watchOS 26 Adds Four New Apple Watch Faces

[MacRumors]

When Apple previewed watchOS 26 in June at WWDC, the company didn't reveal any new watch faces, but now we know Apple was just holding them back to show off with the new Apple Watch models that it unveiled on Tuesday.

During its "Awe dropping" event, Apple also dropped the release candidate of watchOS 26. As it turns out, there are four new watch faces included in the upcoming update, some of which you may have already seen adorning the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3.

According to Apple's release notes, they are as follows:

• Exactograph is a modern re-imagination of a traditional regulator watch which separates out hours, minutes, and seconds for more precise timekeeping
• Flow uses Liquid Glass numerals that refract a fluid orb of color that responds to your wrist movements
• Waypoint acts as a live compass that shows where you are in relation to saved locations in Maps or points of interest (Available on Apple Watch Ultra)
• Hermès Faubourg Party features animated shorts that appear based on the time of day or your movements, with a series of characters (Available on Apple Watch Hermès)

These faces are coming to older models too. Waypoint is exclusive to Apple Watch Ultra models, adding to the two existing Ultra faces called Wayfinder and Modular Ultra.

Meanwhile, Hermès Faubourg Party – as the name suggests – is limited to Hermès models.

That leaves Exactograph and Flow, both of which will be available to all Apple Watch models that support watchOS 26. As a reminder, the existing Photos face has also been enhanced by a new design with Liquid Glass, elevating numerals so more of your photos are visible. Apple says the watch faces can be explored more easily thanks to a redesigned watch face gallery, where faces are grouped into collections.

watchOS 26 will roll out to all users on Monday, September 15.

Article Link: watchOS 26 Adds Four New Apple Watch Faces

 

[turbineseaplane]

Why can't 3rd parties make their own Apple Watch faces yet?

This is such a huge missed opportunity.

It's incredible to see what folks come up with at garmin.watchfacebuilder.com and the like.

 

[FSMBP]

Just want Modular Ultra on non-Ultra watches...Or some sort of customization like the iPhone Lockscreen in iOS 26. I guess we'll wait for watchOS 27 to get that.

 

[Plerf]

I still think it’s asinine that watch faces can’t be designed either through submission and review of a “watch face store” or with some sort of end user tool.

 

[Séamus Boyle]

These new ones are hideous and also useless for most of the styles because you can’t have complications. So absurd.

 

[Entilzha]

Installed watchOS 26 last night on my Ultra 2, and I actually kind like Flow.

Waypoint is something I’d never use. But Exactograph is rather unique. And for obvious reasons (i.e. I don’t have one) I can’t comment on the Hermes face.

All in all, not very impressive face updates but Flow will get some wrist time here and there.

 

[TheJackal]

So the most simple, uncomplicated and elegant one still remains California

 

[Phogro]

Why can't 3rd parties make their own Apple Watch faces yet?

This is such a huge missed opportunity.

It's incredible to see what folks come up with at garmin.watchfacebuilder.com and the like.

If Apple wanted to they would have by now. By not supporting 3rd party faces they are basically showing us they want to maintain control of the watch face. There's also likely some amount of protecting the "upsell" for the Ultra/Hermes with exclusive faces.

 

[turbineseaplane]

If Apple wanted to they would have by now. By not supporting 3rd party faces they are basically showing us they want to maintain control of the watch face. There's also likely some amount of protecting the "upsell" for the Ultra/Hermes with exclusive faces.

For sure.
I'm just surprised they haven't monetized it yet.

There is surely way more money to be made by doing a 3rd party Watchface store.
Everything could be paid if they wanted... no free options

 

[Eric_WVGG]

crazy that they made a pixel art face that can only be used on fancy-person watches @_@

 

[2Xtreme21]

Just updated to WatchOS 26 and I’m not seeing the new faces. Maybe my watch is too old (Series 7)?

Edit: Few hours later they finally showed up!

 

[Eric_WVGG]

For sure.
I'm just surprised they haven't monetized it yet.

There is surely way more money to be made by doing a 3rd party Watchface store.
Everything could be paid if they wanted... no free options

This probably isn't the main reason, but I just realized that there would be a huge problem with people doing "inspired by 1982 Casio" copyright-infringing suits.

There's this developer who made a Mac app called Bauhaus clock and immediately got slapped with a legal threat. Had to back up and remove all references to his inspirations and possibly alter the design a bit. https://bauhausclock.com/

 

[turbineseaplane]

There's this developer who made a Mac app called Bauhaus clock and immediately got slapped with a legal threat. Had to back up and remove all references to his inspirations and possibly alter the design a bit. https://bauhausclock.com/

Thanks for linking that! Very cool!

 

[CharlesShaw]

Still wishing for just a 3x4 grid of complications.

 

[kirky29]

Omg, 4? 😮

 

[David Hensley]

On Exactograph, select “Closed”, then finish editing. Then touch the dial. This is cool!

 

[hieranonymous]

I wish Modular Ultra had at least one more complication slot. Some of us love having tons of data visible on the watch face.

 

[Crispy Duck]

Didn't they also remove some? So not a net gain?

 

[David Hensley]

I really like the new micro faces that appear when i turn the crown. I wish they'd update these for all of the faces!

 

[bmark]

Why can't 3rd parties make their own Apple Watch faces yet?

This is such a huge missed opportunity.

It's incredible to see what folks come up with at garmin.watchfacebuilder.com and the like.

Apple is all about total control! Same reason you can't make your own icons.

 

[Student of Life]

Basically ip infringement and the liability that comes with it. Most of the unofficial apps are borrowing copy right material, and Im using the borrowing very very liberally.

 

[groove-agent]

Why can't 3rd parties make their own Apple Watch faces yet?

This is such a huge missed opportunity.

It's incredible to see what folks come up with at garmin.watchfacebuilder.com and the like.

I agree 1000%. One of the reasons why I got my Garmin was because I was so tired of looking at Apple's stale Apple Watch faces. Really that's the #1 we use the watch, is to tell time.

You always see scam apps on Facebook showing these amazing 3d watch faces you can get on your Apple Watch. Why? Because people fall for them, thinking it will give their watch a fresh look. The demand is there.

I don't know why they don't make some sort of "watch face kit" that allows people to make their own. Maybe it's in the works, but you know Apple just does things at their own pace regardless of competition. That's a luxury few companies have. I personally wouldn't rest on my laurels, and I'm pretty sure Steve never did (sorry to be THAT guy).

 

[Camzor]

I dig Waypoint, it’s one of my favorites right now. That main POI complication in the center (the thing that says “TENT” above the clock in the thumbnail) is pretty great. I wish that could be customized for more things than just compass/maps/trails/etc because I really want to make it useful for me when I’m not being active, but it’s pretty cool nonetheless.

 

[Residentsteve]

Why isn’t there a watch face store yet 🤔 the fact it took 10 years to add different ringtones from the iphone shocks 🤯 me.

 

[RMMediccc]

This probably isn't the main reason, but I just realized that there would be a huge problem with people doing "inspired by 1982 Casio" copyright-infringing suits.

There's this developer who made a Mac app called Bauhaus clock and immediately got slapped with a legal threat. Had to back up and remove all references to his inspirations and possibly alter the design a bit. https://bauhausclock.com/

It's a major factor from different Apple focused podcasts I've listened to. Copyright is NO JOKE.