Screen Views

You can accommodate more information on the watch’s small display by choosing one of five view types that shows the content most effectively:

  • Vertical
  • Horizontal
  • Anchored
  • Freeform
  • Temporary

Vertically oriented screens

Horizontally oriented screens

Screens with stacked layers

Screens with large content

Screens with a temporary overlay

Vertical view

Horizontal view

Anchored view

Freeform view

Temporary view

Basic structures of five screen views

Vertical view

Vertical views are read from top to bottom, so use them for lists and longer pieces of text. They scroll up or down by swiping up or down or by rotating the bezel. A clockwise rotation scrolls down the screen, while a counterclockwise rotation scrolls back to the top.

  • Lists

    As users scroll through a list of items in a vertical view, the item in focus is highlighted with a larger font. A circular scroll bar on the screen indicates where the user is in relation to the list as a whole.

  • Cards

    Simple information can also be presented on a set of individual cards. As the user navigates up or down, the next or previous card snaps onto the screen. A circular scroll bar indicates which card in the whole series is currently being viewed.

  • Body text

    Body text presents information in a long form format. A circular scroll bar on the screen indicates where the user is in relation to the body text as a whole.

    Body text type screens display long text that users can scroll through.

Horizontal view

Users navigate the horizontal view by swiping to the right or left. Use horizontal views for a series of thumbnails or a series of screens that tell one continuous narrative. Screens scroll horizontally and move content to the right or left.

Like vertical views, horizontal views scroll by swiping left or right or by rotating the bezel. A clockwise rotation scrolls the screen right, while a counterclockwise rotation scrolls left.

  • Pages

    Pages are ideal for providing a series of images or text across a number of screens. Page indicators at the top of the screen show which page is currently being viewed.

    Images are presented on individual cards.

    Text information is presented on individual pages.

  • Continuous

    Continuous screens are well suited for presenting information that has a time flow, such as a trend graph or a progress report. Users can scroll right or left to move forward or backward through the time flow. A circular scroll bar indicates which part of the content is currently being viewed.

    Continuous type screens can display a wide graph or image.

Anchored view

Anchored views display content on screen layers, which users can navigate by swiping left or right or by rotating the bezel. These layers can contain varying depths of content. For example, an app using anchored views can consist of independent data and functions, such as a pedometer, heart rate monitor, and a workout tracker. This is a major difference from the horizontal and vertical views that contain only related content.

  • Dials

    Dial screens are well suited for displaying information that cannot be arranged evenly. When users swipe left or right or rotate the bezel, the indicator moves around the screen, bringing items and information into focus. The index indicator selects and displays specific information in a simple and easy way.

Freeform view

Freeform displays content that can be panned or zoomed, such as a photo in the Gallery app. These views are panned by touch and zoomed by touch or with the bezel. Spreading your fingers or turning the bezel in a clockwise rotation zooms into an image. Pinching your fingers or turning the bezel in a counterclockwise rotation zooms out.

Freeform is only recommended for large images such as a photo in the Gallery app

Temporary view

Temporary view windows interrupt the user’s workflow by appearing over the current screen, forcing users to close them before they can continue what they were doing. Use temporary views to ask the user to make a decision, get their confirmation, and provide more functionality.

  • Pop-up

    Dialog pop-ups ask the user to make a decision about a task or inform them about the result of a task. They have buttons, such as Confirm or Cancel, but a scroll bar generally is not provided.

    A dialog pop-up is presented with buttons, so users can select or confirm.

  • Toasts

    Toast pop-ups inform the user about a task result or relay information, and disappears after a few seconds.

    A toast pop-up displays simple information for a brief time.

  • More options

    More options provides access to functions that are related to an item in a list.

    More options are accessed through the dots on the right side of the screen.

  • Pickers

    Pickers allow users to set a value like a number, a date, or time.