Apple just dropped new updates for all its operating systems today, and watchOS is part of the lineup. The latest version, watchOS 26, brings a bunch of upgrades to Apple Watches.
One of the big changes is the new Liquid Glass design, which Apple has rolled out across all its OS updates. This feature is supposed to create a more vibrant and dynamic experience by reflecting and refracting content in real time.
Another cool addition is the new wrist flick gesture for handling notifications. It’ll be available on the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2. If you don’t want to deal with a notification, you can just quickly flip your wrist over and back to dismiss it.
The gesture also works for silencing alarms, timers, or returning to the watch face. It uses the watch’s accelerometer and gyroscope, along with a machine learning model, to detect your movement.
Workout Buddy is another highlight of the update, powered by Apple Intelligence. It gives you personalised motivation during workouts based on your fitness history and data. It can offer pep talks, highlight key moments in your session, or recap your stats and celebrate your progress.
The Workout app itself has a refreshed layout, now with four new buttons for quick access to features like Workout Views, Custom Workout, Pacer, and Race Route. You can also set up music or podcasts to play automatically when you start a workout.
Smart Stack has gotten smarter too, with better prediction algorithms that use more context, sensor data, and your routine to offer proactive suggestions. These hints will show up as subtle visual prompts.
Messages on the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 now supports Live Translation, but you’ll need an Apple Intelligence-compatible iPhone paired with it.
watchOS 26 will be available this fall for Apple Watch Series 6 and later, the second-gen SE, and all Ultra models. You’ll need an iPhone 11 or newer running iOS 26 to use it.