With the Watchos 26 update, Apple has added a number of innovations to the Apple Watch Series 6 or newer. The software update can be called scanty compared to other years and focuses primarily on the new Liquid Glass design.
Yet it is more than worth discussing all new options. For example, Apple has already announced the necessary innovations on its website, but there are still some useful functions to be found in the Watchos Update that Apple did not discuss during the WWDC presentation or on their information page. Below you will find an overview of all new Watchos 26 functions for Apple Watch.
Good to know: Watchos 26 is to install the Apple Watch SE 2nd generation, Apple Watch Ultra (2) and Apple Watch Series 6, 7, 8, 9 and Series 10
Announced by Apple
Below we list all Watchos 26 options that Apple told during WWDC or on their website.
Liquid Glass
The most important change is of course the new Liquid Glass Interface. This is immediately reflected in the style of symbols, menus, control panel and system buttons. New icons, extra layers, user interface elements and more is also used.
The new interface is loosely based on Visionos and is characterized by glassy, ​​transparent elements, rounded buttons and floating menus. This emphasizes the simplicity, which is good for the user experience.
We must admit that the changes are less visible than on the iPhone, iPad and Mac. The Apple Watch retains the use of mainly black tones and color is especially visible in the control panel, smart stack with widgets and in some apps.
Because of the new design, some apps and parts of the software seem to have new possibilities and innovations, but that is of course not the case. In this overview we only list the real new options and functions for you that you could not use in previous versions. You can read more information about the new design in the highlighted article below.
Workout app
- Workout Buddy is a unique feature that uses Apple Intelligence (only in English, requires an iPhone with Apple Intelligence)
- Based on your workout data personal insights during training
- Workout Buddy gives you a personal pep talk and advice
- Major update of the layout and navigation for the workout application
- In every corner you will now find a button to quickly adjust your workout as desired
- Choose music and podcasts in the workout app yourself
- Easier to start automatic audio when you start your workout
- Apple Music can choose a suitable playlist for your workout based on the type of workout and your personal taste in music
Smart stack and control panel
- Forecast algorithms of the smart stack further perfected
- Hints for the smart stack now also appear subtle on the dial
- Developers can make operating widgets and custom controls for control panel
- Actions from third parties apps added to Action button
To inform
- Apple Watch supports live translation in Messages with Apple Intelligence (not in Dutch)
- Watchos can present relevant actions in messages by looking at the context of a conversation (only in English)
- Custom chat backgrounds of iPhone can also be seen on Apple Watch
- Smart answers adapted based on the context (only English)
Ignore reports with gesture
You can now handle Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 notifications even more easily with a fast wrist movement. If you lift your wrist to view a notification, but do not want to respond yet, you can quickly turn your wrist back and forth to ignore the message.
With this wrist movement you can ignore reports and incoming conversations, turn timers and alarms off, and go back to the dial. The wrist movement is analyzed on the basis of the gear meter and gyroscope, in combination with a machine leasring model.
Notes
- The Notes app For Apple Watch, Easy to view notes from your wrist
- Attach notes in the overview
- Easy checklists
- Take new notes with Siri, the dictation function and the keyboard
- Secure notes unlock with your Apple Watch
Photos dial
- Rotates images based on ‘Featured’ in photos
- Photos-Guide plate now also uses Liquid Glass figures so that the photo can be seen better
Other
- Apple Watch can automatically adjust the speaker volume based on the ambient noise
- The feature calls screen for telephone is based on live voicemail and collects information about the caller, so that you can determine on that basis whether or not you record if you are just working on something (not in Dutch)
- If you are on hold, Hold Assist will let you know if an employee is available (not in Dutch)
- Deaf and hard of hearing can use controllers for Live Listen On Apple Watch
- Renewed gallery on Apple Watch and the Watch app on iPhone, where dials are grouped in collections
Watchos 26 Innovations that Apple has not told
Discovered new possibilities? Share them through the reactions, then we add them.
- Different dials adapted for the OLED wide -angle display
- is supplemented later