Watch Faces Lab - smart watchv1.1.31

Released July 4, 2024Major

iOS

The recent major update triggered a severe decline in user satisfaction, with the iOS rating dropping by 1.38 stars from a pre-update average of 3.92 to a post-update average of 2.54. This negative impact is driven by critical functional failures, including watch faces failing to load and crashes on newer Apple Watch models. Additionally, reviewers describe losing access to premium purchases after upgrading hardware, compounding the downward trend.

What changed

UXOptimized user experience by recommending favorite watch faces
ContentAdded new watch faces to the collection
PerformanceGeneral bug fixes

Reception

19/ 100 impact scoreStrongly Negative

What didn't

UX
backfired
The recommended watch faces feature backfired as users report watch faces failing to load or disappearing from screens.
Performance
backfired
The general bug fixes backfired, resulting in crashes and compatibility failures on newer Apple Watch models.
Content
no evidence
There is no evidence that the new watch faces added to the collection improved user satisfaction, as overall ratings declined.

How it played out

Retrospective analysisAugust 8, 2026

The iOS rating declined by 1.38 stars since the release of the latest update, dropping from a pre-update average of 3.92 to a post-update average of 2.54. This downward trend is driven by critical functional failures, with users reporting that watch faces fail to load, disappear from screens, or become inaccessible after hardware upgrades. Momentum remains weak as unresolved compatibility issues on newer device models continue to depress user satisfaction.

-1.38 ★

Sentiment shift

New complaints (3)

Users report watch faces failing to load or disappearing from screenshigh

Reviewers describe losing access to premium purchases after upgrading hardwaremedium

Users report crashes and compatibility failures on newer Apple Watch modelsmedium

Marlvel takeaways

Resolve the critical rendering bugs causing watch faces to fail to load or disappear from screens.
Address compatibility failures and crashes specifically affecting newer Apple Watch models.
Restore access to premium purchases for users who upgraded their hardware to prevent further negative reviews.

Original release notes

-Experience optimization, recommending your favorite watch faces.
-Added new watch faces.
-Bug fixes.