WWDC 2025: New Features We Could See in watchOS 26

[MacRumors]

We're still counting down the days until the 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference, and Apple's big event is creeping closer. We haven't heard too much about what we might see in watchOS 26, but there are a few hints based on rumors, info about other updates, and features that Apple often adds to on a yearly basis.

Naming

Rather than naming the next-generation version watchOS 12, Apple is going to call it watchOS 26. All of the software updates coming this year will be numbered "26," reflecting the September 2025 to September 2026 release cycle.

watchOS 26 will launch alongside iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26, all of which are being renamed.

Design Update

The overhauled design that Apple is introducing for iOS 26 will also extend to the Apple Watch, though the changes to watchOS may not be as dramatic as the iOS 26 refresh.

With iOS 26, Apple is introducing a design referred to internally as "Solarium." As the name suggests, it focuses on a glass-like look that's actually inspired by visionOS. Buttons, search interfaces, tab bars, and windows could adopt a translucent design reminiscent of frosted glass.

Floating menus, rounder buttons, and simplified navigation have been rumored, too. watchOS already uses round app icons and buttons, so it will fit right in. Apple could adopt the Solarium look for things like the app drawer, notifications, and Control Center.

Apple's aim is a more consistent design across all of its software platforms.

New Watch Faces

If watchOS is getting a design update to match iOS 26, Apple will likely add new watch faces that are designed with the new style.

Apple Intelligence

The Apple Watch doesn't have the processing power to run Apple Intelligence on-device, but it is rumored to be getting some "powered by Apple Intelligence" features that could rely on its link to the iPhone.

There are rumors that Apple will add an AI-powered battery management feature to iPhones running iOS 26, and similar functionality would make a lot of sense for the Apple Watch. On the iPhone, the feature will analyze device usage and make optimizations to maximize battery life.

Right now, features like ChatGPT Siri integration and Writing Tools don't extend to the Apple Watch, but these are options that Apple could add. The Apple Watch also doesn't support notification summaries or content summaries in general.

AirPods Sleep Detection

The Apple Watch could integrate with the AirPods to pause content that's playing when the wearer falls asleep. It's a rumored feature for iOS 26, but the AirPods have no sleep detection functionality, so the option would need to use Apple Watch data.

Health App

Apple is developing an updated version of the Health app for launch in iOS 26, but it's not clear if we'll see it at the keynote event because it's not going to be ready right away.

Apple wants to add AI-powered health coaching features that will provide users with personalized health recommendations, and any feature like that will rely on Apple Watch data and features.

Coaching could include expert information on health conditions, fitness tips, and ways to make positive lifestyle changes.

Apple is also said to be developing a food tracking feature that would let users log what they eat throughout the day, and the Apple Watch would be a convenient way to add foods to a daily intake list.

Health Features

Apple has been developing a blood pressure monitoring feature for the Apple Watch, and if it's ready to go for the 2025 models, there could be a new blood pressure app in watchOS 26. The feature will alert users if hypertension is detected, but it won't provide specific systolic and diastolic readings.

It's not yet clear if blood pressure monitoring is ready to launch due to developmental problems, so it's something that we might not see until the 2026 Apple Watch models.

Fitness

Apple typically adds new workout types and features with new watchOS releases. One area that's lacking is strength training, and Apple Watch users need to download third-party apps for counting reps. That's something that the Apple Watch could get in the future. Apple has patented a method for rep tracking that uses the iPhone's camera.

Safety

In 2024, Apple submitted a patent for an Apple Watch feature that would be able to determine when the wearer is drowning, which would be a logical addition to crash detection and fall detection. There's no word that Apple has plans to launch this feature in watchOS 26, but it's something that's in the works behind the scenes.

WWDC 2025 Event Info

Apple's WWDC 2025 keynote will begin on Monday, June 9 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. Apple will live stream the event on its website, on YouTube, and in the TV app.

If you're not able to watch live, we'll have a live blog and coverage of the announcements here at MacRumors, plus we'll be live tweeting the event on the MacRumorsLive account.

Article Link: WWDC 2025: New Features We Could See in watchOS 26

 

[jz0309]

updates to Health app and Fitness will be a good thing.
New health features/apps will not be released until the new HW is released.

As for extending apple Intelligence - no thank you, I don't need that personally.

But please Apple, give us a toggle to enable/disable widgets.

 

[GrassShark]

I'm curious how the patented rep counter would apply to the watch? Are they going to add a camera to the watch, or would you need to have your phone on you for those workouts? Honestly, neither sound like great options.

 

[Think|Different]

Yeah, I guess I could ‘see’ these, too.

 

[Billy_Bob]

Until the new AppleWatch models again support blood oxygen readings, sales are going to be diminished no matter how glassy and spiffy the new watchOS makes the display look.

 

[groove-agent]

I hope watchOS 26 brings me back from using a Garmin. WatchOS gathers the info but doesn’t interpret the data and make layperson summaries on your progress. The Garmin does stress tracking, body battery, and sleep tracking well. To do the same, you have to sub separate apps on the Apple Watch which kinda sucks. Hopefully this will change next week.

 

[jclardy]

All I want for watchOS is more watchfaces, and more watchface customization. For analog faces, a new way to select different hands to give a nice refresh to old faces. For digital faces, the ability to move around the widget collections - let us put the time in different configurations (Keeping the same general widget config) plus new font selections.

And maybe Apple can update watchOS to support second hand refreshes on more than 3 watchfaces for the hardware released last year...

 

[risenphoenixkai]

In 2024, Apple submitted a patent for an Apple Watch feature that would be able to determine when the wearer is drowning

Siri: It looks like you might be drowning. Do you need assistance?

User: *blublublub* YES— *gurgle*

Siri: Here’s what I found on the web.

 

[Crowbot]

There's been no mention of the method that Apple plans to use for blood pressure measurement.

 

[surfzen21]

Safety

In 2024, Apple submitted a patent for an Apple Watch feature that would be able to determine when the wearer is drowning, which would be a logical addition to crash detection and fall detection. There's no word that Apple has plans to launch this feature in watchOS 26, but it's something that's in the works behind the scenes.

If this comes to fruition, I cannot wait to play the game of, "am I surfing or drowning, Apple Watch edition."

 

[NetMage]

I wish they carry over ring and message tones from the phone.

 

[iHorseHead]

All I want for watchOS is more watchfaces, and more watchface customization. For analog faces, a new way to select different hands to give a nice refresh to old faces. For digital faces, the ability to move around the widget collections - let us put the time in different configurations (Keeping the same general widget config) plus new font selections.

And maybe Apple can update watchOS to support second hand refreshes on more than 3 watchfaces for the hardware released last year...

You could buy an Android Watch then

 

[applefan8254]

A few requests:

- Can we get an apple watch app for iPad? For device activation and management?

- Can we get the ability to bluetooth pair apple watch with a car for playing music/audio?

Thank you

 

[iHorseHead]

Can we get the ability to bluetooth pair apple watch with a car for playing music/audio?

That is honestly very reasonable. Apple should hire better people tbh. I think they're falling behind.

 

[ericinboston]

I have to say...WWDC2025 seems to be the lamest WWDC in history. There is nothing new. There is no new hardware. There is no new AI to take advantage of, well, anything.

Let's see what happens but this seems boarrrrrRING!

 

[maikerukun]

All I want for watchOS is more watchfaces, and more watchface customization. For analog faces, a new way to select different hands to give a nice refresh to old faces. For digital faces, the ability to move around the widget collections - let us put the time in different configurations (Keeping the same general widget config) plus new font selections.

And maybe Apple can update watchOS to support second hand refreshes on more than 3 watchfaces for the hardware released last year...

For years I've been using something called "Clockology", I have literally THOUSANDS of custom and awesome faces on it and they're all incredible. Here's a look at the interface and some of the faces...whatever category you're looking for, I can promise you'll find it

 

[eduardodfj]

I hope watchOS 26 brings me back from using a Garmin. WatchOS gathers the info but doesn’t interpret the data and make layperson summaries on your progress. The Garmin does stress tracking, body battery, and sleep tracking well. To do the same, you have to sub separate apps on the Apple Watch which kinda sucks. Hopefully this will change next week.

You can use the Athlytic app in the iPhone & Apple Watch. You have all of that and more.

 

[Kottu]

Why is changing the name from iOS 19 to iOS 26 considered a “feature”? I believe the reason is that Apple wants to convince its customers that their software is up to date. They don’t want people to assume that iOS 19 refers to a version from 2019. To be honest, many users feel this way, especially when comparing it to Android.

 

[Veinticinco]

If I was Tim Cook, I’d have just postponed WWDC this year until the company actually had something meaningful to showcase.

Better to be thought of as in a temporary development lull but having exciting stuff in the works, than announce a whole raft of embarrassing nothingness.

 

[iea96]

For years I've been using something called "Clockology", I have literally THOUSANDS of custom and awesome faces on it and they're all incredible. Here's a look at the interface and some of the faces...whatever category you're looking for, I can promise you'll find it

+1 for Clockology. I've been using it for years and it's a fabulous app.
Just a tip, you can also import watch faces to it, like replicas of known brands, etc.

 

[Parowdy]

TLDR nothing fun or unexpected for anything but the most recent, unreleased model.

 

[Parowdy]

If this comes to fruition, I cannot wait to play the game of, "am I surfing or drowning, Apple Watch edition."

I am very very interested in how the technology behind this works or is supposed to work, or if it’s just a patent without any of the groundwork.
How do you test this feature, what does it measure? It can’t only be movement and water pressure, but if it’s also heart rate and maybe something else, they need really elaborate real world simulations to test this and train the algorithm. How do you even cross check with real world data like behavior, body reactions and conditions?
And if it does come to a future Apple Watch, what does it do if it engages? Call emergency services? When? When you’re still drowning or when it’s confident you already did? I don’t know how good cell service is under the surface, but considering there was that one guy that called in over 1.5km off the coast, I guess it will work?
And yeah like you said, what about false positives?
Maybe they just filed the patent to gatekeep it for a couple more years until the see levels rose enough and they can market it accordingly…
Anyway, if it ever comes out it will definitely make a splash.
I’ll see myself out.

 

[Parowdy]

I have to say...WWDC2025 seems to be the lamest WWDC in history. There is nothing new. There is no new hardware. There is no new AI to take advantage of, well, anything.

Let's see what happens but this seems boarrrrrRING!

Lol what, did you forget about iOS 15 and mfng SharePlay and the like? 2021 features were a year late AND boring.

 

[Parowdy]

If I was Tim Cook, I’d have just postponed WWDC this year until the company actually had something meaningful to showcase.

Better to be thought of as in a temporary development lull but having exciting stuff in the works, than announce a whole raft of embarrassing nothingness.

But the stonks… they would droop

 

[svish]

Expecting to see the new design on the watch too. Would like to see Apple add many more new watch faces that support the new seconds hand in always on mode.