José Adorno/BGR
The Apple Watch has been in existence for a decade now. Throughout the years, Apple has made its wearable less dependent on the iPhone by incorporating cellular capabilities, extended battery life, and numerous other enhancements that allowed users to leave their phone behind… at least for a few hours.
One aspect I appreciated the most about the Apple Watch was its usefulness in case I ever forgot my iPhone at home while out running errands. Certainly, if you’re as connected as I am, you’re likely not leaving your iPhone at home very often to begin with, but having a backup option is always valued.
This is why using an Apple Watch Ultra 2 for the last few years has been such a pleasant experience. However, while the watchOS updates haven’t been revolutionary, I expected a little more from watchOS 26. Although it introduces many Apple Intelligence features, it also increases the Apple Watch’s dependency on the iPhone. This is our assessment of watchOS 26, covering all the positives, negatives, and everything in between of this software update for Apple Watch owners.
Liquid Glass overshadowed by new watch faces
