Apple Watch Gets a Glow-Up: What's New with watchOS 26 from WWDC 2025!

Hey Apple Watch fans! This week was a big one in the Apple world – WWDC 2025 just wrapped, and while they talked about everything from iPhones to Macs, we were all ears for the Apple Watch news. And let me tell you, there’s some cool stuff coming our way with the brand new watchOS 26!

First off, Apple’s shaking things up with its naming. Say goodbye to sequential numbers for watchOS; it's now watchOS 26, aligning with iOS 26, macOS 26, and the rest. It’s all about that unified Apple family vibe, reflecting the 2025-2026 release cycle.

So, what shiny new things can you expect on your wrist later this year? Let's dive in!

That "Liquid Glass" Look – Ooh La La!

The biggest visual change hitting all of Apple's new software, including watchOS 26, is something they're calling "Liquid Glass". Think sleek, translucent, and dynamic. It’s designed to make everything look more expressive and almost like it’s floating, reflecting and refracting light. Buttons, notifications, the Control Center, and even the time on your photo watch faces will get this glassy, fluid makeover, making content pop and interactions feel more delightful. It’s a pretty significant redesign, aiming for a more harmonious look across all your Apple gear.

Your Workouts Just Got a Personal Trainer (Sort Of!)

Fitness is a huge part of the Apple Watch, and watchOS 26 is taking it up a notch:

• Workout Buddy: Get ready for your new AI-powered cheerleader! This feature gives you personalized, audible motivation and insights during your workouts. It uses your fitness history and real-time data to give you a pep talk, remind you of your goals, or celebrate milestones, all with a voice inspired by Apple Fitness+ trainers. And don't worry, Apple says this is all done privately with Apple Intelligence.
• Workout App Tweaks: The Workout app itself is getting some handy updates, like new corner buttons for easier control, better music integration, and for all you runners, new Pacer and Race Route features, plus fresh workout views.

Making Your Watch Even Smarter for Everyday Stuff

Beyond fitness, watchOS 26 is bringing some welcome enhancements to make daily interactions smoother:

• Notes App on Your Wrist! Yes, you read that right! You'll finally be able to create, view, and manage notes directly on your Apple Watch, even using Siri to dictate them. Perfect for those quick thoughts you don’t want to forget.
• Smarter Smart Stack: The Smart Stack is getting more intelligent, offering proactive "hints" based on your routine and what’s immediately useful. Think suggestions to use Backtrack if you're in a remote area or a prompt to start your Pilates workout when you arrive at the studio.
• The "Wrist Flick": This new gesture sounds super handy. A simple flick of your wrist away from you can dismiss notifications, silence calls or timers, or close the Smart Stack. Game changer when your hands are full!
• Little Touches: Expect automatic volume adjustments for calls and Siri based on ambient noise, and a redesigned watch face gallery to make finding your favorite look easier.

Chatting Gets an Upgrade (Thanks, Apple Intelligence!)

Communicating from your wrist is also getting a boost, largely powered by Apple Intelligence (often with help from your paired iPhone):

• Live Translation in Messages: This is a big one! Your watch will be able to translate incoming texts into your language and translate your replies back. Note: this cool feature will be for Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 models.
• Smart Actions in Messages: Get contextual suggestions for quick replies or actions. If a friend asks for your location, a Find My suggestion will pop up.
• Better Call Management (via iPhone): Features like Call Screening (to identify unknown callers) and Hold Assist (to manage call queues) are coming, making phone calls less of a hassle.

Accessibility Matters

Apple continues its focus on accessibility. For users who are deaf or hard of hearing, watchOS 26 brings Live Listen controls and Live Captions to the Apple Watch, allowing you to see real-time captions of what your iPhone's mic is picking up.

What's Happening with Watch Faces?

While Apple didn't show off a slew of brand-new watch faces at WWDC (they usually save those for new hardware launches in the fall), existing faces will get the Liquid Glass treatment. However, it's also time to say goodbye to a few older faces: Fire/Water, Gradient, Liquid Metal, Vapor, and the Toy Story face are being retired.

The "Intelligence" Behind It All

You'll hear "Apple Intelligence" a lot. It's Apple's new suite of AI features. On the Apple Watch, many of these smarts will rely on your paired iPhone (especially newer models) to do the heavy lifting, keeping things private and efficient.

Who Gets watchOS 26 and When?

Good news for many! watchOS 26 will be compatible with:

• Apple Watch Series 6
• Apple Watch Series 7
• Apple Watch Series 8
• Apple Watch Series 9
• Apple Watch Series 10
• Apple Watch SE (2nd generation)
• Apple Watch Ultra
• Apple Watch Ultra 

As for when you can get your hands on it:

• Developer Beta: Available now (June 9th).
• Public Beta: Expected in July.
• Official Public Release: Likely mid-September, alongside new Apple hardware.

Wrapping It Up

So there you have it – a snapshot of what’s coming to your Apple Watch with watchOS 26! The new Liquid Glass design sounds visually stunning, and features like Workout Buddy and the Notes app are genuinely exciting additions. It looks like Apple is focused on making the Watch more intuitive, more personal, and even more indispensable.

We can't wait to see it in action and, of course, pair it with some stylish new bands from Modbands! What feature are you most excited about?