iOS 26 is imminent and should come very soon in public beta version. Although we are delighted to see how Apple’s largest software update will upgrade the iPhone experience, Apple Watches will also receive the same treatment when Watchos 26 is deployed, and we are just as excited.
If you have an Apple Watch Series 6 or later, an Apple Watch SE 2 or any Apple Watch Ultra model, you can take advantage of the advantages of the new exciting features of Watchos 26. However, it comes with reverse.
Although the models mentioned above receive many new practical functions, there are four Watchos 26 features which will only be available on the Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra Models only – leaving the owners of older models in the dust.
It is best to dismiss and see what Watchos 26 offers that your current Apple Watch model will take care of when the update will be deployed in September. If you want to get the most out of more advanced features, take it as a sign of time upgrade for Watchos 26.
4 features that your old watch will not get
The following features will be available on Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra Models only.
1. Flick of the wrist
In 2023, Apple deployed the double tap gesture for the Apple Watch, a multifunctional feature that allows you to do things such as a smart battery, to start training, alarms and timeries of silence and to reject the notifications.
The function of Apple’s wrist film is a new hands-free gesture designed to fulfill similar functions which seem much more reliable than the double tap, but only the Apple Watch models mentioned above can bear.
2. Smart answers updates
Although this is not important to the iPhone model (as long as it supports the latest version of iOS), you will always need one of the new Apple Watch models to make the most of Watchos 26 to Smart Stay, which offers more precise and more relevant messaging suggestions.
3. Automatic volume setting
Similarly to the wrist film, the automatic volume setting will not be available on the models published before 2023. It is a little disappointing, because it seems that it would be a very practical function when it comes to managing noisy notifications.
With this new Watchos 26 feature, your Apple Watch will have the possibility of “automatically adjusting the volume of speaker according to the ambient noise in the environment of a user for notifications, timeries, alarms, incoming calls and Siri” – as it says in the Apple press release.
4. Live translation
One of the largest iOS 26 upgrades announced at WWDC 2025 was the addition of Apple Intelligence’s live translation function for iPhone, and now some Apple Watch models get the same treatment.
With the arrival of Watchos 26, you can see them directly from your wrist – it is if you have an Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10 or an Apple Watch Ultra 2.
5 features that your old watch will receive
If you have an Apple Watch 6 series or subsequent version, or an Apple Watch SE 2, search for these new features when Watchos 26 deploys.
1. Liquid glass
Liquid Glass is one of the biggest upgrades to come with Watchos 26 – an enormous design upgrade of the operating system which will take place in all Apple equipment. Not only will this give your interface a transparent and shiny appearance, but will use small spaces using expanding widgets.
The best part about it? You will not have to worry about upgrading to a new Apple Watch model for this new look, because it arrives at the Apple Watch Series 6 or subsequent version, Apple Watch SE 2, and all Apple Watch Ultra models.
2. Apple intelligence training buddy
Watchos 26 also gets upgrades on the fitness front, the new main addition being the Buddy Workout function. Propelled by Apple Intelligence, Workout Buddy is a new experience in the training application that accesses the physical form, health and user training stories to provide spoken motivation and personalized fitness summaries.
You should note that to take advantage of Buddy training, you will also need an iPhone capable of taking charge of Apple Intelligence – those that are models that support iOS 18.4 and later.
3. Notes on the wrist
One of the most requested features is the addition of the Notes application to Watchos, and if you have an Apple Watch 6 series or more, you will soon be able to use notes directly from your wrist as the intention.
Not only can you access the existing notes taken from your iPhone, but Watchos 26 will allow you to create new ones from your Apple Watch using Siri, the dictation and the keyboard function – and even full control lists. Your grocery list can now live on your wrist!
4. Look at the face of the “clues” in the smart pile
With Watchos 26, new visual prompts called “indices” arrive at the smart watch battery, which appears when you use the digital crown on the side of your watch to scroll.
Apple says that advice is designed to make your daily interactions more practical, offering the following examples of what to expect from its new addition: “ a backtracking index may appear when a user is in a distant location without connectivity, or an index for pilates training may appear when a user arrives in a studio at their usual time ”.
5. third -party control functions
The new upcoming final functionality in the wider group of Watchos 26 compatible models are new third -party controls, which will allow developers to create their own personalized controls that Apple Watch users can add to their control center, to their smart battery widget or an action button.
When changing your control center, your Apple Watch will also display a section of your iPhone ”, which will then allow you to add third -party commands found in your iPhone.
