watchOS 27 launches this fall as the next major Apple Watch update, and it includes a handy new feature that can improve your Apple Watch battery life: ‘proactive battery extension notifications.’

watchOS 27 is coming soon, adding two apps to Apple Watch, a useful tap gesture, new default Home Screen, three Health-related upgrades, and more.

Another watchOS 27 addition aims to boost your Apple Watch battery life.

‘Proactive battery extension notifications’ are a new type of alert you might see on Apple Watch.

When you get a battery extension alert, it means watchOS 27 has detected that there are certain features you never use that will save battery life if disabled.

These include things like gestures, Raise to Speak for invoking Siri, and Start Workout reminders.

Each of these features involves background processing that can take a hit on battery life.

So in watchOS 27, if the system detects that you never use these features, it can automatically disable them. The ‘battery extension notification’ is then sent to inform you this will happen, and provide the opportunity to keep them enabled.

If you do use these features regularly, you’ll never see this alert. Though of course, you can always choose to open Settings and manually disable them if you’d prefer the battery savings.

Apple doesn’t say exactly how much more battery life users will get by disabling these features. But clearly the power savings are worthwhile enough to merit building this new battery extension feature in the first place.

Do you ever use Apple Watch features like Raise to Speak, gestures, or Start Workout reminders? Will you keep them enabled moving forward? Let us know in the comments.

• AirPods Pro 3 (now only $199, down from $249)
• Portable USB-C charger for Apple Watch
• MagSafe Car Mount for iPhone
• 10-year AirTag battery case 2-pack
• Retro Mac stand for Apple Watch Nightstand Mode