Apple on Tuesday seeded the first public beta releases of its upcoming tvOS 27 and watchOS 27 operating systems to testers. A new HomePod Software 27 beta is also available for the HomePod and HomePod mini.
Registered public beta testers can download the public betas from the Software Update section of the Settings app on each device.
tvOS 27 brings only a few new features, including a redesigned Podcasts app, options for larger text, and a more responsive Control Center. AirPlaying to an Apple TV from another Apple device is also faster, and apps and animations are smoother. AppleCare coverage details are now available in the Settings app.
watchOS 27 drops support for the the following Apple Watch models: Apple Watch Series 6, 7, 8, SE 2, and the original Apple Watch Ultra. It is only compatible with the Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 2, and Apple Watch Ultra 3
watchOS brings several new features to the Apple Watch.
With this beta, Apple adds support for Siri AI and the Siri app, allowing Apple Watch users to now use the features right from their wrist.
The Dynamic App Grid that pops up when the Digital Crown is pressed now displays the Siri app in the center, providing access to the smarter version of Siri.
Siri AI on Apple Watch relies on being linked to an Apple Intelligence-compatible iPhone for processing. Conversations in the Siri app on Apple Watch sync to the Siri app across all other devices like iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
The headlining feature at WWDC 2026 this year is of course, Siri AI, and the Apple Watch has not been left out of the fun.
Users can ask open-ended questions directly from their wrist, as well as brainstorm ideas and continue conversations across multiple responses.
Siri can also use information stored across notes and other personal content to answer questions.
A new tap gesture allows users to select a widget in the Smart Stack by tapping their thumb and index finger together once to select widgets and access information with one hand. Smart Stack suggestions now surface more contextually relevant widgets.
Users can also create custom passes for any membership or card that uses a QR code or barcode and access it directly from the Apple Watch’s Wallet app or pin it to the Smart Stack. Transit cards and IDs will also appear in the Smart Stack.
The new dynamic app grid surfaces and rearranges five apps based on context and usage. Users can simply tap the bottom center icon to go to the rest of their apps.
Liquid Glass in watchOS 27 has been improved, offering better readability, with more uniform refraction and better contrast.
Find My on the Apple Watch is completely redesigned, providing a more map-centric layout, while consolidating the Find Devices, Find People, and Find Items apps into a single unified view.
watchOS 27 also brings more flexible sharing options within Find My, offering users greater control over how they share their location and item tracking with other users.
A new Call Context feature proactively provides relevant information from other apps during a phone call to a business, including displaying such information as a confirmation code from Mail when a user calls an airline.
watchOS 27 also brings a large number of fitness, workout, and sleep tracking improvements.
Workout Buddy is gains new data-driven motivation features, delivering progress updates for pace, distance, and workout duration based on a user’s fitness history. Workout Buddy can now function without a nearby iPhone. Workout Buddy is also expanding to Spanish, meaning Spanish-speaking users can now receive personalized fitness motivation in their preferred language.
Indoor run and walk distance tracking is also more accurate in watchOS 27, thanks to improved motion tracking algorithms, without requiring a connected iPhone. Route maps in the Fitness app are also receiving an accuracy improvement.
Sleep tracking is also more accurate, though Apple has not yet detailed what changes it has made for the improvements. The update also brings a step count sync fix.
Other improvements include faster app extension launches, improved Wi-Fi connectivity, faster Music playback startup, better battery efficiency with suggested optimizations, more efficient water detection, Guest Key support, and the ability to view card balances in the Wallet app.
The settings interface in the Apple Watch app on iPhone also features a new design.
As usual, MacTrast and Apple both warn users to not install any betas on their daily driver Apple TV or Vision Pro. Instead, only install betas on a device set aside for testing purposes.