At its WWDC 2025 keynote, Apple introduced the newest watchOS replace for the Apple Watch. The brand new software program sees extra AI components than ever land on the watch, in addition to a significant aesthetic redesign.
And sure, as anticipated Cupertino has switched from conventional model numbers (the earlier replace, watchOS 11, was the eleventh yearly replace) to ones primarily based on the yr when the software program will primarily be in use. The brand new replace, which is able to launch to the general public in September and keep it up till the next fall, is called watchOS 26 after the yr 2026.
Liquid Glass: The massive redesign
Earlier within the keynote, Apple introduced a broad undertaking known as Liquid Glass, a sweeping cross-platform redesign affecting the interfaces of the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV… and Apple Watch. So the smallest display in Cupertino’s secure will get a brand new look similtaneously the bigger and costlier merchandise.
Liquid Glass takes its inspiration from Imaginative and prescient Professional and encompasses a variety of visible and interactive modifications. Extra UI components than earlier than are translucent, with menus and buttons constructed as layers that refract and replicate the colours and shapes beneath. Furnishings is rounded and dynamic, shrinking and increasing as you navigate by the interface. Specular highlights make every part look shiny.
The Apple Watch has much less house to showcase this new design than the opposite affected merchandise, however watchOS 26 nonetheless seems to be distinct from earlier iterations. The numerals on watch faces have the signature glassy look, and within the Pictures face, they modify measurement dynamically to swimsuit the obtainable house in numerous images. The translucent design additionally reveals up in buttons inside Apple’s apps, in addition to notifications, widgets within the Sensible Stack, Management Middle toggles and extra.
Briefly, watchOS 26 seems to be beautiful. However it additionally appears considerably unfamiliar as a result of so many components have been redesigned, and this will imply it’ll seem user-friendly at first. In time we should always all get used to it.
Apple
Exercise Buddy
We’ve complained previously that the Apple Watch was neglected of the Apple Intelligence occasion although it appears essentially the most suited to reap the benefits of the know-how. The arrival of watchOS 26 doesn’t give the watch the complete Apple Intelligence expertise, presumably attributable to an absence of processing energy, however there are extra AI components than ever earlier than.
This being a fitness-focused product, it’s no shock that Apple Intelligence is principally aimed in that path. There’s a brand new characteristic known as Exercise Buddy that analyzes your utilization information and health metrics to create customized insights and pep talks. Apple offers the next for instance of what Exercise Buddy may supply:
“Option to get out to your run this Wednesday morning. You’re 18 minutes away from closing your Train ring. To date this week, you’ve run 6 miles. You’re going so as to add to that immediately.”
That’s your motivation forward of a exercise, however the characteristic presents contributions whilst you train, too. It’s going to notify you of break up occasions and milestones, such because the time for the final mile or the overall variety of miles run within the yr thus far, for instance, “Mile 4. You picked up the tempo and ran that final one in 8 minutes and 28 seconds,” and “Hey, verify this out. Your whole working distance for the yr simply crossed the 200-mile mark! That’s a whole lot of working!”
Then on the finish the assistant recaps your stats (distance, time, common tempo, coronary heart charge) and presents congratulations for any milestones or private bests.
All of those interruptions might be motivational or they might be annoying. Lots of people wish to get within the zone when exercising and audio backdrop is a key a part of that–both silence, a favourite playlist, or perhaps a podcast. However we’re fairly certain the characteristic will probably be elective, and a few exercisers will find it irresistible.
Reside Translation in Messages
Speaking of Apple Intelligence, that is additionally used to energy Reside Translation in Messages on the Apple Watch. When a textual content is available in and it’s not in your native language, the system will translate proper there in your watch; the response you enter in your personal language will then be translated again to the unique.
You do must have an iPhone that helps Apple Intelligence for this, nevertheless, so presumably the work isn’t really taking place on the watch.
Apple
Sensible Stack
Apple says the Sensible Stack watch face is getting smarter, too. It incorporates extra information to energy its predictive algorithms, sucking in data from sensors and your each day routine, and has a brand new strategy to make hints about actions you may need to take. These will seem as what Apple describes as a “light visible immediate,” popping up on the backside of the display and drawing the attention with its glassy, shiny look.
New wrist flick gesture
It is a enjoyable and probably helpful new characteristic: you possibly can dismiss notifications and calls, in addition to turning off timers and alarms, by flicking your wrist. It ought to make life simpler when your watch tries to get your consideration whilst you’re in the midst of a exercise or different exercise.
Exercise app
The all-important Exercise app has been redesigned. It’s very totally different, actually, with new buttons within the corners of the display to entry customization choices. As an everyday Exercise person, I’ve to say that it seems to be somewhat difficult and intimidating, however I belief it would turn into acquainted in time, and sure a extra highly effective software for organising exercises the best way I would like them.
Apple
Now you can arrange music and podcasts from inside the Exercise app in order that they begin taking part in once you begin exercising. Or, in the event you’d somewhat not have to provide this any thought, you possibly can have Apple Music choose a playlist for you, primarily based in your listening historical past and the exercise sort. Or you possibly can view strategies primarily based on what you’ve listened to when doing the identical exercise previously.
Apple
watchOS 26 is accessible now as a developer beta, and the general public beta will begin to roll out in July. It’s obtainable for the Apple Watch Collection 6 and later, the 2nd-gen Apple Watch SE, or any Apple Watch Extremely, the identical fashions supported with watchOS 11.
