iOS 26 is imminent and is anticipated to come back to public beta very quickly. Whereas we’re excited to see how Apple’s largest software program replace will improve the iPhone expertise, Apple Watches may even be getting the identical therapy when watchOS 26 is rolled out, and we’re simply as excited.
Should you personal an Apple Watch Sequence 6 or later, an Apple Watch SE 2, or any Apple Watch Extremely mannequin, then you definitely’ll be capable to reap the advantages of watchOS 26’s thrilling new options. Nonetheless, it does include some setbacks.
Although the fashions talked about above will obtain a number of helpful new features, there are 4 watchOS 26 options that may solely be accessible to make use of on the Apple Watch Sequence 9, Apple Watch Sequence 10, and Apple Watch Extremely fashions solely – leaving house owners of older fashions within the mud.
It’s greatest to double-check and see what watchOS 26 options your present Apple Watch mannequin will assist when the replace is rolled out in September. If you wish to profit from extra superior options, take this as your signal to improve in time for watchOS 26.
4 options your older Apple Watch gained’t get
The next options will probably be accessible on Apple Watch Sequence 9, Apple Watch Sequence 10, and Apple Watch Extremely fashions solely.
1. Wrist Flick
In 2023, Apple rolled out the Double Faucet gesture for the Apple Watch, a multi-functional characteristic that lets you do issues equivalent to shut Sensible Stack, start exercises, silence alarms and timers, and dismiss notifications.
Apple’s Wrist Flick operate is a brand new hands-free gesture designed to hold out related features which sounds much more dependable than Double Faucet, however solely the Apple Watch fashions talked about above will be capable to assist this.
2. Sensible Replies updates
Whereas it doesn’t matter which iPhone mannequin you will have (so long as it helps the most recent model of iOS), you’ll nonetheless want one of many newer Apple Watch fashions to profit from watchOS 26’s improve to Sensible Replies, which gives extra exact and contextually-relevant messaging strategies.
3. Computerized quantity adjustment
Equally to Wrist Flick, computerized quantity adjustment gained’t be coming to fashions launched pre-2023. It is a little disappointing, because it feels like it might be a really helpful operate relating to managing noisy notifications.
With this new watchOS 26 characteristic, your Apple Watch could have the power to ‘robotically alter the speaker quantity primarily based on the ambient noise in a person’s environment for notifications, timers, alarms, incoming calls, and Siri’ – because it states in Apple’s press launch.
4. Stay Translation
One of many largest iOS 26 upgrades introduced at WWDC 2025 was the addition of Apple Intelligence’s Stay Translation operate for iPhone, and now sure Apple Watch fashions are getting the identical therapy.
With the arrival of watchOS 26, you’ll be capable to view these proper out of your wrist – that’s when you personal an Apple Watch Sequence 9, Apple Watch Sequence 10, or an Apple Watch Extremely 2.
5 options your older Apple Watch will obtain
If in case you have an Apple Watch Sequence 6 or later, or an Apple Watch SE 2, look out for these new options when watchOS 26 rolls out.
1. Liquid Glass
Liquid Glass is without doubt one of the largest upgrades coming with watchOS 26 – an enormous working system design improve that may roll out throughout all of Apple’s {hardware}. Not solely will it give your interface a clear and shiny look, however will make the usage of small areas by utilizing increasing widgets.
The most effective half about this? You gained’t have to fret about upgrading to a more recent Apple Watch mannequin for this new look, because it’s coming to Apple Watch Sequence 6 or later, Apple Watch SE 2, and all Apple Watch Extremely fashions.
2. Apple Intelligence Exercise Buddy
watchOS 26 can be getting some upgrades on the health entrance, the principle new addition being the Exercise Buddy operate. Powered by Apple Intelligence, Exercise Buddy is a brand new expertise within the Exercise app that accesses the person’s health, well being, and exercise historical past to offer spoken motivation and personalised health summaries.
It is best to notice that to make the most of Exercise Buddy, you’ll additionally want an iPhone able to supporting Apple Intelligence – these being fashions that assist iOS 18.4 and later.
3. Notes on wrist
One of the asked-for options is the addition of the Notes app to watchOS, and if in case you have an Apple Watch Sequence 6 or above, you’ll quickly be capable to use Notes proper out of your wrist as nature meant.
Not solely will you be capable to entry current notes made in your iPhone, watchOS 26 will assist you to create new ones out of your Apple Watch utilizing Siri, dictation, and the keyboard operate – and even full checklists. Your grocery record can now reside in your wrist!
4. Watch face ‘Hints’ within the Sensible Stack
With watchOS 26, new visible prompts known as ‘Hints’ are coming to the watch face Sensible Stack, which seems whenever you use the Digital Crown on the facet of your watch to scroll.
Apple says Hints are designed to make your on a regular basis interactions extra handy, providing the next examples of what to anticipate from its new addition: ‘A touch for Backtrack might seem when a person is in a distant location with no connectivity, or a touch for a Pilates exercise might present up when a person arrives at a studio location at their normal time’.
5. Third-party management features
The ultimate new characteristic coming to the broader group of watchOS 26-compatible fashions are new third-party controls, which can enable builders to create their very own customized controls that Apple Watch customers can add to their Management Heart, Sensible Stack widget, or Motion Button.
When enhancing your Management Heart, your Apple Watch may even present a ‘Out of your iPhone’ part, which can then assist you to add third-party controls present in your iPhone.
