Exciting Updates for Apple Watch Users
Great news for owners of Apple Watches! Users of older models, such as the Series 9, are set to receive features initially thought to be reserved for the upcoming Series 11. During its recent “Awe Dropping” event, Apple unveiled three new Apple Watch models focused on health tracking advancements. Fortunately, these enhancements may be accessible on your current device.
During the presentation, Apple noted that many of these features will actually be rolled out as part of updates for watchOS 26 and iOS 26. Importantly, several of these features do not require new hardware, meaning you could still benefit from upgrades such as high-blood pressure alerts and the Apple Sleep Score without needing to purchase a new Apple Watch.
New Hypertension Alerts for Series 9 and Beyond
A new feature has been introduced to monitor blood pressure, which sends alerts when there is a consistent pattern of elevated blood pressure. Unlike traditional methods using cuffs, this system leverages the optical heart rate sensor to assess the response of blood vessels to heartbeats. It analyzes data over a 30-day span to identify any potential hypertension and alerts users accordingly.
Significantly, this capability is not exclusive to the Series 11 or Apple Watch Ultra 3; it will also work with Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 (excluding Apple Watch SE 3). Users can expect this feature to become available after the watchOS 26 update and following regulatory approval. Apple anticipates a rollout across 150 countries by October.
Sleep Score Now Available for All Watches Since Series 6
The Apple Watch has introduced a new Sleep Score feature, which provides a consolidated metric based on various sleep data points such as duration, sleep stages, and interruptions. By leveraging multiple sensors—heart rate, wrist temperature, blood oxygen level, and respiratory rate—it assesses the quality of sleep and generates a score reflecting overall sleep performance.
This score can help guide decision-making, whether it’s opting for an intense workout or choosing to rest and go to bed earlier.
Furthermore, this feature will be available on all models capable of sleep tracking, including every Apple Watch Ultra, Series 6 and later, as well as the Apple Watch SE 2.
Other software enhancements discussed during the keynote address are not exclusive to the Series 11. For example, the new wrist-flick feature in watchOS 26 will also be supported on the Series 9 and above, including the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
Additionally, the advancements are not limited to just the Apple Watch. For instance, the new Live Translation feature for the AirPods Pro 3 will also be compatible with AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2, provided they are paired with an iPhone 15 Pro or a newer model—demonstrating that users with older models can still enjoy cutting-edge capabilities without purchasing the latest accessories.
