The general public beta of watchOS 26 introduces new options like Exercise Buddy and a considerably redesigned Exercise app
The general public beta of watchOS 26 is now dwell, giving Apple Watch customers early entry to new options set to roll out extra broadly this fall. This 12 months’s replace introduces a number of modifications geared toward enhancing personalization, exercise monitoring and day-to-day interactions.
One of many headline options is “Exercise Buddy,” a brand new device that makes use of Apple Intelligence to ship personalised audio insights throughout exercises. Drawing from information like coronary heart charge, distance, tempo and Exercise ring progress, Exercise Buddy offers context-aware prompts, providing customers updates on their efficiency, milestones and progress towards objectives. Audio is generated utilizing Apple Health+ coach voices, with choices for customers to pick out a most popular voice model.
The Exercise app itself is getting its most important redesign in years. A brand new format provides quick-access buttons in every nook of the display, making it simpler to navigate options like Customized Exercises, Exercise Views, Pacer and media controls. Customers also can configure exercises to robotically launch playlists or podcasts, with Apple Music offering personalised options based mostly on exercise sort and listening historical past.
watchOS 26 updates the Sensible Stack with extra contextual intelligence and a brand new characteristic known as “Sensible Stack hints,” prompts that floor helpful widgets relying on location, time, or habits. A brand new “wrist flick” gesture permits customers to dismiss notifications or silence timers with a easy flip of the wrist, whereas notification quantity now adjusts robotically based mostly on ambient noise.
In Messages, Apple Watch customers will now see “Reside Translation” for incoming texts and replies in supported languages, together with extra correct good replies and context-aware options like beginning a Test In or sending cash by means of Apple Money.
The replace additionally brings modifications to Apple Health+, together with the addition of ready-made “Customized Plans.” These present customers with structured schedules based mostly on their preferences and objectives, like sustaining a routine, growing depth, or getting began for the primary time.
The watchOS 26 public beta is appropriate with Apple Watch Sequence 6 and later, together with Apple Watch Extremely fashions, when paired with an iPhone working iOS 26. The ultimate model of watchOS 26 is predicted to be launched this fall. Backing up one’s machine earlier than putting in beta software program is really helpful.
Customers occupied with attempting the replace can enroll by means of Apple’s public beta program at beta.apple.com.
