watchOS 27 adds three new Health upgrades for Apple Watch

watchOS 27 packs a variety of Health-related improvements for Apple Watch users that span three main areas, here’s what’s new.

#1: Perimenopause and menopause support

watchOS 27 provides a new reason to use your Apple Watch’s Cycle Tracking feature. Per Apple’s website:

Perimenopause and menopause support. Cycle Tracking in the Health app can provide notifications when your logged cycle patterns are suggestive of perimenopause. You can track related symptoms and find support with educational resources.

The fine print adds: “Cycle deviation notifications inclusive of perimenopause are for ages 40 and above. These notifications are not intended to replace traditional methods of diagnosis, monitoring, or treatment of perimenopause or menopause.”

#2: Workout Buddy upgrades

Workout Buddy first launched last year in watchOS 26. It’s a type of AI-based coach intended to keep you informed and motivated to hit your fitness goals.

In watchOS 27, Apple says there are three improvements to Workout Buddy:

• New Workout Buddy insights. Workout Buddy delivers motivation based on your fitness history with new data insights, including your progress for pace, distance, and workout duration.
• Workout Buddy without your iPhone nearby. Stay motivated during your workouts without anything in your pocket or hand.
• Workout Buddy in Spanish. Get help boosting your fitness with personalized motivation in a language that feels natural to you.

#3: Improved accuracy for indoor walks and runs, synced step counts

Apple has focused a lot on quality-of-life improvements and fixes in iOS 27 and its companion updates. As part of those changes, watchOS 27 has a pair of small upgrades related to workouts and step tracking.

For indoor walks and runs, Apple says that its motion tracking algorithms have been improved such that you’ll get “even more accurate” distance measurements for your treadmill workouts.

Additionally, your step count from the Health app and step count from the Fitness app will now sync together—apparently that wasn’t true until now.

We’re likely to see more new Health features debut for watchOS 27 when the Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Apple Watch Series 12 are unveiled this fall.

What new Health features do you hope are on the way for watchOS 27? Let us know in the comments.

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