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watchOS 26 Rolled Out With Workout Buddy, Hypertension Notifications and Liquid Glass Design

watchOS 26 Rolled Out With Workout Buddy, Hypertension Notifications and Liquid Glass Design

Apple’s watchOS 26 brings a new AI workout coaching feature called Workout Buddy to the company’s smartwatches.

Written by Dhruv Raghav, Edited by David Delima | Updated: 16 September 2025 13:48 IST

watchOS 26 Rolled Out With Workout Buddy, Hypertension Notifications and Liquid Glass Design

Photo Credit: Apple

Apple Watch Series 11 (pictured) was launched on September 9

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Highlights

watchOS 26 brings Smart Stacks to Apple’s smartwatches
watchOS 26 introduces Liquid Glass design
The new software update is available on select smartwatches

Apple released its watchOS 26 update for select Apple Watch models, bringing new health features, the Liquid Glass design, and a new Apple Intelligence (AI)-enabled workout coaching feature. The Cupertino company first unveiled watchOS 26 and its features earlier this year, in June, during its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025. The tech giant has also rolled out the iOS 26 and macOS 26 software updates for iPhone and Mac computers, respectively.

watchOS 26 Update Brings Notes App to Select Models

According to the official company website, watchOS 26 is rolling out to select Apple Watch models. The new software update brings Apple's new Liquid Glass design, redesigning several user interface (UI) elements. It also introduces the new Sleep Score feature, within the Sleep app, which will score a wearer's quality of sleep. It will monitor the duration of sleep, time spent in bed, and how many times the sleep was interrupted.

The watchOS 26 update also integrates the Liquid Glass design to Smart Stack widgets, notifications, Control Center, and in-app controls and navigation. On top of this, the software version also brings the Smart Stack hints, which will give users suggestions regarding what would be “immediately useful” to the wearer. Now, users will also be able to dismiss notifications by flicking or turning their wrist. On top of this, the smartwatch will also provide “Suggested smart actions” in Messages depending on the context of a text message.

iOS 26 Update Brings These New Features to AirPods Pro 3, Pro 2, AirPods 4

However, the highlight is the AI-powered Workout Buddy feature. The new feature will track the workout data of the wearer to generate personalised, motivational insights during their workout sessions. The smartwatch will tell a user, via a text prompt, when they achieve a new milestone while working out. Moreover, Workout Buddy will provide a recap of the workout statistics while congratulating them for their achievements.

The new software update also introduces Hypertension Notifications, which will alert a user by analysing data collected through the optical heart sensor on the Apple Watch models if it detects a pattern of hypertension. However, this feature will not be available on the Apple Watch SE variants.

Select Apple Watch models will also get the Notes app, automatic volume adjustment feature, Live Translations support, and Hold Assist. The Hold Assist feature allows users to make a “live agent” wait in their place when a customer service representative puts their call on hold, and notifies the users when the representative is ready. Users can also edit the background in text windows.

watchOS 26 update: Eligible Apple Watch Models

Apple Watch Series 11

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Dial Shape Square

Ideal For Unisex

More Apple Smartwatches

Apple Watch Ultra 3

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Dial Shape Square

Ideal For Unisex

More Apple Smartwatches

Apple Watch SE 3

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Dial Shape Square

Ideal For Unisex

More Apple Smartwatches

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Further reading: watchOS 26, watchOS 26 Features, watchOS 26 Update, watchOS, Apple, Apple Watch SE 2nd Generation, Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Series 6, Apple Watch Series 7, Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Watch Ultra 2, Apple Watch Ultra 3

Dhruv Raghav

Email Dhruv Raghav

Dhruv Raghav is currently working as a Senior Sub Editor at Gadgets360. He has previously covered the North American financial markets as a Headline News Correspondent for a major news agency. After taking a sabbatical to prepare for the Civil Services examination, he returned to journalism to cover tech policy, with a special focus on AI laws and online gaming regulation. Now, he is back in Gadgets360 to write features and edit stories. To unwind, he likes to spend time with his PS5, listening ...More