Apple’s WWDC 2025 keynote brought with it the next leap for the Apple Watch: watchOS 26. Beyond the bump in version number—which now aligns with the year-based naming scheme adopted across Apple platforms—watchOS 26 arrives with a fresh “Liquid Glass” design, one-handed gesture controls for notifications, and a new AI-driven “Workout Buddy” that aims to coach and motivate users in real time.

Apple’s decision to jump watchOS from 11 to 26 reflects a broader shift: all of Apple’s operating systems now carry year-based version numbers (iOS 26, macOS 26, etc.), unifying marketing and reducing confusion around which release corresponds to which year. This change signals Apple’s intent to present cohesive platform updates across devices, helping users and developers anticipate the annual rhythm. At WWDC 2025, watchOS 26 sat alongside iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and others, emphasizing a unified design story and feature synergy across Apple’s ecosystem.

Developer betas for watchOS 26 began immediately after the keynote, with a public beta slated for next month and a full release expected this fall alongside new Apple Watch hardware. As always, developers can experiment with APIs and UI changes now, while enthusiasts willing to accept early bugs can test the public beta soon. The final release will support Apple Watch Series 6 and later, the second-generation Watch SE, and all Watch Ultra models, provided they’re paired with an iPhone 11 or newer; advanced Apple Intelligence features require an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone (iPhone 15 or newer) paired with a Series 9/10 or Ultra 2.

The most immediately visible change in watchOS 26 is the “Liquid Glass” design language, introduced across all of Apple’s platforms this year. Liquid Glass brings translucency, refractions, and a frosted-glass aesthetic to interface elements such as Smart Stack widgets, the Control Center, notifications, in-app controls, and even watch faces like Photos. The goal is to make content feel more immersive: for example, on the Photos watch face, transparent numerals float over images without fully obscuring them, letting personal photos shine through. Under the hood, Apple uses real-time rendering to reflect and refract UI elements, lending depth and dynamism to quick interactions on the wrist.

While some may view this as a purely cosmetic revamp, Apple frames Liquid Glass as more than eye candy: by subtly shifting focus to content and providing context-aware translucency, the design encourages glanceable, immediate understanding—critical for a device meant for quick checks rather than prolonged engagement. Moreover, having a unified design language across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Watch reinforces familiarity: once users see Liquid Glass on one device, they’ll instantly recognize its cues on another.

One of the standout practical features is a new wrist flick gesture for dismissing notifications, silencing timers or alarms, and returning to the watch face—all with a simple twist of the wrist on supported hardware (Series 9/10, Ultra 2, and later). By leveraging accelerometer and gyroscope data plus on-device machine learning, the watch can detect when you quickly flip your wrist over and back. This offers a truly hands-free, glance-and-go method to clear interruptions without tapping tiny screen targets—especially handy if one hand is occupied, such as carrying groceries or holding a coffee cup.

Beyond dismissing notifications, watchOS 26 can monitor ambient noise levels and adjust the volume of notifications or incoming calls dynamically, reducing the need to manually toggle silent mode as environments shift. This combination of gesture control and contextual volume adjustments aims to make everyday interactions smoother and less fiddly—one more step toward reducing friction in quick wrist-based tasks.

Perhaps the most-talked-about feature in watchOS 26 is Workout Buddy, Apple’s first major foray into on-watch AI coaching. Powered by Apple Intelligence, Workout Buddy analyzes current workout metrics (heart rate, pace, distance, Activity rings progress) alongside historical fitness data to deliver personalized, spoken guidance: pep talks at the start (“Great to see you back for a run—last week you averaged 5 miles per session, you’re on track to beat your personal best”), milestone alerts mid-session, and end-of-workout recaps highlighting achievements or personal records.

This evolves the Apple Watch’s fitness experience beyond static tracking toward dynamic coaching. While other wearables offer audio cues or basic coaching prompts, Apple’s pitch is deeper personalization powered by its on-device AI, integrating across the Fitness+ ecosystem without requiring subscriptions (though Fitness+ subscribers may see tighter integration). Initially available in English and for “most popular” workout types (runs, walks, cycling, etc.), Apple plans to expand Workout Buddy’s language support and exercise coverage over time.

Complementing Workout Buddy, the Workout app gets a redesign with corner buttons for quick access to workout customization (interval settings, target zones) and music controls. Apple Music will proactively recommend playlists or podcasts based on workout type and user listening habits, aiming to keep motivation high without manual playlist hunting.

Apple Intelligence surfaces in several daily-use areas on watchOS 26. Messaging gains instant, automatic translation for incoming texts and replies (Series 9/10 with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone required), making cross-language chat smoother on the wrist. Smart Replies become more contextually aware: if a friend says “Let me know when you get home,” Messages may suggest starting a Check In. These improvements aim to reduce typing effort and leverage context to anticipate user needs.

The Smart Stack also evolves with “Liquid Glass hints”: context-aware suggestions that appear on the watch face based on routine patterns or situational cues. For instance, when you arrive at your regular Pilates class time, the watch might prompt you to open the workout app; when you’re in a remote area with no signal, it may suggest Backtrack to help retrace your steps. This kind of proactive nudge builds on prior Live Activities and contextual widgets, weaving intelligence throughout the daily watch experience.

watchOS 26 brings the Notes app to the wrist, letting users view pinned notes, create new entries via dictation, and check off items in lists—handy for shopping lists or quick reminders without pulling out the phone. Hold Assist and Call Screening, previously on iPhone, now extend to Apple Watch, improving call handling for users on the go. Live captions appear on-screen for calls or FaceTime Audio, aiding users who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Combined with existing Live Listen remote controls, these features underscore Apple’s ongoing commitment to accessibility: watchOS 26 ensures that core communication and utility apps function directly from the wrist, reducing dependency on the phone and streamlining quick tasks.

Overall, watchOS 26 packs a mix of visual polish, intuitive gestures, AI-driven personalization, and enhanced accessibility—continuing Apple’s multi-year trajectory of making the Watch more autonomous and context-aware. For existing Apple Watch users, the update promises an immediate aesthetic uplift and more intelligent interactions, though many of the headline features (AI coaching, translation) require newer hardware and an Apple Intelligence-capable iPhone.

Developers should note the Liquid Glass design guidelines arriving in their SDKs: expect updated UI components, translucency APIs, and Smart Stack hint integrations to test against. Fitness and health app developers may look for Workout Buddy-related APIs or hooks (if exposed) to complement their own features. Given Apple’s push to open on-device AI capabilities to third parties, there’s potential for deeper integration down the line.

From a consumer perspective, the one-handed wrist flick addresses a long-standing desire for faster notification handling, and the personalized coaching edge may appeal to those seeking more motivation baked into their workouts. However, cautious users might wait for public beta feedback before upgrading, especially if they rely heavily on custom watch faces or third-party complications that could behave differently under Liquid Glass.

Last year’s watchOS 11 introduced Training Load metrics, Activity ring pause options, Live Activities, and contextual widgets like Translate for travelers. watchOS 26 builds on that foundation by weaving Apple Intelligence deeper into both fitness and daily interactions, alongside a unified design language that spans Apple’s ecosystem. As Apple continues refining on-device AI and cross-device synergy, the Watch cements its role as a proactive companion—not just a notification relay.

WatchOS 26 will roll out alongside new hardware this fall, giving users incentive to upgrade watches and iPhones in tandem to unlock the full feature set. For those on older models, many visual and foundational improvements still apply, but the “smarter” bits remain tied to the latest silicon and AI-ready devices. As betas unfold, the community will uncover fine details: gesture sensitivity, workout coaching accuracy, translation fluency, and how Liquid Glass interacts with existing complications.