iOS 26 is imminent and is expected to come to Beta public very soon. While we are excited to see how Apple’s greatest software update will update the iPhone experience, Apple Watches will also receive the same treatment when Watchos 26 is implemented, and we are so excited.
If you have an Apple Watch Series 6 or later, an Apple Watch is 2, or any Apple Watch Ultra model, then you can obtain the benefits of the new exciting features of Watchos 26. However, it comes with some setbacks.
Although the aforementioned models will receive many new and practical functions, there are four Watchos 26 features that will only be available to use in Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra Models only, leaving the owners of older models in dust.
It is better to verify twice and see what Watchos 26 characteristics your current Apple Watch model will admit when the update is implemented in September. If you want to make the most of the most advanced functions, take this as your signal to update on time for Watchos 26.
4 characteristics that your oldest Apple Watch will not get
The following characteristics will be available at Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra Models only.
1. Doll Flick
In 2023, Apple launched the double touch gesture for Apple Watch, a multifunctional feature that allows you to do things like closing Smart Stack, start training, Silence Alarms and Timers, and rule out notifications.
Apple’s doll film function is a new hands -free gesture designed to carry out similar functions that sound much more reliable than Double Tap, but only Apple Watch models mentioned above can endure this.
2. Smart response updates
While it doesn’t matter which iPhone model has (whenever I admit the latest version of iOS), one of the newest Apple Watch models will still need to make the most of the update of Watchos 26 to intelligent responses, which offers more precise and contextually relevant messaging suggestions.
3. Automatic volume adjustment
Similarly to the doll film, the automatic volume setting will not reach the models released before 2023. This is a bit disappointing, since it seems that it would be a very useful function when it comes to administering noise notifications.
With this new Watchos 26 function, your Apple Watch will have the ability to “automatically adjust the volume of the speaker based on the environmental noise in the environment of a user for notifications, timers, alarms, incoming calls and Siri ‘, as she says in Apple’s press release.
4. Live translation
One of the largest updates of iOS 26 announced on WWDC 2025 was the incorporation of the live Intelligence translation function for iPhone, and now certain Apple Watch models are receiving the same treatment.
With the arrival of Watchos 26, you can see them from your wrist, that is whether you have an Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series or a Apple Watch Ultra 2.
5 characteristics that your oldest apple watch will receive
If you have a series of Apple Watch 6 or later, or an Apple Watch is 2, look for these new features when Watchos 26 unfolds.
1. Liquid glass
Liquid Glass is one of the biggest updates that come with Watchos 26, a large design update of the operating system that will be extended throughout Apple hardware. Not only will it give its interface a transparent and brilliant appearance, but also make the use of small spaces using expansion widgets.
The best part of this? You will not have to worry about updating a new Apple Watch model for this new look, since it will arrive at Apple Watch Series 6 or later, Apple Watch Se 2 and all Apple Watch Ultra models.
2. Apple’s intelligence training Buddy
Watchos 26 also obtains some updates on the Fitness Front, the new main addition is the training friend’s function. Promoted by Apple Intelligence, Workout Buddy is a new experience in the training application that accesses the physical conditioning history, health and training of the user to provide spoken motivation and personalized summaries of physical aptitude.
You should keep in mind that to take advantage of the training friend, you will also need an iPhone capable of admitting Apple’s intelligence, those that are models that admit iOS 18.4 and later.
3. Wrist notes
One of the most requested features is the addition of the Notes to Watchos application, and if you have a series of Apple Watch 6 or higher, you can soon use notes directly from your wrist as planned.
Not only can you access the existing notes made on your iPhone, Watchos 26 will allow you to create new ones from your Apple Watch using Siri, dictated and the keyboard function and even the complete verification lists. Your grocery list can now live on your wrist!
4. Look at the ‘clues’ face in the smart battery
With Watchos 26, new visual indications called ‘suggestions’ are arriving at The Watch Face Smart Stack, which appears when using the digital crown on the side of your watch to move.
Apple says that suggestions are designed to make their daily interactions more convenient, offering the following examples of what to expect from their new addition: ‘A setback can appear when a user is in a remote location without connectivity, or a track for a pilates training can appear when a user arrives at a study location at his usual time’.
5. Third -party control functions
The new final feature that reaches the broader group of models compatible with Watchos 26 are new third -party controls, which will allow developers to create their own personalized controls that Apple Watch users can add to their control center, a smart battery widget or an action button.
When editing your control center, your Apple Watch will also show a section ‘From your iPhone’, which will then allow you to add third -party controls found on your iPhone.
