watchOS 26 was previewed by Apple at the Worldwide Developers Conference 2025 (WWDC 2025) keynote. Its design has been overhauled with the new Liquid Glass material, which is shared across the other operating systems like iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, and visionOS 26.
watchOS 26
Liquid Glass brings a fresh design to watchOS that can be seen with features like Smart Stack widgets, Smart Stack hints, notifications, Control Center, and in-app controls and navigation.
Workout Buddy with Apple Intelligence
In addition to the new design, Apple also introduced the new Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence. It incorporates your workout data and your fitness history to generate personalized motivational insights during your sessions. These include heart rate, pace, distance, Activity rings, personal fitness milestones, and more.
When you end your workout, Workout Buddy will recap your stats during the session and congratulate you on your achievements, like “Way to get your workout in! You went 4.3 miles in just over 38 minutes. Your average pace was 8 minutes and 58 seconds, and your average heart rate was 128. That was your longest run of the last 28 days. What will you do next?”
It will be available on Apple Watch with Bluetooth headphones and requires an Apple Intelligence-supported iPhone nearby. The new feature will start in English and be available across some of the most popular workout types like Outdoor and Indoor Run, Outdoor and Indoor Walk, Outdoor Cycle, and HIIT.
Additional Updates to Workout Experience
The Workout app also gets an update in watchOS 26 with a new layout and navigation since its introduction. Apple has made it easier to access your favorite features to customize workouts like Workout Views, Custom Workout, and more.
In addition, you can set up music and podcasts right from the app for extra inspiration. Apple Music can also select the best playlist for your workout based on the workout type and your personal tastes.
New Features and More
Other new features of watchOS 26 include:
- Improved Smart Stacks that incorporate more contextual data, sensor data, and data from your routine
- Live Translation in Messages
- Wrist Flick Gesture to dismiss notifications, incoming calls, silence timers and alarms, and more
- Notes app
- Hold Assist and Call Screening in the Phone app
watchOS 26 is now available to install via the Apple Developer Program, and will hit public beta next month. It will officially roll out in fall this year.
Ram found his love and appreciation for writing in 2015 having started in the gaming and esports sphere for GG Network. He would then transition to focus more on the world of tech which has also began his journey into learning more about this world. That said though, he still has the mentality of "as long as it works" for his personal gadgets.
