The big announcement for watchOS 27 is just a few weeks away, and one rumor suggests it could include a new Apple Watch face inspired by my all-time favorite option. Here’s why this rumor is especially interesting.
Modular Ultra reportedly inspired new Apple Watch faces in watchOS 27 for all users
Apple offers a lot of different watch faces available for watchOS, but my favorite is by far Modular Ultra.
Modern series models have similarly sized displays, but Modular Ultra is exclusive to Apple Watch Ultra models.
As I’ve written before, I think the biggest advantage the Apple Watch Ultra has over the series models is the Modular Ultra.
If Modular Ultra becomes available on this year’s Apple Watch Series 12, I would strongly consider switching from the current Ultra 3 model.
That makes one of the few rumors about watchOS 27 so far particularly interesting. Earlier this month, Mark Gurman wrote: bloomberg:
For watchOS 27 (codenamed Orchid), Apple is testing several new features. What particularly stands out is the simplified version of the Modular Ultra design. It features the same large watch as the Ultra Face, but the large central complication option has been removed and three smaller complications line up above the time and information placed around the bezel. The result is a large clock that takes up the top two-thirds of the display, with three smaller complications lined up below. The move appears to be aimed at bringing a version of the Modular Ultra experience to standard series watches
The idea of a “version of the Modular Ultra experience” coming to Apple’s series models sounds like a wish-fulfillment to me.
But the details don’t actually sound like Modular Ultra at all, at least as Gurman’s reported.
Understanding watchOS 27’s rumored new watch face
If this new dial is really just a big clock and three complications at the bottom, I’m not sure how useful it will be. It looks like minor new settings may be added to the classic modular face.
There are already many dials with large digital clocks and several complications. I don’t understand why Apple would need to create a new Modular face for that.
But my hope is that what Gourmand saw is only part of the story. If the new model is indeed aiming to bring a version of the Modular Ultra to more Watch models, it will likely offer more flexibility than reported.
I’d love to see a complete Modular Ultra copy/paste for the series models. However, all that aside, we remain hopeful that this new watchOS 27 watch face offers a little more versatility than what has been described so far.
Interested in watching Gurman’s new modular face for watchOS 27? Let us know in the comments.
The best Apple Watch accessories
