Apple is about to release watchOS 26.2 to the general public and these are all the new features you will get on your Apple Watch after this update.
New features of watchOS 26.2
Apple has released the Release Candidate version of the upcoming watchOS 26.2 update for developers. The RC is the final version of watchOS 26.2, which will be available to the general public next week, provided no other bugs are found. According to Apple, the update to watchOS 26.2 includes improvements and bug fixes, and the following features:
- Refinements to the Sleep Score classifications.
- An issue where the Music app does not skip to the next song.
- Enhanced safety alerts about impending hazards such as floods, natural disasters and other emergencies, with detailed information such as a map of affected areas and links to additional safety guidelines (available in the US).
So that’s one major bug fix (issue in the Music app), one new feature in the US (improved security alerts), and one updated feature (Sleep Score), more on that below.
Improved Sleep Score
One of the new features of watchOS 26 is the Sleep score. This provides a measure of how restorative your recent sleep likely was for your body and mind. The score is divided into three categories, with a maximum of 100 points in total:
- Duration: maximum 50 points
- Bedtime: maximum 30 points
- Interruptions: maximum 20 points
The scores from each of these categories are combined into an overall Sleep Score, linked to a classification level:
- Very low: 0-29 points
- Low: 30-49 points
- OK: 50-69 points
- High: 70-89 points
- Excellent: 90-100 points
In watchOS 26.2, Apple is making several changes to the rating levels. The highest rating level will also be adjusted from ‘Excellent’ to ‘Very high’. These are the new Sleep Score levels starting with watchOS 26.2:
- Very low: 0-40 points
- Low: 41-60 points
- OK: 61-80 points
- High: 81-95 points
- Very high: 96-100 points
As you can see, Apple has tightened the criteria for each category. For example, you will no longer end up in the ‘High’ category with a sleep score of 70/100. That threshold has been increased to 81/100.
Shared Wi-Fi networks
In addition to the three new features, there is another well-known update in watchOS 26.2. This concerns Wi-Fi sharing between iPhone and Apple Watch for users in the EU. To comply with the EU’s DMA, Apple is changing the way Wi-Fi networks are shared with iOS 26.2 and watchOS 26.2.
When your iPhone connects to a known network from iOS 26.2 and watchOS 26.2 and you have your paired Apple Watch with you, the network is automatically shared with your Apple Watch. Any new networks you connect to on your iPhone in the future will only be automatically shared with your Apple Watch when both devices are in the same location at the same time. If this is not the case, the WiFi network will not be synchronized.
We expect Apple to release watchOS 26.2 to the general public in the second week of December. Don’t want to miss any of Apple’s upcoming software updates? Then sign up for our newsletter and we will automatically keep you informed from now on!
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