When watchOS 27 was announced, many Apple Watch owners expected a fresh batch of watch faces to arrive alongside new features. That expectation has not been fulfilled so far. The current version of watchOS 27 has not introduced any new faces, and users have been left to explore existing options in new ways. For some, that is disappointing. For others, it is an opportunity to rediscover a face they may have overlooked.

One face that has stood out during this period is Modular Ultra. It is exclusive to the Apple Watch Ultra line and was designed to take advantage of the larger display, the flat screen, and the enhanced brightness of those models. It is a face with a lot going on, but it can also be tamed into something quite minimal.

Key facts at a glance

• watchOS 27 has not added any new Apple Watch faces yet.
• Modular Ultra remains one of the most configurable Apple Watch faces available.
• A simplified Modular Ultra configuration uses large time with seconds, a weather complication, and an activity rings slot.
• The same face can display six compact complications plus a medium complication and bezel data when fully loaded.
• Apple Watch Ultra 3 pricing and refurbished Apple Watch Ultra 2 deals provide useful context for buyers.

No new faces in watchOS 27 yet

Apple has not confirmed a future update that will bring new watch faces, so the current watchOS 27 experience is about making the most of what already exists. That is easier than it sounds because Apple Watch faces have become extremely flexible over the years. Complications can be resized, relocated, and customized by both Apple and third-party apps, meaning one face can feel completely different from one person to another.

The absence of new faces is not necessarily a negative. It has pushed people to spend more time with the faces already on their devices. It has also created an interesting conversation about whether new faces are essential to a smartwatch upgrade or whether subtle improvements to performance, battery, and health features matter more.

Watch faces have always been one of the most personal parts of the Apple Watch experience. Some users want every complication possible, while others treat the face as a simple clock. The watchOS face gallery contains styles suited to both approaches, and the ability to customize each face means there is no single correct way to set up a device.

The case for Modular Ultra

Modular Ultra first appeared with the original Apple Watch Ultra in 2022. It was created to make the most of the largest Apple Watch display at the time, and it quickly became a favorite among athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. The face includes a bright bezel area that can be used for extra data, a large time display, and multiple complication slots. It is one of the few faces that feels genuinely designed for a specific hardware product.

On Apple Watch Ultra 3, the face takes on another dimension. The display can remain bright enough for outdoor visibility, and the always-on mode keeps the most important information visible without raising the wrist. That makes a carefully configured Modular Ultra face incredibly useful for everyday wear.

A more modular, less ultra configuration

My own preference is for a scaled-back version of this high-density face. I set the time in a large size with seconds visible. The seconds are particularly nice on Apple Watch Ultra 3, because the display shows them even in always-on mode. There is something reassuring about watching the seconds tick by without needing to make an extra movement.

For complications, I keep things simple. The bottom left slot shows the current temperature along with the high and low for the day. The top right slot is usually dedicated to activity rings, though I change it from time to time. On days when I am spending more time outdoors, I swap that slot for the UV index. It is a small change, but it makes the face feel more relevant to what I am doing.

The other four small complication slots stay empty. Leaving them blank creates a sense of balance and negative space that many information-dense watch faces lack. It also makes the information I do include easier to process at a glance. The eye is not forced to jump from one corner to another to find a number that matters.

The less-is-more philosophy is not new. It is part of a broader shift in computing toward reducing distractions. On a device worn all day, that can be particularly important. A busy face competes with the user's attention instead of supporting it.

What Modular Ultra can do when fully loaded

To understand why the simplified version works so well, it helps to see the face operating at full capacity. A fully configured Modular Ultra face can show six compact complications. It can also include a medium complication positioned below the smaller clock. The bezel around the outer edge can display seconds, depth, elevation, or training load, depending on what is most useful in the moment.

That full setup is a powerful tool for people who need many data points while running, hiking, diving, or training. The face can effectively replace several glanceable widgets on a traditional smartphone home screen. For athletes, that can be genuinely useful. For everyday wear, however, the visual noise can be overwhelming. The contrast between the two configurations shows how much flexibility Modular Ultra offers.

I think it is great that this face can display so much information. The fact that it can be stripped back to just a few elements is what makes it special. Few faces are able to serve both extremes so well.

A small quirk that adds character

One oddity appears when Modular Ultra is used in the restrained mode. The red notification dot, which normally appears at the top center of many Apple Watch faces, is not centered when there is no top-middle complication in use. It is positioned to accommodate a complication slot that is not active in my configuration. Some people might find this annoying. For me, it is part of the face's personality. It is a small reminder that this is a face designed for maximum flexibility rather than perfect symmetry.

Interest in new watch faces continues

Although watchOS 27 has not delivered new faces yet, there is no shortage of speculation about what might come next. Reports have suggested Apple is working on a brand-new watch face that has not been seen before. There are also signs that a popular existing face could receive new options in a future update. Those rumors have kept the Apple Watch community engaged even as the current release remains unchanged.

For now, the best way to find a fresh experience is to reconfigure an existing face. Spending a few minutes with the customization interface can reveal new ways to use complications, colors, and styles. Sometimes the perfect watch face is not a new one at all. It can be an old one that has been simplified or rearranged to match a new set of priorities.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 is currently available for $699 after a price drop from its original $799. Apple's refurbished store also carries the Apple Watch Ultra 2 for $589. Both models support Modular Ultra and offer the bright, durable design that makes this face so appealing.

Source: 9to5Mac News