Apple rolls out watchOS 26: Smarter health, new look, and AI-powered fitness

Apple Watch

Apple has officially rolled out watchOS 26, a major update that leans heavily on intelligence and health features while giving the Apple Watch a fresh coat of design polish. From personalised fitness coaching to FDA-cleared health tools, the update shows Apple is treating the Watch less like an accessory and more like a proactive health companion.

Health and wellness take centre stage. A new sleep score helps users understand the quality of their rest, breaking down how restorative it really was. More significant is the arrival of hypertension notifications, cleared by the FDA. Using a machine learning algorithm validated in a large clinical study, the Watch can now alert users if it detects signs of chronic high blood pressure—a potentially life-saving feature that could prompt lifestyle changes or early treatment.

Fitness gets an upgrade. The standout here is Workout Buddy, Apple’s first AI-powered fitness coach. Built on Apple Intelligence, it delivers motivational audio insights in real time, using dynamic voices trained on Apple Fitness+ instructors. The Workout app itself has been redesigned with its biggest layout overhaul since launch, making tracking and guidance more intuitive.

Fresh design and smarter interactions. The watch face gallery has been reworked, adding two new faces—Flow and Exactograph—for more personalisation. Everyday tasks also get smoother: Smart Stack hints surface proactive suggestions, Live Translation in Messages breaks down language barriers instantly, and a clever wrist flick gesture lets users dismiss calls or alarms one-handed. Rounding things out, the long-requested Notes app finally arrives on Apple Watch.

watchOS 26 isn’t a cosmetic update. It’s Apple doubling down on health intelligence, convenience, and daily usefulness—making the Watch an even stronger blend of fitness coach, translator, and personal assistant, all on your wrist.