watchOS11 seems to include automatic nap detection, but there's some confusion as to what this means

Recently, an Apple Watch user trying out the watchOS11 beta posted on Reddit that he recorded his sleep data in the Health app when he took a nap, even though the apple Watch was not in sleep mode This means that Apple Watches running watchOS11 can support sleep tracking even when the dedicated sleep mode is turned off However, the nap feature does not appear to track different sleep stages, like sleep mode

1 One of the features of Apple Watch can help you track your sleep habits through the Sleep app The app makes it possible to create a sleep schedule that allows users to achieve their sleep goals All you have to do is wear your watch to bed and it estimates the time you spend at each stage of sleep However, you must enable this feature or at least enable it before watchOS11 The new nap feature was not mentioned in watchOS11's WWDC presentation, but Apple highlighted some new features that are part of the new software Users can now pause their activity circle, making it much easier to take a break without affecting your activity streak There is also the addition of a new vital app that allows users to view their heart rate, breathing rate, skin temperature and more 

This new nap feature is certainly something people were looking forward to, but it will not be offered to anyone Apple recently announced that it will end support for 4 Apple Watch models: Apple Watch Series5, Apple Watch Series5, and the original Apple Watch SE (2020) 3 If you have one of these models, you'll need to upgrade to the latest Apple Watch model to use watchOS11 

If you want a breakdown of all the announcements made during last week's Apple software-focused event, check out the WWDC summary If you are in the market for new wearables, check out our best smartwatches guide