watchOS 26 Unveiled with Liquid Glass, Notes App, and AI Features

Apple has officially introduced watchOS 26 at WWDC 2025, bringing a refreshed design, smarter Apple Intelligence features, and long-awaited app additions such as Notes. One of the most impressive visual changes is the new Liquid Glass style. Based on real glass, this UI layer glimmers and glows with changes in light and motion on the screen. It gives the Apple Watch display some depth and substance, which feels higher fidelity and interactive.

watchOS 26 Brings Liquid Glass Design, Smarter Fitness, Notes App, Enhanced Messaging, and More

Icons and UI elements have also been polished throughout the platform, and certain quality-of-life improvements make for an easier-to-read experience. Apple also announced that it’s taking its approach to personalizing fitness to the next level with Workout Buddy, a voice-guided experience driven by Apple Intelligence. Your Workout Buddy can offer real-time inspiration and encouragement, based on your workout stats, such as heart rate, distance, pace, and progress of Activity Rings.

It even references past performance, such as: “You’re 18 minutes from closing your Exercise ring. You’ve run 6 miles this week—let’s add to that today.” This feature supports popular workouts like running, cycling, HIIT, and strength training. The Workout app itself is redesigned, featuring new corner buttons for quicker navigation. Now you can play playlists and podcasts right in the app, with Apple Music selecting playlists that are tailored to your workout preferences.

The Smart Stack has become more context-aware, leveraging additional sensor data, routine patterns, and location. For instance, you may approach a gym and be offered a workout suggestion, or if you lose connection outdoors, the Backtrack feature may activate to help you retrace your steps. A new wrist flick gesture lets users dismiss notifications, silence alarms, and return to the watch face without touching the screen, enhancing one-handed usability. Additionally, the Apple Watch now auto-adjusts speaker volume based on surrounding noise for optimal clarity during calls or Siri interactions.

Messaging gains new features from iOS, including live translation and chat backgrounds. And at last, the Notes app comes to Apple Watch, allowing users to create and manage notes directly from their wrist. Widgets also offer more customization options, letting users tailor their Smart Stack to their routines. Overall, watchOS 26 feels smarter, more personal, and more intuitive. The update will roll out later this year, with developer beta versions already available.

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