watchOS 26 is now available with a new wrist flick gesture and Notes on your wrist

watchOS 26 brings a glossier idiosyncratic interface to the Apple Watch. | Image: Apple

The latest iteration of Apple’s wearable OS volition look a spot different. For those who person been holding disconnected connected investigating the developer and nationalist betas, Apple has yet released watchOS 26 to the masses and the update is disposable for respective antithetic iterations of the Apple Watch including the Series 6 to the caller Series 11, the 2nd and third-generation Apple Watch SE, and each of the extra-durable Ultra models.

One of the biggest changes coming to each of Apple’s operating systems is the company’s caller Liquid Glass plan connection that updates windows, notifications, app icons, and different UI elements with a transparent glassy quality revealing what’s beneath them. For the Apple Watch, the Liquid Glass update isn’t rather arsenic melodramatic a change arsenic it is for the iPhone and iOS 26. You’ll mostly announcement a caller glossy quality to icons and buttons successful the Smart Stack, Control Center, and apps, and with ticker faces that premix substance and photos.

A caller wrist flick motion (that looks easier than the previous digit pinch treble pat gesture) lets you soundlessness timers, mute calls, and disregard notifications by rotating your wrist distant from you. With watchOS 26 the Apple Watch tin besides automatically set the measurement of calls, notifications, and Siri based connected ambient noise, making them quieter erstwhile the din dies down. And for the archetypal time, Apple’s Notes app volition beryllium disposable connected the Apple Watch, including the quality to make caller notes oregon asking Siri to bash that for you.

Hypertension notifications, announced alongside the Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3 past week, are besides coming with watchOS 26. The wellness diagnostic uses the Apple Watch’s existing optical sensor to collect information astir however humor vessels respond to bosom beats implicit a 30 time play to observe signs of precocious humor unit and notify users. It volition besides beryllium disposable connected older Apple Watch models with today’s update including the Series 9 and onward and the Ultra 2 and 3.

New Apple Watch wellness features being introduced contiguous see a caller slumber people that evaluates the prime of your slumber based connected your slumber duration, interruptions passim the night, and however accordant your bedtime is. It joins a caller Workout Buddy, powered by Apple Intelligence, that uses your fittingness past to supply motivational messages and insights during a workout specified arsenic pep talks letting you cognize however acold you are from your enactment goal.

Other watchOS 26 upgrades see configurable widgets successful the Smart Stack truthful you tin prioritize ones you entree frequently, automatic connection translations utilizing Apple Intelligence, and caller ticker faces. Supported Apple Watch models volition besides get entree to the iPhone’s Hold Assist and Call Screening features that tin inquire radical wherefore they’re calling oregon stay connected clasp connected your behalf and nonstop a notification erstwhile a unrecorded cause is available.