Apple watchOS 26: New Features, Fitness Upgrades and Liquid Glass (WWDC 2025)
Central to watchOS 26 is the Liquid Glass interface, a visually dynamic design that enhances the Apple Watch's display with depth and fluidity. This innovative interface introduces a more immersive visual experience, making interactions feel smoother and more engaging. Complementing this is the updated Photos watch face, which integrates Liquid Glass numerals, offering users a more expressive and customizable way to personalize their devices.
Navigation has also been streamlined with the addition of Smart Stack widgets, which provide contextual information at a glance. These widgets adapt dynamically to user behavior, making sure that relevant data is always accessible. Additionally, the Control Center has been redesigned for quicker access to essential tools, improving overall usability. Together, these updates create a more intuitive and visually appealing interface, enhancing the day-to-day experience of using the Apple Watch. Watch this video on YouTube. Advancements in Fitness Tracking
Fitness tracking remains a cornerstone of the Apple Watch, and watchOS 26 introduces significant enhancements to this functionality. The revamped Workout app, powered by Apple Intelligence, delivers personalized insights and real-time feedback during exercise sessions. Users receive spoken motivation and updates on milestones, pace, and progress, helping them stay focused on their fitness goals.
The app's customizable layout allows users to seamlessly integrate music or podcasts into their workouts, creating a more enjoyable and tailored exercise experience. These updates cater to users of all activity levels, from casual walkers to dedicated athletes, reinforcing the Apple Watch's role as a comprehensive fitness companion.
Key fitness updates include: Real-time performance tracking with spoken feedback.
Customizable workout layouts for a personalized experience.
Integration of music and podcasts into exercise routines. Smarter Notifications and Communication
watchOS 26 introduces smarter, more context-aware notifications and communication tools. Using advanced prediction algorithms, the system now provides proactive suggestions based on user behavior and contextual data. This ensures that notifications are not only timely but also relevant to the user's current activities.
One of the standout features is Live Translation, which enables real-time translation of both incoming and outgoing messages. This functionality assists seamless communication across language barriers, making the Apple Watch a valuable tool for global connectivity. Additionally, improved Smart Replies, powered by AI, offer contextually appropriate responses, while a simple wrist flick gesture allows users to dismiss notifications or calls effortlessly. These updates enhance the Apple Watch's ability to keep users connected and informed, making communication more efficient and intuitive.
Accessibility Features for Inclusive Interaction
Accessibility remains a key focus for Apple, and watchOS 26 introduces several new features designed to meet the needs of diverse users. The Live Listen feature provides real-time captions for users who are deaf or hard of hearing, allowing more effective communication in various settings.
The redesigned Notes app allows users to create, pin, and manage notes directly from their wrist, offering greater convenience for on-the-go organization. Meanwhile, Call Screening enables users to handle incoming calls more efficiently, and Ambient Noise Adjustment automatically optimizes speaker volume based on the surrounding environment.
These features highlight Apple's commitment to inclusivity, making sure that the Apple Watch remains accessible and adaptable to a wide range of users. Empowering Developers with New Tools
watchOS 26 also introduces a suite of new tools and resources for developers, allowing them to create more immersive and customizable apps. Expanded APIs now support the integration of design elements such as Liquid Glass and Smart Stack widgets, allowing developers to take full advantage of the platform's capabilities.
The introduction of location-based features opens up new possibilities for geolocation-driven applications, while the redesigned Watch Face Gallery offers users greater flexibility in exploring and personalizing watch faces. These updates empower developers to push the boundaries of what's possible on the Apple Watch, fostering innovation and creativity within the ecosystem.
Key developer updates include: Expanded APIs for enhanced app design and functionality.
Support for location-based features and geolocation-driven apps.
A redesigned Watch Face Gallery for improved customization.
Focus on Personalization and Integration
watchOS 26 places a strong emphasis on personalization and seamless integration across Apple's ecosystem. The updated operating system allows users to tailor their Apple Watch experience to their unique preferences, whether through customizable watch faces, adaptive widgets, or personalized fitness insights.
Moreover, the integration of advanced AI-driven features ensures that the Apple Watch continues to evolve alongside its users, adapting to their needs and habits over time. This focus on personalization and adaptability underscores Apple's commitment to delivering a smartwatch experience that is both intuitive and empowering.
With watchOS 26, Apple has introduced a range of updates that enhance the functionality, usability, and accessibility of its smartwatch platform. From the visually dynamic Liquid Glass interface to the advanced AI-driven fitness tracking and context-aware notifications, this release demonstrates Apple's dedication to innovation and user-centric design.
By empowering developers with new tools and prioritizing inclusivity, watchOS 26 ensures that the Apple Watch remains a versatile and indispensable tool for users worldwide. Whether tracking fitness goals, managing notifications, or allowing real-time translation, watchOS 26 continues to position the Apple Watch as a leader in the smartwatch industry. Here are more guides from our previous articles and guides related to Apple watchOS that you may find helpful. Filed Under: Apple, Top News
Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals
Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
20 minutes ago
- Reuters
Breakingviews - Dear retail traders: 'can't lose' means can't win
NEW YORK, Aug 19 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Everyone loves a casino, except when they lose. As excitable retail traders flood into stocks, cryptocurrencies and more, Wall Street is selling them promises of safe seats at the highest-stakes tables. Unfortunately, 'can't lose' in this case also mostly means 'can't win.' Investors poured $65 billion into so-called buffer exchange-traded funds over the past five years, according to Morningstar, while BlackRock expects them to reach ten times that size by 2030. The gist is simple: take an underlying investment, like the S&P 500 Index (.SPX), opens new tab. Then, wrap it in options that eliminate losses up to a certain threshold, typically 10%. Paying for this requires relinquishing gains, which are usually capped at 15%. So if the market drops 15%, you lose 5%. If it rises 35%, your investment grows only 15%. These funds gained traction after 2022, when both stocks and bonds fell, rendering diversification less effective. Over time, a standard buffer ETF should return about 90% of the market's performance, according to fund managers. In theory, that might be a reasonable cost for protecting against drawdowns. In practice, though, research from hedge fund AQR, opens new tab finds that 80% of buffer ETFs inflict greater-than-claimed maximum losses. Defenders say they work if bought on launch day and held for exactly one year. Yet they trade tick-by-tick, like any stock. The theory goes further awry in more exotic terrain. Gambling on hyper-risky assets – like crypto or speculative technology firms – without chancing catastrophe would obviously be appealing. Ark Investment, run by tech investor Cathie Wood, plans to launch a buffered version of its Innovation ETF. It aims to halve losses, in exchange for surrendering the first 5% of returns and keeping only 60% of upside from there. The problem is the cost of protection on something so risky. Based on the Innovation fund's past performance, an investor who put $1,000 into the buffer fund 10 years ago would have missed $380 in gains annually to pay for options, Breakingviews calculates. That would leave a gain of $2,057.51, slightly underperforming the S&P 500 and with little benefit in terms of volatility. Then there's the 2x Capped Accelerated TSLA ETF, a buffer wrapped around a twice-leveraged Tesla (TSLA.O), opens new tab fund. A $1,000 investment five years ago would have ended up losing $200, Breakingviews calculates, despite Tesla's stock more than doubling. Themes, the fund's manager, says it works — but only if held for exactly one month. The danger is that this keeps pushing into ever-diminishing payoffs for ever-racier ostensible investments. Just imagine if someone wrapped, say, a bitcoin-hoarder stock like Strategy (MSTR.O), opens new tab in a leveraged ETF, then wrapped it again in a buffer. Or don't: one of those launched last week. Follow Stephen Gandel on LinkedIn, opens new tab and X, opens new tab.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Students can get free AirPods for a limited time with this deal
If you're one of the thousands of young people to have received a place at university last week, you're likely embarking on the last-minute scramble to sort your accommodation, travel and equipment for the year ahead. Perhaps you're a returning student, and you've been working a summer job to upgrade a lousy laptop that decided to crash five minutes before your assignment is due. No matter what your reason is for wanting to upgrade your back-to-school tech, I've spied an incredible laptop deal. University students, parents and anyone working in education can get a free pair of AirPods 4 with the purchase of an iPad, MacBook or iMac. Of course, a brand new iPad, MacBook or Mac is a significant purchase, and as The Independent 's consumer writer, my main priority is to save you money. If you weren't planning on buying a brand new Mac, iPad, MacBook or iMac, it's not a financially responsible choice to drop hundreds of pounds just because Apple are throwing a pair of AirPods. Even with this deal, you'll be spending far more than you would if you bought a non-Apple tablet or laptop, and opted for a less expensive pair of our best wireless earbuds. If you're an Apple fan, you could also save hundreds by getting refurbished models from a reputable site like BackMarket. However, if you're set on a new iPad, Mac or MacBook, now's a good time to go for it. While third parties often beat Apple on price, through its Education Store, you can currently get up to 11 per cent off, plus a free pair of AirPods 4 to listen to your study playlist. Running until Tuesday 21 October, this deal is only available for a limited time. Here's what you need to know. Who can buy the student AirPods deal? We're calling it a student deal, but really, it's available to more people than that. Here's who can get it: New and returning university students Parents of new and returning university students Teachers and other employees of any educational institution, which includes not just universities but also schools and colleges You'll need to go to the Education Store and sign up using Unidays. Parents will need to get their child to verify through Unidays before completing a purchase. Education workers can create a Unidays staff account. Upgrade to the AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation As part of this deal, you can choose to upgrade to the AirPods Pro 2, usually sold for £229, for an additional £50. For example, if you get a MacBook Air on the Education Store for £899, and you choose the AirPods Pro, you'll pay £949. Similarly, if minimising background noise is important to you, there's an option to upgrade to the AirPods 4, usually sold for £129, with active noise cancellation. This will cost an extra £50, unless you're getting an iMac in which case no extra charge will be added. Other accessories included in this deal AirPods aren't the only accessories included in this deal. If you wanted to, you could get an Apple keyboard, mouse, trackpad or Apple pencil pro as part of some of the bundle offers. You'll be asked which accessory you want to choose before you check out – just make sure you check the total at the end so you don't end up paying an extra fee by accident. Get a free pair of AirPods 4 with these Apple deals We've listed the products you can get a free pair of AirPods with below. Each model has different options available for storage, size and colour, but we've listed the lowest price you can get each one from under the deal. You can get an iPad Air, with a pair of AirPods 4 included, on Apple's Education store. This isn't the cheapest price we've seen for this model, as you can nab it for £417.89 on On Buy, but with the AirPods 4 included, Apple comes out on top here. The iPad Pro, which tech critic David Phelan called 'monsterously powerful and impossibly thin', is 11 per cent off on Apple's education store. Again, this price is beaten by On Buy, which is selling it for £747, but you won't get the AirPods 4 included. This tech icon is on sale for 11 per cent off on Apple's Education Store with AirPods 4 thrown in. Not bothered about the AirPods? You can get it without from Amazon for £849. You can save £100 on the latest MacBook Pro, and get a pair of AirPods thrown in when you buy it via Apple's Education store. At the time of writing, this is the lowest price for a new MacBook Pro from a reputable retailer. Though a £50 discount might not seem like much for a product this costly, this is the best price we've seen for an iMac at the moment – and that's without factoring in the AirPods 4, which you'll get bundled in.
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
Crypto firm Tether hires ex-White House crypto adviser Bo Hines
Aug 19 (Reuters) - Cryptocurrency firm Tether has appointed former White House crypto policy executive Bo Hines as a strategic adviser to help steer its expansion in the United States, the company said on Tuesday. In his new role, Hines will advise on digital assets and U.S. market strategy, engaging with policymakers and industry groups to strengthen the firm's presence in the world's largest economy. "His deep understanding of the legislative process, combined with his passion for practical blockchain adoption, makes him an invaluable asset as Tether enters the biggest market in the world," Tether Chief Executive Paolo Ardoino said. Hines, who until recently served as executive director of the Presidential Council of Advisers for Digital Assets, supported the passage of the GENIUS Act, a stablecoin regulatory framework, and helped shape broader crypto regulation. He stepped down from his White House role in August to return to the private sector. "During my time in public service, I witnessed firsthand the transformative potential of stablecoins to modernize payments and increase financial inclusion," Hines said. Stablecoins, digital tokens tied to assets such as the U.S. dollar, are riding a surge of investor demand as clearer regulation paves the way for wider adoption.
