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What’s new in watchOS 4? Hands-on with 50+ features and changes [Video]

As we did with the beta release of iOS 11, we’ve taken some time to walk through many of the new features and changes found in watchOS 4. While the Apple Watch software isn’t busting at the seams with new features like iOS 11, there are still quite a few new goodies and changes to be found. In this hands-on video walkthrough, we step through many of the new additions in watchOS 4.

Some of the items covered in this video

  • New pairing UI
  • New usage tips during pairing process
  • Passcode interface with larger tap targets + red delete button
  • New passcode animation
  • New passcode key click sound effect
  • New vertically scrolling Dock interface
  • Dock can now show Recents or Favorites
  • New ‘All Apps’ option in Dock
  • New ‘List View’ for apps
  • Bolder notifications text
  • New Kaleidoscope watch face
  • Create Kaleidoscope faces via Photos app on iPhone

Video walkthrough

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  • New Siri watch Face
  • Switch between watch faces with the Digital Crown
  • New Toy Story watch faces (coming soon)
  • Person to person payment support (coming soon)
  • New ‘Install’ button in Watch app
  • New Keypad option in Phone app for dialing
  • New on-call interface in Phone app
  • Maps app slightly redesigned with scrolling list of suggestion tiles
  • New Location preferences
  • When Timer goes off, it now has a repeat button
  • Update Music app interface
  • Automatic playlist syncing including Apple Music-recommended lists
  • Updated ‘Now Playing’ complication
  • Slightly modified ‘Now Playing’ interface
  • Add individual albums and artists to Music app
  • Add multiple playlists to Music app
  • Music playback controls integrated into Workout app
  • Camera Remote app now supports video, Portrait mode
  • New News app
  • New News complication
  • New flashlight in Control Center
  • New night workout light in Control Center
  • New red light in Control Center for night reading
  • New location icon in Control Center
  • New Workout app selection interface
  • Workouts now start immediately
  • New Workout type animation in upper left-hand corner
  • Start back-to-back workouts
  • New High Intensity Interval Training
  • Automatically start music when workouts are started
  • Enhanced swim tracking
  • Gym equipment sync
  • New ‘Express Connect’ setting for connecting to Apple Watch-supported gym equipment
  • VO2 max data logging to Health app
  • New Workout preferences
  • New Activity notifications and challenges
  • Updated celebration achievement animations
  • ‘Now Playing’ auto displayed when playing media on paired iPhone
  • Heart rate app features 24-hour chart

Of course, this isn’t a full list of all of the new features and changes found in watchOS 4, but it’s a good start. We’ll be back with additional updates in the future as new items are found, and new watchOS 4 betas are released to developers and to the public.

What’s your favorite new watchOS 4 feature? Have you made any new discoveries that we overlooked? Sound off down below in the comments with your feedback.

If you haven’t already, be sure to watch our iOS 11 video walkthrough, which steps through over 100 new changes and additions:

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Avatar for Jeff Benjamin Jeff Benjamin

Jeff is the head of video content production for 9to5. He initially joined 9to5Mac in 2016, producing videos, walkthroughs, how-tos, written tutorials, and reviews. He takes pride in explaining things simply, clearly, and concisely. Jeff’s videos have been watched hundreds of millions of times by people seeking to learn more about today’s tech. Subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube to catch Jeff’s latest videos.