A Powerful and Versatile Apple Watch Face: The New Photos Face
Apple Watch users will be delighted to know that the new Photos face in watchOS 11 is a significant improvement over its predecessor. The previous Photos face was rather basic, allowing users to select a photo and display time and complications on top of it. However, the new Photos face takes customization to a whole new level.
The new Photos face, which I had the opportunity to test on an Apple Watch Series 9 with watchOS 11 developer beta installed, feels almost like its own separate app for the Watch. Users can now choose between a wide range of options and precisely customize their watch face according to their preferences. With the new Photos face, you can set it to display a single photo or rotate up to six photos of your choice. Additionally, you can have it shuffle through a collection of photos on your phone, including entire albums or automatically generated collections like People, Nature, or Cities.
Apple claims that the Photos face “intelligently analyzes” the photos in your library and selects the best compositions, framing, and image quality for your Watch. While it may not always be perfect, especially with images in uncommon aspect ratios, the new face does a commendable job of choosing what to focus on.
One of the standout features of the new Photos face is the ability to customize the time indicator. Users can select from various sizes, ranging from small to extra large. There is also a special “dynamic” setting that adjusts the text size to best fit the photo. Moreover, you can choose the time indicator’s font, script, and even change the style of the overall face with options like natural, black & white, and monotone. Additionally, you can set the color tint for both the photo and the time indicator.
Furthermore, the Photos face allows users to add two complications – one on top and one at the bottom. This feature adds even more versatility and functionality to the watch face. Whether you want to showcase photos of your family or create elaborate setups, the Photos face offers a plethora of options to suit your preferences.
However, it’s worth noting that creating and fully configuring the Photos face cannot be done directly on the Watch itself. Instead, users need to open the Watch app on their iPhone, navigate to New Watch Faces, choose the Photos watch face, and set it up from there. Fortunately, most of the customization options are also available on the Watch. To edit the face, simply long press on it and choose Edit.
In conclusion, the new Photos face in watchOS 11 for Apple Watch is a powerful and versatile addition. It allows users to personalize their watch face with their favorite photos and offers extensive customization options. While it may require some initial setup from the iPhone, the end result is a visually stunning and highly functional watch face that can cater to individual preferences. So, if you’re ready to spend a little time tweaking, the new Photos face opens up a world of possibilities for your Apple Watch.
