If you’re a user who relies on advanced text-to-speech functionality on your Apple Watch, there’s an important development in watchOS 11 that you should be aware of. Based on current findings, it appears that Apple may have introduced an unannounced limitation on the usage of Premium and Enhanced voices by third-party apps in this latest release.
Missing Premium Voices in Third-Party Apps
Although the voices are installed on the watch, non-Apple apps no longer see them when querying for available voices using the standard API. This behavior has been observed across multiple apps but is especially impactful on apps that heavily rely on high-quality text-to-speech, such as Speech Central and Voice Dream.
Is This a Bug or an Intentional Restriction?
As of now, Apple has not made any official announcement about this change. A formal report has been submitted via Feedback Assistant on January 3rd, 2025 (Feedback ID: FB16228918), but there has been no official response from Apple regarding whether this is a bug or an intended feature.
Possible Battery Optimization Motivation
There is some speculation that the restriction could be linked to battery performance. Enhanced and Premium voices require more system resources and could potentially drain battery life faster. However, this theory conflicts with Apple’s recent decisions to loosen some audio restrictions on devices like the Apple Watch Ultra, where background audio can now be played through the built-in speakers — a feature previously limited due to power concerns.
What Should Apple Watch Users Do?
If Premium and Enhanced voice quality is crucial to your experience, particularly for accessibility or productivity, you may want to delay updating to watchOS 11 until more information becomes available. This is especially relevant for users of voice reader apps who depend on the natural and expressive tones of Enhanced voices for daily use.
Still the Best TTS Experience on Apple Watch
Regardless of this new limitation, Speech Central continues to deliver the most comprehensive and customizable text-to-speech experience on the Apple Watch. With a broad set of supported features and highly optimized voice handling, it remains the go-to solution for users who value voice clarity and functionality on the go.
Stay Updated
As soon as there is more information from Apple regarding this situation, we’ll provide updates here. In the meantime, consider holding off on updating to watchOS 11 if voice quality is a priority for you.