This article may contain affiliate links. Learn more on our Partner Program page.
Two days before the unveiling of the Series 12 and Ultra 4, the code of the current betas provides four concrete clues. One of them is a previously unavailable app, another the first doubling of storage in years. Both are found in the released code – Apple hasn't shown either of them.
A user has sifted through the betas of watchOS 27 and iOS 27 and documented four findings that point to the upcoming Apple Watch generation. The results are available on the MacRumors forum. The same user had previously discovered five unreleased camera features in iOS 27. The code confirms that Apple is working on these features - not that they will be released on Wednesday.
Key Facts at a Glance
- The code contains a standalone app called "Readiness", separate from the existing vital signs app.
- The health database will in future record strength training at the set and repetition level.
- A new family of optical sensors suggests revised hardware for pulse measurement.
- One storage profile lists 128 GB – twice as much as the Series 11 and Ultra 3.
- Two of the four findings concern hardware and cannot be rectified via an update.
What's in the code
| Finding | Meaning |
|---|---|
| App “Readiness” | A dedicated app for recovery and resilience, located on the home screen directly after the training app. |
| Extended training data | Individual sets, repetitions, weight, equipment, body side and duration are saved. |
| New optical sensor family | Lower noise, selection of measurement channels according to wrist and orientation |
| 128 GB storage profile | Double the current generation |
A dedicated app for relaxation
The most striking finding is a separate app, referred to in the code as "Readiness." It is explicitly located next to the existing health app, not within it. In the watchOS 27 home screen, it appears in the default layout directly behind the Workout app, and the Watch app on the iPhone also recognizes it in its app arrangement logic.
The name and position combined suggest more than just a name change: Apple seems to be treating recovery and resilience as a separate topic rather than just another metric among the vital signs. The code doesn't reveal what the feature will be called in German.
Strength training is recorded in more detail
The second finding concerns the background database. In the future, it should be able to store individual sets, along with the number of repetitions, weight, equipment used, the side of the body being worked, and the duration.
This is a significant leap forward from the current system, where strength training is essentially recorded as a time block with calorie estimates. Those who have previously relied on third-party apps to track sets would now have a built-in system for this purpose. Whether Apple will also provide a user interface for this is not clear from the code.
Indications of revised sensor technology
The third discovery mentions a new family of optical sensors with lower noise levels. In addition, the measurement channels can be selected depending on which wrist the watch is worn on and how it is oriented.
In practical terms, this targets situations where the reflected pulse signal is weak—with cold hands, a loose seat, or during intense exercise. This aligns with reports that the Series 12 will continuously monitor the pulse and with earlier indications of improved heart rate measurement in watchOS 27. Continuous measurement requires more energy-efficient and reliable sensors - so the software and hardware indications fit together.
The storage capacity doubles
The fourth finding is the most tangible: a storage profile exceeding 128 GB. The currently sold models, Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3, each offer 64 GB – the value in the code would therefore represent a doubling.
In practice, this is especially important for offline music and podcasts on your wrist, as well as for maps for longer hikes without an iPhone. For the Ultra series, which is specifically designed for this purpose, this point carries more weight than for the Series models.
What the code proves and what it doesn't
All four findings come from released code, not from an analyst estimate or a supply chain. This makes them more reliable than most of what's circulating this week—but it says nothing about the timing. Apple can prepare features and release them later, as several examples from past cycles demonstrate.
It's worth making a distinction here: the Readiness app and training data are software and could, in principle, also be used on older watches. Sensors and storage are hardware and cannot be upgraded. Anyone considering buying the current generation should keep this distinction in mind – the answer will be revealed on Wednesday at 7 PM CEST. Expectations for both models can be found in our overviews of the Series 12 and the Ultra 4.
Would detailed tracking of sentences and repetitions be worth an upgrade to you – or is the doubled storage capacity the more compelling argument? Let us know in the comments what would tip the scales.
