Apple has announced watchOS?26, the next major update to the Apple Watch platform. Like the others, it is set to introduce a translucent Liquid Glass design, AI-enhanced workout experiences, and new convenience features aimed at personalisation, health, and connectivity.
Enhanced Workout App, Workout Buddy and more
A highlight is Workout Buddy, an AI-driven feature that delivers real-time coaching during workouts. It can provide encouraging voice prompts, track metrics such as heart rate, distance, pace, and activity streaks, and even celebrate milestones with generative trainer-style feedback.
The Workout app has also been redesigned with corner buttons to offer quick access to workout settings, pacing tools, and music controls. Additionally, Apple Music now intelligently recommends playlists or podcasts tailored to the exercise type and user preference.
Smarter Smart Stack, Message Tools and others
Next, more personalisation comes via Smart Stack hints, displaying context-relevant suggestions like prompting a Pilates class reminder upon arriving at your usual studio or the Backtrack feature in remote areas. Messages also gain automatic message translation, smart replies, and proactive checkout prompts.
Apple also integrated a new wrist-flick gesture on watchOS 26, which will be available on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra models. As the name implies, this allows users to dismiss notifications, calls, or alarms with a simple flick. The system also now detects ambient noise levels and adjusts alert volume accordingly.
Liquid Glass and Other Noteworthy Features
Just like the other new software versions, watchOS 26 brings Liquid Glass, a new visual design that adds depth and translucency to widgets, notifications, Control Center, and in-app elements. The Photos watch face also gets an upgrade, with transparent numerals that blend elegantly with personal images.
On the other hand, watchOS?26 brings full Notes app support to the wrist, enabling note-taking, checklist management, and pinning. Accessibility is enhanced with new features like Live Captions and Live Listen controls, while Hold Assist and Call Screening offer improved call handling.
Availability and Compatibility
A developer beta is now available, followed by a public beta next month, and a full release is scheduled for this fall. watchOS?26 will be compatible with Apple Watch Series?6 and later, Watch SE (2nd), and all Watch Ultra models, provided it's paired with an iPhone 11 or newer. AI-driven features require a Series?9/Ultra 2 and a supported iPhone.
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