watchOS 26 Public Beta Debuts: AI Workout Buddy, Enhanced Gestures & Visual Revamp Arrive on Apple Watch

Apple Watch users are getting an early look at the future with the public beta of watchOS 26, which introduces a suite of subtle yet impactful upgrades. Following Apple’s new year-based OS naming convention, watchOS 26 brings significant enhancements to fitness tracking, user interaction, and overall aesthetics, setting the stage for the official release.

A key visual update is the ‘Liquid Glass’ treatment, which unifies the look across Apple’s operating systems. While more understated on the Apple Watch compared to iPhone or iPad, it introduces semi-transparent buttons and fluid animations, giving a polished, refined appearance to elements like the control center and Photos watch face.

The Workout app receives a major overhaul, highlighted by the new AI-powered ‘Workout Buddy.’ This feature leverages historical and real-time data to provide personalized insights and motivational feedback during exercise, complete with vocal updates. It also introduces an intelligent auto-play music option, curating playlists that match workout intensity and user preferences. While currently in beta and requiring an Apple Intelligence-compatible iPhone, the Workout Buddy aims to make fitness tracking more engaging and intuitive.

Hands-free interaction is further improved with the new ‘Wrist Flick’ gesture, available on Apple Watch Series 9, 10, and Ultra 2. This effortless motion allows users to silence calls, dismiss notifications, and return to the watch face, offering a convenient alternative to screen taps. Additionally, the Messages app sees smarter replies, using an on-device language model to generate more relevant canned responses, simplifying text communication on the small screen. The Notes app also makes its debut on the watch, providing a handy way to manage checklists and quick reminders directly from the wrist.

Other welcome additions include a categorized Face Gallery in the iPhone Watch app, adaptive sound for alerts that adjusts to ambient noise, and an improved Smart Stack that intelligently suggests relevant apps or widgets based on context and user habits. While Siri on the watch continues to serve basic functions, users are hopeful for future enhancements that could bring it closer to the advanced, contextually aware capabilities seen in competing smartwatches.

Overall, watchOS 26 delivers meaningful, user-centric upgrades that enhance the Apple Watch’s functionality and user experience. From smarter fitness companions to more intuitive controls and visual polish, these updates collectively refine what is already a leading smartwatch platform.

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