Apple Watch to receive substantial upgrades with watchOS 9, macOS 13 to benefit from overdue improvements

While Mark Gurman commented on software improvements due for iPhones with iOS 16, the Bloomberg editor has also outlined the state of macOS 13 and watchOS 9. For reference, only the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are expected to feature always-on display (AOD) functionality, for one reason or another. Potentially, this could be of the pair's new displays, although it is unclear why the displays of other iPhones could not benefit from AOD functionality too.

According to Gurman, there will be no such restrictions with a power-saving mode that is coming to watchOS this autumn. Due to arrive in watchOS 9, the mode should extend runtimes in a similar manner to how iPhones do with their power-saving mode. Presumably, the new mode will be separate from watchOS' existing power-saving mode, which only allows an Apple Watch to display the time. Purportedly, watchOS 9 will also introduce UI and navigation improvements along with new watch faces.

Meanwhile, macOS 13 should finally bring improvements to System Preferences, an area of macOS that Apple has left untouched for years. Supposedly, Apple will align System Preferences with Settings in iOS and iPadOS; whether System Preferences retains its name remains unknown. However, Gurman expects Apple to organise settings by app at the very least. Additionally, Gurman believes that Apple will redesign some system apps, while extending iPhone and Watch collaboration with macOS. As it stands, Apple is expected to unveil macOS 13 at WWDC 2022, which begins on June 6.

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