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Three new Apple Watch models debuted during the iPhone 17 launch; the Series 11, Watch SE 3, and Watch Ultra 3. As is tradition, Apple spoke through new software features coming to these new models, but we’ve since learned some older models will also gain that new functionality.
Many who watched the launch event thought Apple’s Sleep Score feature may be exclusive to new products. Apple has since confirmed that the functionality will come to almost all modern smartwatch models. The brand’s new Hypertension Notifications will also come to a select list of existing Apple Watches.
Sleep Score will debut on older smartwatches as part of watchOS 26, and you’ll need a compatible iPhone 11 or later with iOS 26 installed to access it. Supported models include the Apple Watch Series 6 or later, Apple Watch SE (2nd gen), and both Apple Watch Ultra iterations.
The only model released since 2020 to miss out is the original Watch SE. That was released alongside the Series 6, but it’s losing software support this year.
Sleep Score works in a similar way to how other fitness brands give you an easy to read score of how well you’ve slept each night. It will use bedtime consistency, blood oxygen, duration, heart rate, respiratory rate, and wrist temperature to judge your overall sleep. It will also look at how often you wake up, and much time you spend in each sleep stage to give you a score out of 100.
Apple says, “After each night, sleep score provides an overall score and classification in the Sleep app on Apple Watch, plus a clear breakdown of the most critical components, so users know what to prioritize to improve their sleep.” You can view this within the Health app as well as through a Smart Stack or through a watch face complication.
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Hypertension Notifications are a new feature for Apple using information from your heart rate to analyze how your blood vessels and heart beats work together to predict whether you may have high blood pressure. It will monitor your heart over 30 days, and if it spots an issue it will tell you to speak to your doctor.
The feature has yet to get FDA approval, but Apple says it expects to be given the all clear by the end of the month. Older models supporting this feature include the Apple Watch 9, Watch 10, Apple Watch Ultra 2, as well as the newly announced watches. The pending FDA approval means Apple has yet to announce a release date.
Your Apple Watch will get Sleep Score on Monday, Sept. 15. That’s when watchOS 26 launches alongside iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, and tvOS 26. It’ll be available as a free update.
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About James Peckham
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