On Monday, Apple announced watchOS 9, the next major update to the Apple Watch operating system. It comes with features such as improved sleep monitoring and a new medication reminder app, as well as new and updated watch faces. Read on as we detail what’s new for Apple Watch faces in watchOS 9.
The Apple Watch stands out for its many options that users can customize their watch faces with. Not only can you choose different styles, but you can also change colors and add various complications to see them by raising your wrist.
Over time, Apple has added new watch faces to watchOS, but the old ones have remained pretty much the same. Now with Apple Watch Series 7, it’s even clearer that these watch faces weren’t created with the latest Apple Watch models in mind. With watchOS 9, Apple has not only added three new watch faces, but also updated some of the old ones.
First, let’s dive into the new watch faces that come with watchOS 9.
Lunar
Lunar is one of the new watch faces coming with watchOS 9, and Apple describes it as a watch face that “displays the relationship between the Gregorian and lunar calendars.” Basically, it is inspired by ancient timekeeping techniques based on the phases of the moon.
This watch face, which has the moon in the center and time surrounded by lunar phases, supports four extensions. There aren’t many other customization options other than hand colors, analog or digital time, and Chinese, Hebrew, and Islamic calendars.
Users can rotate the Digital Crown to explore other phases of the moon, and the watch vibrates every time you do so.
Play time
Playtime is a dynamic and interactive watch face created in collaboration with illustrator and artist Joy Fulton. It has a more fun vibe as it shows the numbers as soft toys.
This watch face has no complications, but it allows users to change the background color and add or remove some decorative elements on the background. Time moves on the screen with a parallax effect when you move your wrist and you can interact with numbers by tapping on them.
Metropolitan
The Metropolitan is more of a classic watch face as it replicates an analog watch. However, it has several customization options.
Like other modern watch faces, the Metropolitan also supports up to four corner extensions. Here the user can change the background color as well as the time in the center of the dial. By rotating the digital crown, the numbers become more or less stretched, allowing users to create even more unique looks.
astronomy
While not a new watch face, Astronomy has been completely redesigned in watchOS 9. In addition to super-detailed 3D versions of the Earth and Moon, the changes made to the Astronomy watch face go beyond that.
Users can choose to view the Earth or Moon in full size, or zoom in on a specific part. There is also a version that shows the entire solar system and you can interact with it using the Digital Crown.
When it comes to customization, the Astronomy watch face offers font and extension options at the top and bottom of the screen.
Updated watch faces
Other watch faces have also been updated to watchOS 9, but with less invasive changes. On watch faces such as Modular, Modular Compact and X-Large, users can now change the background by adding a solid color or gradient.
Some of the original watch faces, such as Simple and Utility, also received minor updates, now with support for more modern extensions.
The Portrait watch face, which shows photos taken in portrait mode and blends them over time, has also been updated to work with pet portraits.
Availability
Fortunately, all new watch faces will be available for Apple Watch Series 4 or later, so there are no new watch faces exclusive to Apple Watch Series 7.
watchOS 9 is currently available as developer beta software on the Apple Developer website. The public beta will be released next month, with an official release expected this fall.
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