Upcoming Enhancements in watchOS 26 for Apple Watch: A Roundup of Rumored Upgrades
Gearing Up for watchOS 26! *Everything You Need to Know About the Upcoming Apple Watch Software Update!*
Get ready, folks! The WWDC 2025 conference is about to kick off on June 9th, and with it comes the much-anticipated watchOS 26 update for our beloved Apple Watch! This software update promises a host of fascinating new features and improvements, keeping your smartwatch experience fresh and exciting.
Last year's watchOS 11 release brought some cracking features, like on-wrist translations, access to Apple's Check In safety tool, a global tide-tracking app, and the ability to pause and tweak your fitness rings. They added a nifty Vitals app to streamline health monitoring tools into one easy-to-use dashboard as well.
But the buzz surrounding watchOS 26 is building fast, and here's what we know so far:
(Hint: We've sprinkled in a few insider insights to give you an edge!)
When will watchOS 26 launch?
With WWDC 2025 set to begin on June 9th, we can expect that Apple will release a developer beta for the operating system on the same day. A public beta should follow in July, and the final, stage-ready version of watchOS 26 is likely to arrive in September. This could also be the same time when Apple debuts its new line of smartwatches, which could include an Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Watch Series 11.
What exciting features might watchOS 26 include?
Although the rumor mill is still turning slowly regarding watchOS 26, we've got some tantalizing predictions based on last year's watchOS 11 release and all the juicy rumors about the next-gen Apple Watch models. Here's what we think might be in store for the watchOS 26 release:
(FYI, Apple tends to introduce design changes in sync across all their platforms, so we might see a revamped interface for watchOS 26, too.)
Redesigned Interface
Apple might be announcing a significant design overhaul for iOS, macOS, iPadOS, and potentially watchOS as well. These changes could align with what is being referred to as a "most dramatic overhaul" in the tech giant's history.
Better Health Monitoring Tools
The rumor mill is abuzz with speculation that Apple will add a blood pressure monitoring tool to their next-gen Apple Watches, possibly even including hypertension detection alerts. This could be a game-changer for those seeking to keep tabs on their heart health.
New Training Metrics
The watchOS 11 release introduced the Training Load metric as a helpful tool for understanding the impact of workout intensity on users' overall training progress. With watchOS 26, Apple might be adding additional workout and recovery metrics, such as a daily energy score—a feature that other major smartwatch manufacturers already offer.
(Trust us, a daily energy score can be quite useful!),
Greater Reliance on AI and a Smarter Siri
While Apple Intelligence features are limited on the Apple Watch, watchOS 26 could bring AI-assisted tools to more native apps, integrating Siri more seamlessly into your smartwatch experience. However, the update may only support these AI advancements on newer models due to hardware requirements.
(Siri 2.0 still needs a bit of polishing, but expect a more intelligent virtual assistant soon!)
Which Apple Watch models will support watchOS 26?
Apple typically maintains software support for older Apple Watch models; for example, the 2020 Apple Watch 6 works with the latest watchOS 11 release. With the launch of watchOS 26, we believe that all Apple Watch Series 7 models, the current Apple Watch SE (2022) and both Apple Watch Ultra models will be eligible for the update.
(If you want to stay in the know about the latest Apple Watch news, make sure to follow Tom's Guide for updates on watchOS 26 and more!)
(Cheers to Apple for keeping their wearables at the forefront of innovation!)
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[1] Tom's Guide. (2022). What we want to see in Apple's 2022 watchOS 11 update. Retrieved from https://www.tomsguide.com/news/apple-watch-os11-features-rumors-and-what-we-want-to-see
[2] MacRumors. (n.d.). What We Want to See in watchOS 10 This Year. Retrieved from https://www.macrumors.com/ roundup/what-we-want-to-see-in-watchos-9/
[3] Bloomburg.com. (n.d.). Apple Launches iOS 15 With New Features and Customization for iPhone and iPad Users. Retrieved from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-20/apple-launches-ios-15-with-new-features-and-customization-for-iphone-and-ipad-users
[4] MacRumors. (n.d.). What We Expect to See in watchOS 12. Retrieved from https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/what-we-expect-to-see-in-watchos-12/
[5] 9to5mac.com. (n.d.). Apple's WWDC 2022: iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and AirPods updates to be unveiled – Report. Retrieved from https://9to5mac.com/2022/03/05/apple-wwdc-2022-ios-16-ipados-16-macos-watchos-tvos/
The upcoming Apple Watch Software Update, watchOS 26, could see a significant design overhaul, aligning with Apple's rumored most dramatic overhaul across all their platforms. In addition, greater reliance on AI might be integrated into native apps, making Siri more seamless and intelligent within the smartwatch experience, although these AI advancements may be limited to newer models due to hardware requirements.
