Apple has now released the inaugural public beta of watchOS 26, the forthcoming significant update for Apple Watch, prior to its official launch this fall. While the most notable visual update might seem to be the limited Liquid Glass elements, the essence of watchOS 26 lies in its integration with Apple Intelligence for enhanced workouts and more context-aware communications. After some hands-on experience with the update, here’s what has emerged as prominent thus far.
## watchOS 26? Where has the time gone?
watchOS 26 is the twelfth iteration of the Apple Watch operating system. At a glance, the new version builds upon the foundational work that commenced with watchOS 10 in 2023 and progressed with watchOS 11 in 2024. The naming convention has shifted, substituting what could have been watchOS 12 with watchOS 26, but the timeline for advancement remains aligned with recent releases. Apple has unified each device’s operating system under a single version number, 26, this year to signify the upcoming year, 2026, when each release will see heightened usage.
## Liquid Glass design components
Apple is implementing a redesign inspired by visionOS across each operating system this year, infusing some of the visual aesthetic of Apple Vision Pro into the broader product lineup.
In watchOS 26, the implementation of the Liquid Glass design component is evident in a few areas: Smart Stack widgets, Control Center tiles, and system components such as passcode entry, navigation controls, and notification trays. Similar to the Lock Screen on iPhone, Apple has also introduced a Liquid Glass digital clock choice for the favored Photos watch face.
From a structural viewpoint, watchOS 10 provided the most significant overhaul to Apple Watch two years ago. The application of Liquid Glass in watchOS 26 is somewhat limited if you primarily focus on other watch faces. A future iteration could enhance the experience by incorporating Liquid Glass numerals around analog clock styles or larger Liquid Glass digits on additional digital watch faces.
Currently, the instances where Liquid Glass is showcased lend a touch of elegance, with colors from Control Center tiles spilling into adjacent tiles that are otherwise inactive and transparent. Passcode entry has also become more enjoyable, reverting to a rounded button design now featuring Liquid Glass effects, in contrast to the squared-off variant resembling dial buttons in Phone.
In contrast to the iPhone and iPad, Apple Watch has never existed during the photorealistic phase that concluded with iOS 7. The limited instances of Liquid Glass in watchOS 26 evoke a hint of that sensation without the utter absurdity of rich skeuomorphism.
## Apple Intelligence enhances charm and character in the workout experience
Apple is leveraging its generative AI system with a new feature dubbed Workout Buddy. This voice-driven coaching assistant evaluates your individual workout history in real-time and offers contextual encouragement. This can encompass everything from a custom motivational talk to pacing alerts during a run. Users can select from three synthesized voices trained on Apple Fitness+ trainers.
Coupled with the revamped Workout app layout (four-corner navigation for swift access to metrics, media, Pacer, and alerts), the fitness experience presents a major focus in watchOS 26.
However, the caveat is that Workout Buddy necessitates having an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone nearby to function effectively. This is understandable given the watch’s limited processing capabilities and unpredictable network circumstances. Nevertheless, it is an obvious aspiration for future hardware and software to enable Workout Buddy as an independent feature.
Personally, carrying my phone along for some outdoor and most indoor workouts is not a challenge. Nonetheless, I prefer to run without my iPhone, and I’m uncertain about altering that for Workout Buddy after nearly a decade of operating phone-free with cellular connectivity.
The highlight of Workout Buddy is when it delivers milestone notifications, such as achieving 500 miles walked this year or setting a new personal record on a cycling ride. I also appreciate the punch of personalization and motivation that comes when Workout Buddy mentions you’re exercising to the tune of whatever band or artist you’re listening to. Workout Buddy becomes less impressive when it redundantly reiterates your pace and mile duration, like stating, “your pace for the last 12 minutes and 32 seconds was 12 minutes and 32 seconds.”
## More intelligent Smart Stack and volume-sensitive alerts
Smart Stack has evolved into a more context-sensitive feature, thanks to Smart Stack hints. When your watch detects that you’re in a certain situation, such as near your iPhone’s camera or in a low-light environment, it can highlight relevant widgets, for instance, launching the camera remote or activating the flashlight with a simple tap.
watchOS 11 already performed well in surfacing pertinent widgets to the Smart Stack; however, they were only visible if you swiped up to reveal the vertical widget carousel. watchOS 26 effectively conveys those suggestions directly to the watch face. Like many intelligent features, it’s gratifying when the system accurately predicts the suggestion, yet it provides more of a subtle enhancement to appreciate when it…
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