Brief Summary
This video provides a comprehensive overview of 55 hidden features and changes in Watch OS 26 that Apple didn't highlight during their keynote. It covers new gesture controls like the wrist flick, UI updates, Control Center enhancements, Smart Stack improvements, new tools in the Notes and Workout apps, audio notification adjustments, Messages app customization, Phone app updates, Watch Face modifications, and potential Series 10 Watch enhancements. The video concludes with a recommendation against updating to the developer beta on a primary device due to potential bugs.
- New wrist flick gesture for quick access to the watch face.
- Enhanced Control Center with third-party app support and smart home controls.
- Smart Stack hints for contextual shortcuts, like camera control and backtrack.
- Workout app overhaul with AI-driven workout buddy and music playlist suggestions.
- Removal of several watch faces, including Fire and Water, Granite, Liquid Metal, Toy Story, and Vapor.
Introduction
The video introduces 55 new features and changes in Watch OS 26 that were not mentioned during Apple's keynote. The presenter has spent over 300 hours exploring the new OS on an Apple Watch Ultra and will provide a rundown of these hidden updates.
Wrist flick gesture tools
Watch OS 26 introduces a new "wrist flick" gesture, an updated version of the double tap. This gesture allows users to quickly return to the watch face from any notification, incoming call, or alarm by simply rotating their wrist. This is presented as a more discreet alternative to the pinch gesture, especially useful in public situations.
Gesture settings
The wrist flick gesture can be enabled or disabled in the Apple Watch settings under the gesture tab. This provides users with the option to turn off the feature if they find it unnecessary.
UI glass update
The Apple Watch receives a UI update with a "glass" or "liquid glass" look across the entire system, including notifications, apps, and the settings app. This update is also reflected in the animations, similar to what's seen in iOS 18, where button presses and volume adjustments have visual feedback.
Watch animations update
The UI update includes refined animations that provide visual feedback when interacting with the watch, such as pressing buttons or adjusting the volume. This enhancement extends to the action button on the Apple Watch Ultra.
Control Center – new controls
The Control Center has been redesigned with an updated UI and now supports third-party apps. Users can customize the icons in the Control Center by selecting "edit" and tapping the plus icon to add more controls.
Control Center – Car controls
The updated Control Center supports vehicle controls, allowing users to manage their cars (such as a Ford F-150 or Tesla) directly from their Apple Watch. This includes functions like AC control, locking/unlocking the vehicle, and more.
Control Center – Home controls
The Control Center also supports smart home appliances and accessories through the Home app. Users can control scenes, individual accessories, and even program robot vacuums directly from the Control Center. A search function is available to help locate specific control center icons.
Control Center – Device battery management
Tapping the battery life percentage in Control Center now displays a new column that monitors the battery life condition of other nearby Apple devices.
Smart Stack – Hints feature
Smart Stack now supports Smart Stack hints, providing contextual shortcuts based on the user's activity. For example, launching the camera app on the iPhone will trigger a hint on the Apple Watch, allowing quick access to camera controls.
Smart Stack – Off-grid Backtrack
When the iPhone detects a loss of reception, the Apple Watch will display a hint for the backtrack capability, allowing users to start a backtrack independently. The watch is also smart enough to detect connections to gym equipment via NFC.
Smart Stack settings
Smart hint settings can be found in the settings app under Smart Stacks, where users can enable or disable widget suggestions. The Smart Stack setting itself can also be disabled if the user does not plan to use it.
Thank you
The presenter thanks viewers for their support and explains why they prefer not to include sponsorships in their videos.
Control Center – new reset tool
A new feature in Control Center allows users to reset the entire layout to its default configuration. This setting can be found in the Control Center settings on the Apple Watch.
Notes app – new tools
The Notes app is now natively available on the Apple Watch. It synchronizes with the notes on the user's iPhone and supports dictation for creating new notes. Dictation transcribes speech to text, but users can also use the keyboard or scribbles if preferred.
Notes app complications
The Notes app includes a new complication that can be added to watch faces for quick access. It can also be added to the Control Center for easy launching.
Workout app – new tools
The Workout app has received a significant UI overhaul. It uses Siri intelligence to suggest workouts and includes new shortcuts at the bottom of the screen.
Workout Buddy
The Workout app features a Workout Buddy, which uses AI to provide encouragement during workouts. There are two AI voices to choose from, and the buddy offers motivational messages based on the user's progress.
Workout app – notification customization
Users can customize the alerts they receive during workouts, including notifications for heart rate, times, and splits. Target alerts are enabled by default.
Workout AI music playlist
The Workout app can automatically suggest music based on the user's listening habits. Users can choose a current playlist, music library, or let Apple suggest songs.
Workout app – goal setting
The Workout app allows users to adjust goal settings, such as adding a timer or distance targets. Custom categories are also available.
Workout – new metrics
Users can now edit the metrics displayed during workouts, including heart rate zones, segments, splits, and elevation. The order of these metrics can also be customized.
Notification alerts – audio
The Apple Watch can now automatically adjust notification audio based on ambient noise levels. This feature can be enabled in the settings app under Sound and Haptics. Users can also manually set a default volume level.
Messages app updates
The Messages app now allows users to customize the wallpaper on group chats. Users can select from suggested backgrounds or use Apple intelligence to generate unique ones. Polls sent in group chats are also displayed on the Apple Watch, allowing users to vote in real-time.
Live translation
Live translations are supported in the Messages app on the Apple Watch.
Phone app – new tools
The Phone app has received a UI update with a more organized layout. It includes quick access to top contacts and filters for voicemail and spam.
Phone call screen & Hold Assist
The Phone app supports call screening for incoming calls. A "Hold Assist" feature on the iPhone notifies the Apple Watch when the user is no longer on hold. The Apple Watch also displays a live transcription during phone calls.
New Watch Face update
No new watch faces were added in Watch OS 26, but the photo app now supports the glass clock icon update. The watch face selection interface is now fully categorized, but users can revert to the old look by selecting "all watch faces."
Apple Watch app update
The native watch face app for the Apple Watch has a liquid glass UI update, including all the icons. The watch faces are now fully categorized for better organization.
Photo Watch Face – new tools and features
The photo watch face received an update that allows users to select featured photos when using the shuffle option.
Removed watch faces
Five watch faces have been removed in Watch OS 26: Fire and Water, Granite, Liquid Metal, Toy Story, and Vapor.
Series 10 Watch updates
On the Series 10 Apple Watch, the second hand will now show with always-on display on the California and Utility watch faces. Additionally, when using live listen on the iPhone, a transcription of what the iPhone records will be sent to the Apple Watch.
Should you update?
The presenter advises against updating to the developer beta on a primary device due to potential bugs and issues. The public beta is expected in July, with the official release in the fall.
