watchOS 26.2 introduces a new sleep rating scale: Apfelpatient

With the update to watchOS 26.2, Apple is introducing changes to the Apple Watch's sleep rating feature. The rating scales have been revised to better reflect what a night of poor or interrupted sleep can actually feel like. The naming of the highest rating has also been adjusted. While the underlying calculation remains unchanged, the interpretation of the numbers is intended to be more realistic.

Sleep analysis has long been an integral part of many Apple Watch users' experience. With watchOS 26, a sleep score was introduced for the first time, summarizing sleep quality on a scale of 0 to 100. Three components are factored into the score: sleep duration, adherence to a planned bedtime, and nighttime interruptions. The idea is to provide a simple overview showing how restful a night's sleep was – independent of subjective feelings. With watchOS 26.2, Apple is now taking things a step further, modifying the scales to better contextualize the results.

New classification of sleep scores

The most noticeable change in watchOS 26.2 concerns the rating scale. Previously, scores were categorized into five groups – these categories remain, but the boundaries have shifted. Additionally, the highest score receives a new name. The new rating categories look like this:

Very low: 0–40 (previously 0–29)
Low: 41–60 (previously 30–49)
OK: 61–80 (previously 50–69)
High: 81–95 (previously 70–89)
Very high: 96–100 (previously 90–100, previous designation: „Excellent“)

The "Excellent" designation has been removed. Instead, the top category is now called "Very High"—in line with the other ratings. Apple is thus opting for a more consistent and easily understandable gradation system.

What is behind the sleep score?

The sleep score was introduced with watchOS 26 and is available for all Apple Watch models that support this operating system. The calculation is based on three factors:

Sleep duration (50 points): The closer the actual sleep time is to the personal goal, the more points are awarded.
Bedtime (30 points): This counts whether the person went to sleep at the planned time.
Interruptions (20 points): Frequent waking up during the night has a negative impact.

Nevertheless, it's possible to achieve a "High" rating even with only five or six hours of sleep – especially if other factors are favorable. This is precisely where watchOS 26.2 comes in: The new classification aims to better reflect such discrepancies between the score and actual perception.

Why this adjustment?

Apple is responding to criticism that the previous sleep ratings were too optimistic. Many users reported receiving high scores despite experiencing what they perceived as poor sleep. The new scale aims to make sleep ratings more realistic – even though the underlying scoring system remains the same.

The change is therefore purely cosmetic, but it has a noticeable impact on the interpretation. It makes it clear that a "high" score does not necessarily mean perfect recovery – and that "OK" is not necessarily bad.

watchOS 26.2 revises the scale, not the measurement.

watchOS 26.2 doesn't change the sleep analysis itself, but rather how it's displayed. The new rating scales are more clearly structured and designed to provide a more realistic picture of sleep quality. Renaming the top category to "Very High" creates greater consistency. Overall, the update provides a better understanding of your sleep data – without any underlying technical changes. Anyone using an Apple Watch with watchOS 26 will directly benefit from this fine-tuned adjustment. The best products for you: Our Amazon storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including those compatible with HomeKit. (Image: Shutterstock / Wongsakorn 2468)