when you travel to a foreign country. You can simply type or say a phrase that you want to be translated. Hitting the play button will read the translation result aloud through the smartwatch’s built-in speaker. The translation app is quite similar to the one on iPhone and iPad. With the ability on a smartwatch, it makes communication between two people easier.  

2. Live activities and Smart stack

Live activities were first available on iOS 16. This now arrives on the Apple Watch. As the name suggests, it shows a countdown for upcoming events like Uber rides, food orders, now playing etc giving you a quick glance at the real-time progress. The Smart stack feature also gets improvements as it supports more widgets and displays them based on the usage and what the user needs.   

3. Vitals

Apple is the leader in the smartwatch industry and this is mainly attributed to the robust and ever-evolving health tracking features on its smartwatches. With watchOS 11, Apple Watch gets a new Vitals app that shows important metrics like heart rate, sleep temperature, respiratory rate, and sleep tracking at a glance. If any of these are outside the normal range, the feature will alert you via a notification. They are accompanied by reasons that might be influencing the abnormal results.  

4. Pause activity rings

How many of us obsess over accomplishing the activity rings on our wearable devices? This is despite lacking energy, being stressed, sick, and even having other commitments on certain days. Fortunately, Apple finally has a solution for this. You can now pause the activity rings that do not break your workout streak. And that’s not just for a day but for a week, a month, or up to 90 days. This ensures that you rest and recuperate well without having to force yourself to close the rings.  

5. Set custom activity goals

This is another useful change that comes to the watchOS 11 and it complements the #4. If closing your rings with a fixed target on a daily basis is not doable, you can now set different activity goals for different days of the week. This can be set for move, exercise, and stand goals. It ensures that you’re not pressured by doing the level of activity required to close the rings every day. Setting a customised goal also means that you can choose a different activity and its intensity.  

6. Better pregnancy tracking

The watchOS 11 update brings gestational age for females inside the Cycle Tracking app on the smartwatch. Users can record their physical and mental health during the pregnancy period. This allows women to stay on top of their health.  

7. Scroll with digital crown

The digital crown on Apple Watches has been mimicked by a lot of other brands. With watchOS 11, it gets a boost as the rotating dial can be used to scroll through the notification list. It’s a nice addition to have and complements the touchscreen experience.  

These new set of apple watch features on the watchOS 11 will make your wearable experience even better.