watchOS 26: 5 new features coming to your Apple Watch later this year

Smarter Sound with Ambient Volume Control
Apple Watch can now automatically raise or lower the volume of notifications, calls, and Siri responses based on the surrounding noise — so it won’t shout in a quiet room or whisper on a busy street.

One-Handed Dismissals with Wrist Flick
Got one hand busy? Just flick your wrist to silence alarms, dismiss notifications, or return to your watch face. It’s fast, discreet, and genuinely useful in real life.

Always-On Display Now Shows Seconds
More watch faces will now keep ticking — literally. Even when your wrist is down, seconds will keep updating in real time on supported models like the Apple Watch Series 10.

Live Translation in Messages
watchOS 26 brings Apple Intelligence-powered translation to the Messages app. Read and respond in different languages, right from your wrist — currently supported on Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 with a paired iPhone.

Smart Stack Gets Smarter
The Smart Stack now serves proactive suggestions — like reminding you to backtrack in remote areas or nudging you to start a workout at the gym. It pulls from your habits, location, and sensor data to be more helpful.