WWDC 2025: watchOS 26 Brings Liquid Glass Design, Workout Buddy, and Smarter Messaging to Apple Watch

At the WWDC 2025, Apple introduced watchOS 26, showcasing a fresh design and enhanced intelligence for a more tailored user experience. It brings a new Liquid Glass design that makes features like the Smart Stack and Control Center more expressive while keeping the familiar feel of watchOS.

Apple Watch now includes Live Translation in Messages with Apple Intelligence. Incoming texts can be automatically translated into a user's preferred language directly on their wrist. When responding, users' texts are instantly translated for their conversation partner. This feature is available on Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 with an Apple Intelligence-supported iPhone.

Enhanced Fitness Features

The fitness experience is elevated with Workout Buddy, offering personalized spoken motivation. The Workout app has a new layout and suggests music based on user preferences and workout type. Everyday interactions become more convenient with Smart Stack hints and updates to Messages.

Users can now manage notifications easily with a simple wrist flick gesture on Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2. By raising their wrist to check notifications but not ready to respond, they can quickly flick their wrist to dismiss it. This gesture also works for incoming calls, silencing timers and alarms, and returning to the watch face.

Personalized Messaging Experience

Customizable Backgrounds set on iPhone will appear on Apple Watch, making conversations feel more personal. Users can respond to polls directly from their wrist. Smart Replies have improved precision for English-language devices with an enhanced on-device language model that generates relevant responses based on conversation content.

The new one-handed wrist flick gesture simplifies dismissing notifications. It uses the accelerometer and gyroscope along with a machine learning model to analyze wrist movements. This feature helps manage notifications effortlessly without needing both hands.

Adaptive Sound Management

Apple Watch now adjusts speaker volume automatically based on ambient noise levels for notifications, timers, alarms, incoming calls, and Siri interactions. This ensures users stay connected without disturbing those around them.

The introduction of these features in watchOS 26 highlights Apple's commitment to enhancing user experience through personalization and convenience. With improved fitness tools, messaging capabilities, and adaptive sound management, users can enjoy a seamless interaction with their device.

Availability

All these features are available for testing starting today via the Apple Developer Program at developer.apple.com. A public beta will roll out next month through the Apple Beta Software Program at beta.apple.com. watchOS 26 will be released this fall as a free software update for Apple Watch Series 6 and later, Apple Watch SE (2nd generation), and all Apple Watch Ultra models-when paired with an iPhone 11 or newer running iOS 26

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