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Hands-on: 50 new watchOS 5 changes and features [Video]

We’ve spent some considerable hands-on time with the watchOS 5 beta, comparing it with watchOS 4 in order to discover what’s new. Have a look at our hands-on video as we walk through 50 new changes and features that are headed to the Apple Watch.

Changes covered in this video:

Activity

  • Activity app competitions
  • New Activity app Awards tab
  • Start workout/end workout reminder

Workouts

  • Two new workouts for Hiking and Yoga
  • Automatic Workout detection
  • New button design
  • Smaller in-progress workout icon
  • Rolling miles (splits of preceding miles)
  • Pace alerts
  • Cadence – steps per minute (SPM)

Video walkthrough

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Control Center/Notification Center

  • Access Notification Center from inside apps
  • Grouped notifications
  • Instant manage notifications
  • Access Control Center from inside apps
  • Rearrange Control Center toggles
  • Airplane mode toggle colors
  • Connect directly to a Wi-Fi network

New apps

  • New Walkie Talkie app
  • New Walkie Talkie complication
  • New Podcast app
  • New Podcast complication
  • Ask Siri to play podcasts

New watch face details

  • Peach color
  • Flash Light color
  • Denim Blue color
  • Updated Siri watch face
  • New Gray color option for Siri face

Weather app

  • Add or remove cities
  • Tap to switch between rain, condition and temperature
  • Scroll down to view air quality, uv index, wind speed, and 10-day forecast

World Clock app

  • Different location list color scheme
  • Add and remove cities
  • Sunrise and sunset text replace glyphs

Timer app

  • Updated custom button color and size
  • Recents with custom timers

Mail app

  • New “checking for mail” text on pull to refresh
  • New “last updated” text at top of inbox
  • View web content previously not viewable on watch
  • New Send and cancel buttons when composing new email
  • New redesigned buttons when filling in Mail fields

Settings app

  • Website data settings
  • Rearranged Text Size settings
  • Prominent Haptics switch removed

Other app updates

  • Messages – Updated button layout
  • Stocks app – Add and remove stocks
  • Phone app – Updated Keypad + button
  • Maps – Smaller Nearby Locations text fields
  • Find My Friends – Updated buttons

Additional details

  • Dock – New red remove button for app cards
  • Enhanced Do Not Disturb
  • Student ID Cards
  • Just raise your wrist and speak, no Hey Siri needed

Apple has temporarily pulled the watchOS 5 beta in order to address issue with it. We will update you once it reappears on the developer portal. In the meantime, tell us, what’s your favorite new watchOS 5 feature? Sound off in the comments below with your thoughts and opinions.

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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.