6/10 Update: Apple's WWDC2024 has started today. Follow along for all the Big Apple event news in our WWDC2024 live blog.

Apple's yet-to-be-official watchOS11 software is likely to be unveiled at WWDC2024 this month, giving us a glimpse of what wearable computing will look like for Apple Watch users through next year.

The rumored Siri 2.0 overhaul will certainly affect how to use the assistant on your wrist, but new features for communication, fitness and safety are almost certain in store for Apple's flagship smartwatch.

As software to be shipped to Apple Watch Series10 (and possibly Apple Watch Ultra3), there are plenty of reasons to pay attention to watchOS11 in the annual developer keynote.

Whether you're wondering if your old Apple Watch will be compatible with the new software or if Apple will reveal attractive features. There will soon be a big announcement.

In the meantime, there's something we know about watchOS11 based on precedent and some features we'd like to see in this year's software Refresh. Aside from major changes on the Apple side, watchOS11 should be announced at WWDC6/10th of 2024 along with other software updates such as iOS18 and iPadOS18 and the next macOS version.

Following WWDC, a developer beta version of watchOS11 will almost certainly be released. Then, based on the timing from previous years, the public beta should start sometime in a month for an optional download.

Based on the past release schedule, watchOS11 should be fully available on May 10, probably within the same weeks as the Apple Watch Series9 announcement. In WatchOS10, apple has not made any significant changes to compatibility with all eligible regular software updates from Apple Watch Series4 to Apple Watch Series9, Apple Watch SE (2022), and Apple Watch Ultra2.

(although some features are only available on some models.)

That said, this may be the year Apple Watch Series4 lost update support. It is running on a processor about 6 years ago and is outdated in the years of mobile technology.

But there is a catch — the same processor has been found on the original Apple Watch SE, a watch that would be only 4 years old. I'm not sure if Apple can support one watch with watchOS11 and not the other.

Of course, there are some watchOS11 features dedicated to Apple Watch models with a always-on display, new health sensors, and a more spacious display. I wouldn't be surprised if there were updates that only work in the Apple Watch Ultra lineup.

Holidays: For example, compared to the Oura ring, one of my biggest woes with the Apple Watch is that the Apple Watch ring doesn't give you the option to take a day off.1 Whether you've worked tirelessly, haven't slept well, or are becoming sick, it's important to take time to rest and recover your body. It would be great if there was a way to have a "rest day" without losing the muscle of Apple Watch activity. 

Health Dashboard: You can see all kinds of health data in multiple Apple Watch apps, but see fitness, sleep, and menstrual cycle data in 1 place Ideally, this is an extension of the Iphone health app, but it's also a dashboard-style app curated specifically for the Apple Watch experience. It's a good idea. 

Native notes app: I want to see the Notes app take over the Apple Watch experience. This app will probably sync with your iPhone's existing Notes app through iCloud. But whether you need to remember your shopping items, create a to-do list or write down creative ideas, having a notes app will allow you to do so without the need for your iPhone. Similarly, you can browse the notes you wrote on your iPhone from your wrist.

Step Count Complications: I finally figured out how to check your step count on the face of your Apple Watch. You need a third-party Apple Watch app because there is no step-counting complexity provided directly through your Apple Watch. If Apple introduces a new complication to watchOS11, I think the pedometer should be at the top of the priority list.