Apple will present Watchos 26 soon! Are you curious about what improvements with Watchos 26 come to the Apple Watch? We put them under each other.
Watchos 26
The WWDC 2025 is coming, so that means that Apple will soon reveal the most important software updates of the year. In 2024, Watchos 11 came to the Apple Watch, but this year Apple makes the leap to Watchos 26 in one go. With all operating systems, Apple opts for the same numbering, in order to create more unity and clarity with the software versions. With the number, Apple refers to 2026, the year in which Watchos 26 is mainly used.
Apple is implementing a number of major changes at Watchos 26. According to rumors, the operating system gets a new interface, Apple Intelligence is coming to the Apple Watch for the first time and Apple introduces a number of health functions. Are you curious about what new features with Watchos 26 come to the Apple Watch? We put the most important changes for you.
Overview
1. New design
It has been clear for some time that Apple is working on a new design for iOS 26 and iPados 26. It is now known that we will see the same design in Watchos 26. That means that more transparent frameworks and glass elements are being processed in the operating system. We already find these parts in Visionos, but come to all software versions. For example, all menus and, for example, the control panel will look very different. Read more about the new design here.
2. More dials
This new design includes dials, which are designs for the new interface of Watchos 26. Every year Apple introduces a number of dials to the new generation of Watchos. That is probably no different in 2025, it is expected that the dials have support for the higher refreshment rate of the Apple Watch Series 10. For the latest models, the refresh speed has been increased to once per second, so that from now on you can always see the second hand.
3. Apple Intelligence
Unlike the iPhone, iPad and Mac (book), the Apple Watch does not yet have Apple Intelligence. That will change with Watchos 26, because the first functions of Apple Intelligence then come to the Apple Watch. You do need an iPhone with support for Apple Intelligence. The AI ​​functions run on the iPhone, because the smartwatch has too little memory. You can therefore also use the renewed version of Siri with Chatgpt on the Apple Watch.
4. Sleep detection with the AirPods
With iOS 26 not only the iPhone gets new functions, but also the AirPods are expanded with features. One of them is sleep detection, which ensures that the ears pause music or a podcast when you have fallen asleep. It is expected that sleep detection will work at the AirPods in combination with the Apple Watch, because it already has the function. With Watchos 26 and iOS 26, the Apple Watch and the AirPods probably work more closely.
5. Health app
Apple is working on a new health app, which comes to the Apple Watch with Watchos 26. The application is expanded with Apple Intelligence and gets a health coach. This coach uses data from the smartwatch to give personal health and fitness advice. In addition, it becomes possible for the first time to keep a food diary in the Health app.
6. Blood pressure monitor
The rumors that the Apple Watch is being expanded with a blood pressure monitor have been going on for years. Possibly the new health function with Watchos 26 finally comes to the Apple Watch. The blood pressure monitor reportedly does not provide precise measurements. Instead, you will receive a notification with a too high or too low blood pressure. It is still unclear whether the blood pressure monitor will only come to the Apple Watch Series 11, or with Watchos 26 is also available in previous generations of the smartwatch.
7. Fitness
Apple usually adds more fitness functions to new generations of Watchos. Presumably that is also the case with Watchos 26, but it is not yet clear which features are involved. Apple has submitted a patent, where the Apple Watch registers strength training using the iPhone camera. Possibly this is one of the new functions in Watchos, because strength training is still limited on the smartwatch.
8. Emergency function
The Apple Watch already has falling and crash detection, but with Watchos 26 an emergency function may be added. Apple has been working on a feature for the smartwatch for some time, which must register when the user of the Apple Watch drowns. An emergency notification is then automatically sent to emergency services. This is an important emergency function that, just like the fall and crash detection, can save potential lives.
Release of Watchos 26
With Watchos, Apple brings 26 major changes to the Apple Watch. The operating system gets a new design and introduces a series of functions on the smartwatch. We don’t have to wait long for the announcement, because Apple already presents Watchos 26 Monday, June 9, 2025 at 7 p.m. (Dutch time). Monday evening we know which functions come to the Apple Watch and what the renewed design of Watchos is.
The final version of Watchos 26 is only available much later. Apple announces the update in June, but Watchos 26 will not come to the Apple Watch until September. The new software version is rolled out at the same time as iOS 26 and iPados 26, which only appear after the release of the iPhone 17. Do you want to stay informed of all the Apple news? Then register for our newsletter!
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