Apple just announced watchOS 26, the latest version of its Apple Watch operating system, at its WWDC 25 developer conference. It’s been updated with Liquid Glass, Apple’s new transparent design language, along with a new wrist flick gesture to dismiss notifications.
watchOS 26 is the follow-up to last year’s watchOS 11 release, but Apple has jumped its numbering up to match the upcoming year in a bid to standardize its operating system names, so that the watchOS numbering now matches iOS, macOS, and Apple’s other software platforms. As in previous years, developer access starts today, with a public beta to follow next month. The full release is coming this fall alongside the new Apple Watches.
watchOS 11’s major additions last year included fitness features like Training Load and the ability to pause your Activity Rings for days off, along with the introduction of Live Activities and contextual widgets such as Translate when you’re traveling, or Shazam if you’re out and music is playing.
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