Apple is bringing fresh updates to the Apple Watch with watchOS 12, which will be announced at WWDC 2025. From AI-powered tools to accessibility upgrades, 9to5Mac has compiled a look at the three major features expected.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- AI-powered features are coming to Apple Watch via Apple Intelligence (iPhone required).
- UI redesign to match the fresh look of iOS 19 and other Apple platforms.
- Live Listen & Live Captions make Apple Watch more accessible than ever.
- Official announcement expected at WWDC 2025 in early June.
Apple Intelligence Comes to Apple Watch (Sort Of)
Apple Watch doesn’t run Apple Intelligence natively, but that won’t stop it from getting AI-powered features through your iPhone.
According to Mark Gurman, Apple is branding a few new tools in watchOS 12 as “powered by Apple Intelligence.” These include:
- A redesigned Siri experience with smarter responses
- Genmoji creation directly on your Apple Watch
- Smart notification summaries shown via widgets
These features will depend on your iPhone’s processing power but will feel native on your wrist.
A New Look: watchOS 12 UI Redesign
Apple is aligning the look of all its platforms this year, and watchOS 12 is getting in on the action.
The honeycomb app picker is getting a makeover (via The Verifier), possibly alongside the list view. Expect updated buttons, menus, and icons that bring a more cohesive design across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS.
This is part of a broader Apple push toward a cleaner, more unified interface across devices.
Accessibility Boost: Live Listen & Live Captions
Accessibility gets a major upgrade in watchOS 12. For the first time, Live Listen and Live Captions are coming to Apple Watch. Apple announced this as part of its upcoming iOS 19 and macOS 16 accessibility features ahead of WWDC 2025,
Live Listen turns iPhone into a remote microphone to stream content directly to AirPods, Made for iPhone hearing aids, or Beats headphones. When a session is active on iPhone, users can view Live Captions of what their iPhone hears on a paired Apple Watch while listening along to the audio. Apple Watch serves as a remote control to start or stop Live Listen sessions, or jump back in a session to capture something that may have been missed. With Apple Watch, Live Listen sessions can be controlled from across the room, so there’s no need to get up in the middle of a meeting or during class.
You’ll be able to start, stop, and replay sessions from across the room using your Apple Watch, perfect for meetings, lectures, or everyday use.
Final Thoughts
watchOS 12 may not steal the spotlight at WWDC, but it’s shaping up to be a solid update for Apple Watch users. With smarter features, a modern design, and improved accessibility tools, your wrist is about to get a whole lot more powerful.
Stay tuned for full details during the WWDC 2025 keynote next month.
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