With watchOS 26, Apple is releasing an update for the Apple Watch that focuses heavily on personalization, intelligent design, and practical everyday features. New gestures, AI-powered features, and a redesigned interface provide greater convenience, better workout support, and more efficient use of the watch.
With watchOS 26, Apple is focusing on advancements in all areas: from design to fitness to communication. Apple Intelligence and the new Workout Buddy are particularly prominent, but smaller improvements like the new gesture for notification management and live translation in messages also demonstrate where things are headed. If you use an Apple Watch Series 6 or later, this update will provide you with many new options – provided your iPhone is also up to date.
New design with Liquid Glass
watchOS 26 features a new, more dynamic design. The "Liquid Glass" surface gives apps, widgets, and controls a glass-like effect that reflects background content while directing focus to what matters most. This applies to the Smart Stack, Control Center, navigation within apps, the "Photos" watch face, and notifications. The familiar interface remains the same but is visually enhanced. The "Photos" watch face features Liquid Glass, allowing numbers to flow elegantly into the image.
Workout Buddy with Apple Intelligence
Apple is introducing Workout Buddy, a new feature powered by Apple Intelligence, that offers a personalized workout experience. The AI analyzes your previous workout data, recognizes patterns, and gives you real-time spoken cues during your workout. These cues are based on your heart rate, pace, distance, Activity Rings, previous performance, and other data points. Examples of such cues include:
- Remembering past mileage
- Notification of closed activity rings
- Notes on new milestones or interim periods
- Personal summary after training with pace, distance, heart rate and comparison to the last days
Workout Buddy works with Bluetooth headphones and requires an iPhone with Apple Intelligence nearby. Initially, it will be available only in English and for outdoor/indoor running, walking, cycling, HIIT, and functional and classic strength training workouts.
Revised workout app
The Workout app receives its biggest layout update since its launch in watchOS 26. New corner buttons make it easier to quickly access features like workout views, custom workouts, pacers, and race tracks. Music and podcasts can be launched directly from the app and played automatically when you start a workout. Apple Music suggests playlists tailored to your preferences and workout type, including podcasts you've recently listened to during similar workouts.
Improved Smart Stack
The Smart Stack now displays proactive alerts based on location, time, sensor readings, and habits. This can provide relevant suggestions, such as a "Backtrack" alert if you're in a remote location without an internet connection, or a Pilates workout reminder if you arrive at the studio at your usual time. Smart Stack alerts appear in the new Liquid Glass style.
News with live translation and smart actions
Messages on Apple Watch are now smarter. Powered by Apple Intelligence, the watch automatically translates incoming messages into your preferred language. Your replies are also translated instantly, even before you send them. Additionally, the watch suggests situation-dependent actions, such as checking in or sending Apple Cash. You can also answer surveys directly from your wrist. The suggested replies are based on an improved language model and adapt to the flow of the conversation.
New gesture control: “Wrist Flick”
With a new one-handed gesture on Apple Watch, you can dismiss notifications and calls, mute alarms, or return to the watch face. Simply raise your wrist, twist, and then twist back. The watch detects this movement using the accelerometer, gyro sensor, and a machine learning model. This feature complements the existing double-tap gesture.
Further innovations in watchOS 26
- The Notes app is coming to the Watch. You can create, search, pin, and edit notes with Siri or dictation.
- Hold Assist detects when a real contact is available for a call and notifies you.
- “Call Screening” shows you who is calling and why when you receive an unknown call – even before the phone rings.
- For hearing-impaired users, there are now live captions for what the iPhone hears. The Apple Watch serves as a remote control for the Live Listen feature.
- The Photos watch face automatically shows you changing images based on Apple's suggested content.
- The watch face gallery has been reorganized and now shows watch faces in collections, making selection easier.
Developer APIs in watchOS 26
Developers have new options for adapting the design and functionality of their apps to the new watchOS 26 using SwiftUI and Widget APIs. The Control Widget API allows for the creation of custom controls for the Control Center or Smart Stack. The Smart Stack Relevance API allows the integration of third-party widgets, such as those for ski resorts or soundtrack apps.
Availability and system requirements
watchOS 26 will be available as a free update this fall for Apple Watch Series 6 and later, Apple Watch SE (2nd generation), and all Ultra models. It requires an iPhone 11 or later with iOS 26. Features that use Apple Intelligence require an iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, or an iPhone 16 model. Live Translation, Smart Actions, and Workout Buddy are available only in certain languages and regions.
watchOS 26: Even smarter with Apple Intelligence
watchOS 26 brings functional innovations across the board – with a focus on personalization and intelligent assistance. Whether you want to better utilize your workout data, respond to messages faster, or use your device more efficiently: the update provides the right tools. Users with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone will especially benefit from most of the features. Those who want to utilize the full potential need the right hardware – but in return, they get a significantly improved user experience. (Image: Apple)
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