Apple Brings Sound Recognition Features to New Watch Models

Apple's Sound Recognition capability, previously exclusive to iPhones, is now available on the new Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 models. The tool is designed to listen for critical household noises such as alarms, sirens, and doorbells, notifying users directly on their wrist even when their iPhone is out of reach.

While targeted primarily at individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, the utility extends to everyday scenarios, such as alerting remote workers wearing noise-cancelling headphones to incoming deliveries. The software can track up to 15 distinct sounds and allows users to program custom alarms, appliances, or doorbells through a paired iPhone.

To utilize the function, users require an Apple Watch Series 12 or Ultra 4 paired with an iPhone SE (2nd generation or later) or an iPhone 11 and newer running iOS 27. Existing iPhone configurations will automatically carry over if the synchronization option is enabled. Apple emphasizes that audio processing occurs locally on the devices without storing recordings, though the company cautions that the tool is not intended for high-risk safety or emergency navigation scenarios.