Everything you need to know about the huge new update for your Apple Watch

WatchOS 8 continues the trend of Apple adding useful features without overhauling the entire experience. This is inevitable because above all else, stability and speed have to be at the top of Apple’s priority list and so the way watchOS 8 works will feel largely similar to watchOS 7. This does not mean, however, that there is not a lot to enjoy here because all of the small changes add up to an even more positive experience than previously, and they fit in with the idea that the Apple Watch is mainly there for when you need it. The idea of making the Apple Watch the best fitness tracker you can use and the ideal personal assistant persists in watchOS 8, but more than ever before, you can use it standalone if you have a cellular model. Small changes to input methods and sharing functionality fill in some of the few remaining gaps and the rest is there to improve on what is already present. If you have any experience of watchOS at all, none of this will be challenging and the most important part is simply knowing that the changes have been made. It’s time to experience the best watchOS yet.

A new and improved Photos experience

The Photos app on the Apple Watch has always been there as a kind of novelty feature that allows you to quickly view thumbnail sized images when out and about. It does seem, however, that Apple is now aiming to enhance the experience by adding features that have been present on the iPhone for some time.

The Portraits watch face

Sometimes a feature comes along that is extremely impressive, despite theoretically being a minor modification. In this case, Apple has taken the portrait technology used in the iPhone camera and used the layering data to allow the Apple Watch to display the time in a deeper way. A bit of fiddling is needed, but the end result can be highly fulfilling.

1 Choose your method

You can create a Portraits watch face in the iPhone Watch app or on the Apple Watch itself. The iPhone app method is slightly quicker and easier to manage.

2 Make your choice

When you create a new Portraits watch face, the app will automatically display portrait photos to use. Take some time to see how they look when the time is added.