watchOS 27 Full Release Notes Published: Siri AI, Dynamic App Grid, Perimenopause Tracking, and Walkie-Talkie Removed

Apple has published the full release notes for watchOS 27, which arrives on Monday, September 14. The update is compatible with Apple Watch Series 9 and later, Ultra 2 and later, and Apple Watch SE 3. Here's everything that's new — and what's being removed.

New Features

• Siri AI: Fully on-device Siri with Apple Intelligence integration delivers faster, more contextual responses without sending data to the cloud
• Dynamic App Grid: A completely new navigation system that replaces the static honeycomb grid with an adaptive layout that surfaces your most-used apps based on time of day and context
• Readiness score: A daily recovery metric synthesizing sleep, HRV, and activity data (requires Series 12 or Ultra 4 hardware at launch)
• Cycle Tracking: Now includes perimenopause and menopause support, with pattern detection for cycle irregularities and symptom logging
• Unified Find My app: Combines device tracking, people tracking, and item tracking into a single streamlined interface
• Smart Stack improvements: More intelligent widget suggestions and new third-party widget capabilities
• Liquid Glass refinements: Updated visual design language with improved legibility and smoother animations
• Battery optimization recommendations: New settings panel that suggests configuration changes to extend battery life based on your usage patterns

What's Being Removed

Two notable features are being retired in watchOS 27:

• Walkie-Talkie: The push-to-talk feature introduced in watchOS 5 is being removed entirely. Apple has not provided a specific reason, but the feature saw declining usage after initial novelty
• Double-click Digital Crown shortcut: The gesture that previously launched a user-configured app or action is no longer available. Apple is redirecting Crown interactions toward the Dynamic App Grid

What to Do Before Monday

Back up your Apple Watch before updating. If you rely on Walkie-Talkie or the double-click Crown shortcut, plan alternatives now. Check our smartwatch guide for compatibility details, and see current Apple Watch prices if you're considering an upgrade.