new watch faces, Health app and more

Apple will soon announce a new version of its Apple Watch operating system. These are our biggest wishes for watchOS 9.

WatchOS 9: four features that are at the top of our wish list

Attention Apple Watch users, another big update is coming! On June 6, Apple will host a major event that will primarily focus on software. We expect to see new versions of iOS, macOS and watchOS here. You may have already read our wish list for iOS 16 – and now it’s time for watchOS 9.

The current watchOS 8 performs well. The software works smoothly and looks nice in our eyes. Still, there are a few things we would like to change or add. In this article we list our wishes for watchOS 9.

1. More watch faces and customization options

WatchOS 8 already has dozens of watch faces to choose from. For example, there is the portrait dial, which integrates the time and date in a 3D-like way in your most beautiful portrait photos. Still, you can quickly go through all the options and new watch faces are always welcome. A fresh dial makes you feel like you’re wearing a new watch.

While new watch faces are nice, we hope iPhoned as well as more customization options. You can already customize the colors and shortcuts to frequently used apps on many existing watch faces. However, the appearance of the hands is not customizable and most watch faces do not allow you to change the layout.

The lack of customization options is especially noticeable on full-screen watch faces, where you don’t have the option to add numbers or shortcuts, for example. This makes it difficult (at least for us) to read the time at a glance. We also find it a pity, for example, that we cannot quickly see our movement rings.

In watchOS 9, we want an option to choose between an analog or digital clock with each watch face. We also think a setting to add shortcuts for every watch face – full screen or not – is a great idea.

2. Health app for the Apple Watch

The main purpose of the Apple Watch is to keep track of your health. The device does this very well, but most of the data can be found in the Health app on your iPhone.

Why isn’t there just a Health app available on the Watch itself? We don’t understand this, especially now that the 4G version of the Apple Watch is available practically everywhere. If you go out without an iPhone, you won’t be able to see the step count. Unless you are using a third party app.

Speaking of third party apps; these are available in all shapes and sizes. Still, it would be nice if Apple also brings the regular Health app to the Apple Watch, so that all health data is in one place.

3. Making quick notes

Apple does not offer an option to store small notes on its smart watch. We find that quite strange, since you always wear the small device on your wrist. So you’ll have your Apple Watch ready to jot down something in no time. Now writing or typing is of course very complicated – especially if you have an Apple Watch Series 6, SE or older. However, there is a very good solution for that: Siri!

At the very least, Siri should be able to save notes from your Apple Watch to your iPhone, but even that’s impossible. When you ask Siri to create a note on your Watch, the watch tells you that “Siri can’t help you with notes on Apple Watch.” It is high time this changed.

4. New safety or health features

Apple regularly adds new safety and health features in major watchOS updates. For example, the manufacturer has already come up with measuring your sleep rhythm and warning against loud noises. This year, Apple may add one or more new features to ensure your safety and health.

For example, Apple is working on a function that can see if you have been in a car accident, and then automatically call 112. Whether we will actually see this feature in watchOS 9 is unclear, but we sure hope so.

Follow the Apple Event on June 6 with iPhoned

On June 6, Apple will unveil the major iPhone software update of the year: iOS 16. The iPad, Mac and Apple Watch will also receive updates. The event takes place during the World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC), an annual conference for app developers. Do you want to watch from your couch? That is possible, because the event will once again take place entirely online, just like in the previous two years.

Also Read: WWDC 2022: Here’s When Apple Unveils iOS 16 and More

Buy Apple Watch

Don’t have an Apple Watch yet or do you need to replace yours? In any case, check the Apple Watch Series 7 price comparator or the price comparator for the Apple Watch SE if you want to buy one. Then you definitely got the best Apple Watch price!

At iPhoned we will of course report live from the WWDC keynote. We will therefore again address our watchOS 9 wishes, should Apple fulfill them. So sign up for our newsletter, download the free app or keep an eye on our site!