Most of the talk has been about the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 versions but Apple has given equal focus to watchOS 26 version for the Watch users. The company is bringing a host of upgrades to the Apple Watch models later this year, which does include the new Liquid Glass interface design. But there are other health-centric improvements that will be powered by Apple AI to analyse your data and inform you about its status.

Here are the Apple Watch models that will get the watchOS 26 update and what features users can expect coming their way. 

watchOS 26 Update: Which Apple Watch Models Will Get It 

These Apple Watch models will support the new watchOS 26 update if you pair them with iPhone 11 or higher models running on the iOS 26 version this year. 

watchOS 26 Update: New Features Announced 

Apple has talked about quite a few features coming with the watchOS 26 version this year with equal focus on fitness, productivity and functional needs. 

AI Workout Buddy 

Apple is using AI to develop a workout buddy that analyses your fitness data to give real-time monitoring of your routine and prescribes better ways to get the right results. You basically have a fitness companion talking to you during the indoor and outdoor runs. Apple is also tuning its program to encourage people during their exercise and before it.

The feature only works in English for now but the company plans to support more languages in the coming months. Apple’s AI-powered features have lacked purpose till date, we are hoping that the workout buddy works as advertised. 

Smarter Notifications 

Apple Watch notifications will now smartly decide how loud or silent the alerts need to be based on the ambient noise near you. This will not make the headlines as such but for message and app update alerts, this could be extremely functional that people will gradually start to appreciate. 

Wrist Flick To Dismiss 

Apple brought double tap with the watchOS 10 version but the new watchOS 26 update has a new way to operate without touching the Apple Watch screen. You can just turn the wrist with the new watchOS 26 version and dismiss all the messages and call notification on the Apple Watch. 

Live Translation On The Wrist 

The other Apple AI feature coming to Watch users is live translation that was demoed at the WWDC 2025 earlier this week. The new tool will be helpful in the Messages app for Apple Watch users when they receive chats in different languages. 

You will need the Watch Series 9 or higher models to use the Apple AI feature that will support English (US and UK), French, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil) and Chinese among others. 

More Watch Face Options 

Probably the least exciting updates coming to Apple Watch users but the watchOS 26 version will make it easy to customise the watch faces with the help of the redesigned watch face gallery and you also get the option to use custom photos to shuffle on the watch screen.