Apple on Monday previewed watchOS 26, its upcoming new software for the Apple Watch. The new software offers a new look, and improved intelligence for supporting users staying active, healthy, and connected.
New Design
A new software design with Liquid Glass brings a vibrant experience that reflects and refracts content using real-time rendering. Smart Stack widgets, Smart Stack hints, notifications, Control Center, and in-app controls and navigation will adopt the new design. The Photos watch face now features numerals made of Liquid Glass, allowing users to see even more of their photo.
Apple Intelligence Powered Fitness with Workout Buddy
Workout Buddy is powered by Apple Intelligence, incorporating a user’s workout data and their fitness history to generate personalized, motivational insights during a workout session, based on heart rate, pace, distance, Activity rings, personal fitness milestones, and more.
Workout Buddy can give personalized pep talks, such as “Way to get out for your run this Wednesday morning. You’re 18 minutes away from closing your Exercise ring. So far this week, you’ve run 6 miles. You’re going to add to that today.”
Workout Buddy can also mark key moments like their mile splits, or tell users when they hit a new milestone based on their fitness history: “Mile four. You picked up the pace and ran that last one in 8 minutes and 28 seconds.” “Hey, check this out. Your total running distance for the year just crossed the 200-mile mark! That’s a lot of running!”
At the end of a workout, Workout Buddy can recap a user’s workout stats and offer encouragement. Workout Buddy analyzes data privately and securely, using Apple Intelligence. A new text-to-speech model then translates insights into a dynamic generative voice built using voice data from Fitness+ trainers.
Workout Buddy will be available on Apple Watch with Bluetooth headphones, and requires an Apple Intelligence-supported iPhone nearby.
Updates to Workout App
The Workout app gains four new buttons in the corners of the app make it easier for users to access their favorite features to customize workouts, like Workout Views, Custom Workout, Pacer, Race Route, and more.
Users can set up music and podcasts right in the Workout app to automatically play when they start a workout. Apple Music can also select a playlist for a user’s workout based on the workout type and their personal tastes. Users can also view suggestions for playlists or podcasts based on what they’ve recently listened to during that particular workout type.
Smart Stack Improvements
In watchOS 26, the Apple Watch Smart Stack incorporates more contextual data, sensor data, and data from a user’s routine to provide Smart Stack hints, a proactive prompt for actionable suggestions that are immediately useful. The Liquid Glass Smart Stack hints will appear on the display as a visual prompt.
Messages Improvements
Apple Watch now supports Live Translation in Messages with Apple Intelligence, allowing incoming texts to be automatically translated into a user’s preferred language, right on their wrist. User responses can be instantly translated for the person they’re having a conversation with. Live Translation will be available on Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2, with an Apple Intelligence-supported iPhone.
Availability
watchOS 26 is available for testing starting today through the Apple Developer Program, and a public beta will be available through the Apple Beta Software Program in July. watchOS 26 will be available this fall as a free software update for Apple Watch Series 6 or later, Apple Watch SE (2nd generation), and all Apple Watch Ultra models, paired with iPhone 11 or later, running iOS 26. The Apple Intelligence features detailed require supported devices, which include all iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max that have Apple Intelligence enabled and Siri and device language set to the same supported language. Features are subject to change.
