Apple isn't the only company that pulled this move this year. With the release of Wear OS 5 in July, owners of Google Pixel watches or Samsung Galaxy watches saw some older faces disappear. Most of this was due to Google doubling down on the Watch Face Format introduced in 2023, which made certain faces incompatible.

Previous versions of watchOS allowed the Apple Watch to be used as a remote control for an Apple TV, with limited functionality. With watchOS 11, the smartwatch can potentially completely replace the Siri Remote that now ships with Apple’s streaming box, with new capabilities spotted by 9to5Mac.

It’s not just the Siri face that’s gone in watchOS 11. Apple has discontinued the analog Chronograph, Explorer, and

watchOS 11 is available now for the Apple Watch Series 6 onwards and all Apple Watch Ultra models. You can read our review of the new Apple Watch Series 10 if you're in the market for an upgrade. Apple iPhone 16 Pro review: pocket-sized brilliance and no concessions

In WatchOS 11 you can finally adjust your activity rings and take a rest day if you're sick. In the Activity app, tap on the three rings and then tap pause rings. You can pause for the day, week or month, or you can set a custom target.

Following FDA approval, Apple will shortly launch its sleep apnea detection feature for the Apple Watch, and has now published a health paper detailing its development and verification.

But the discourse around too many streamers is no reason to dismiss Apple TV+, which has stealthily become one of the hubs for science fiction and similar genre programming. It’s also very easy to get access to,