Apple Prepares watchOS 26 Reveal with Major Updates for Smartwatch

Apple Inc. is poised to reveal its next-generation smartwatch software, watchOS 26, at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) scheduled for June 9. The update is expected to introduce significant platform-level changes and may mark a major step toward integrating user experience across all Apple devices.

With WWDC traditionally serving as the launchpad for Apple’s software upgrades, developers are anticipating early access to the watchOS 26 beta immediately after the keynote. A broader public beta is expected in July, with the final rollout likely to coincide with Apple’s upcoming hardware lineup in September, including Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch SE 3, and Apple Watch Ultra 3.

Apple is likely to move from sequential numbering to a year-based system for its operating systems. If this shift materializes, watchOS 12 will give way to watchOS 26, aligning with iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, signaling a synchronized experience across devices. Reports indicate that the design revamp may borrow from visionOS, Apple’s interface for its spatial computing platform.

watchOS 26 may expand health-tracking capabilities. Industry speculation points to the introduction of blood pressure monitoring and hypertension alerts, potentially integrated into the Vitals app or a new application altogether. While such features may rely on hardware advancements in newer models, Apple has previously enabled retroactive software features, such as sleep apnea tracking.

In fitness, Apple could enhance its Training Load metric introduced in watchOS 11 by adding a recovery or energy score, a standard offering among rival platforms like Garmin and Google. Users might also see improvements in stress tracking and daily wellness recommendations.

Apple may use watchOS 26 to expand its AI-driven functionalities. The current Photos watch face already leverages machine learning. Upcoming features may deepen this approach, potentially introducing smarter Siri capabilities and personalized notifications. However, these enhancements could be exclusive to newer models with sufficient processing capabilities, possibly limited to the Ultra 3.

Sources suggest that watchOS 26 may introduce a refreshed user interface. Changes may include "floating" UI elements and bold typography to align the smartwatch experience with Apple’s visionOS design philosophy. This shift aims to deliver a seamless visual environment across the Apple ecosystem.

Apple is expected to continue supporting older hardware. Compatibility for watchOS 26 will likely begin with the Apple Watch Series 7 and extend to the latest SE and Ultra models.