Many users have recently upgraded their Apple Watches to watchOS 11, while others are patiently anticipating the release of the Apple Watch Series 10 or the black Apple Watch Ultra 2, both of which come with watchOS 11 preloaded. This latest update introduces a range of exciting features; however, it also signifies the discontinuation of certain options.
With the launch of watchOS 11, four watch faces have been removed: Chronograph, Explorer, Numerals, and Siri. The removal of the Siri face makes sense as it has been replaced by the new Smart Stack. However, the elimination of the other three faces raises some questions.
The Chronograph watch face has been a staple since the original Apple Watch debuted ten years ago. From watchOS 7 onward, it coexisted with the Chronograph Pro face.
The Explorer face was introduced alongside the Apple Watch Series 3, which featured LTE capabilities. This analog face was exclusive to LTE-enabled models, providing users with a quick glance at their cellular signal strength.
The decision to drop the Numerals watch face is particularly confusing. It was designed with numerical hour markers behind the analog hands and included minimal customization options, making its removal surprising.
Apple has yet to explain the rationale behind the removal of these watch faces with watchOS 11. This appears to be the first occurrence of such discontinuation of watch faces in the history of the Apple Watch.
Despite these removals, Apple did introduce three new watch faces in watchOS 11. The Photos watch face utilizes machine learning to help users select the most visually appealing pictures based on various factors such as composition and facial expressions. Additionally, it includes a Dynamic mode that showcases a different image each time the user’s wrist is raised.
Another new addition, the Flux watch face, features an upward-scrolling time display in an array of colors, creating a captivating visual experience. Lastly, the Reflections watch face presents animations and ripple effects that respond to wrist movements.
Along with the introduction of these new watch faces and the updated Smart Stack, watchOS 11 also brings a new Vitals health app, a Translate app, and enhancements to the Workout, Activity, and Home apps, among other features.