1. AI-Powered Fitness Features: Workout Buddy

Workout Buddy leverages Apple’s AI to provide real-time motivation and feedback during exercise.

• Tracks your exercise history and suggests personalized workouts.
• Provides encouragement for milestones like distance, heart rate goals, or activity streaks.
• Uses haptic and audible cues to keep you engaged without needing to look at the watch constantly.

This feature makes fitness tracking feel supportive and interactive.

2. Liquid Glass UI Design

watchOS 26 introduces a Liquid Glass interface, providing a fresh, translucent look.

• Enhances visual appeal with subtle depth and layering effects.
• Keeps the interface intuitive for easy navigation.

3. Smart Stack Hints

The Smart Stack now gives contextual suggestions based on your schedule and recent activity:

• Displays relevant apps and shortcuts automatically.
• Offers information at a glance, like reminders for meetings or weather alerts.
• Learns user behavior over time for more accurate predictions.

4. Wrist Flick Gesture

A new Wrist Flick gesture enables quick, hands-free control:

• Dismiss notifications with a simple flick of the wrist.
• Silence incoming calls without touching the screen.
• Interact with notifications more naturally during activities.

5. Smart Actions in Messages

Messages now include context-aware suggested actions:

• Detects phrases like “Where are you?” and offers relevant quick actions.
• Streamlines communication and response time.
• Makes the Apple Watch more proactive and assistant-like.

6. Compatibility and Availability

• Available this fall for Apple Watch Series 6 and newer, including Watch SE (2nd gen) and Watch Ultra models.
• Some AI-driven features require Series 9 or newer and a compatible iPhone.

watchOS 26 is positioned as a refined, practical update, enhancing daily interactions rather than introducing flashy features.