watchOS 26, visionOS 26, tvOS 26: Apple’s 2025 Updates

At WWDC 2025, Apple showcased groundbreaking updates across its ecosystem, with watchOS 26, visionOS 26, and tvOS 26 leading the charge in redefining wearable, spatial, and home entertainment experiences. Powered by Apple Intelligence and the visually striking "Liquid Glass" design language, these updates bring unprecedented personalization, immersion, and connectivity to the Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro, and Apple TV. Below, we dive into the key enhancements for each platform, exploring how they elevate fitness, productivity, spatial computing, and home entertainment.

watchOS 26: Elevating Fitness, Connectivity, and Style

watchOS 26 transforms the Apple Watch into a more intuitive and personalized device, with a focus on fitness tracking, seamless communication, and a visually stunning interface. Here’s an in-depth look at the key enhancements:

Liquid Glass Design Language

The introduction of the "Liquid Glass" design language gives watchOS 26 a modern, translucent aesthetic that feels both futuristic and familiar. This dynamic visual style enhances core interface elements, including the Smart Stack, Control Center, Photos watch face, and in-app navigation. For instance, the Photos watch face now features smooth transitions and depth effects, making personal memories pop on the watch’s display. The design also adapts to different lighting conditions, ensuring clarity whether you’re indoors or out. This cohesive overhaul, praised in early developer feedback on X, makes every interaction feel polished and engaging.

Overhauled Workout App

The Workout app has been completely reimagined, marking its most significant update since its launch. The new interface features four corner buttons—Workout Views, Custom Workout, Pacer, and Race Route—for faster access to essential controls. Users can now customize workout metrics in real-time, choosing from over 30 data points like heart rate zones, cadence, or elevation gain, tailored to activities like running, cycling, or swimming.

A standout addition is the integration of media playback directly within the Workout app. When starting a workout, users can opt for automatic playback of music or podcasts. Apple Music subscribers benefit from personalized playlists curated based on workout type, duration, and listening history—think high-energy tracks for HIIT or calming tunes for yoga. Non-subscribers get recommendations drawn from recent activity or free Apple Podcasts content. This feature, combined with the app’s ability to pause media during rest intervals in Custom Workouts, keeps users motivated and focused.

Workout Buddy Powered by Apple Intelligence

Apple Intelligence introduces Workout Buddy, a virtual coach that delivers real-time, spoken encouragement during workouts. Available on Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 when paired with iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro, or Pro Max, Workout Buddy analyzes your performance to offer personalized feedback. For example, it might say, “You’re crushing your pace—halfway there!” during a run or remind you to maintain form during a strength session. It also celebrates milestones like closing Activity Rings or hitting personal bests, making workouts feel like a guided, supportive experience. Users can adjust the frequency of these prompts via the Watch app on their iPhone, ensuring the feature suits their preferences.

Enhanced Smart Stack and Notification Gestures

The Smart Stack gets smarter in watchOS 26, thanks to an improved prediction algorithm that leverages Apple Intelligence. It now prioritizes widgets based on time, location, and user habits—for instance, surfacing a Calendar widget before a meeting or a Weather widget during your morning commute. Developers can also create custom widgets for third-party apps, expanding the Smart Stack’s utility.

A new one-handed wrist flick gesture simplifies notification management. By flicking your wrist away, you can dismiss alerts without tapping the screen, a boon for runners or anyone multitasking. This gesture, customizable in Settings, complements existing controls like the Digital Crown, making the watch more accessible during active moments.

Live Translation in Messages

watchOS 26 brings Live Translation to the Messages app, enabling real-time translation for conversations in languages like English (U.S., UK), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, and Chinese (simplified). Available on Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 paired with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone, this feature transcribes and translates incoming messages, displaying both the original and translated text. Users can reply in their native language, with the watch translating the response before sending. This makes cross-language communication effortless, whether you’re traveling or connecting with global friends.

Notes App and Productivity Boost

A dedicated Notes app debuts on watchOS 26, allowing users to create, view, and edit notes directly from their wrist. You can dictate a quick idea during a walk or scroll through existing notes synced from your iPhone or Mac. The app supports checklists, ideal for grocery lists or to-dos, and integrates with Siri for hands-free operation. Early reactions on X highlight its utility for capturing thoughts on the go, cementing the Apple Watch as a productivity tool.

Additional Features

• Health Insights: watchOS 26 expands health tracking with new metrics like recovery time estimates post-workout, based on heart rate variability and sleep data. These insights, viewable in the Health app, help users optimize their training.
• Battery Optimization: Improved power management extends battery life during GPS-intensive workouts, a welcome tweak for Ultra 2 users tackling long-distance activities.
• Siri Enhancements: Siri now processes more on-device requests, speeding up responses for tasks like setting timers or checking workout stats, even offline.

visionOS 26: Redefining Immersive Spatial Computing

visionOS 26 elevates the Apple Vision Pro into a more versatile and collaborative spatial computing platform. With generative AI, new APIs, and enhanced user interfaces, this update redefines how users interact with digital content in their physical world. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the new features:

Spatial Widgets and Widgets App

Widgets in visionOS 26 evolve into persistent, interactive spatial objects that blend seamlessly with your environment. For example, the Clock widget can float above your desk, displaying world times with a gentle animation, while the Music widget lets you tap to play tracks without opening an app. The new Widgets app serves as a hub for discovering and managing these widgets, including those from iOS and iPadOS apps with visionOS support. Users can pin widgets to specific locations—like a Weather widget near a window—or let them follow their gaze for easy access. This flexibility, combined with over 100 compatible apps at launch, makes spatial widgets a game-changer for productivity and personalization.

Spatial Scenes with Generative AI

Spatial Scenes, powered by generative AI and computational depth, transform 2D photos into immersive, multi-perspective experiences. In the Photos app, a family snapshot might reveal new angles as you lean closer, creating a sense of depth and presence. The Spatial Gallery app showcases curated collections, while Safari supports Spatial Scenes for web-based content. Real-world applications are emerging, with Zillow using the Spatial Scene API to offer virtual property tours that let buyers explore homes in stunning detail. Developers can integrate this API via Xcode 17, opening up creative possibilities for immersive storytelling and visualization.

Upgraded Personas

Personas in visionOS 26 are more lifelike than ever, thanks to advancements in volumetric rendering and machine learning. These avatars now feature detailed hair, eyelashes, and skin textures, with accurate side profiles and natural facial expressions. During setup, users can preview their Persona in a spatial environment, adjusting lighting and angles for accuracy. With over 1,000 glasses options and support for custom accessories like hats, Personas feel deeply personal. This upgrade enhances virtual meetings in FaceTime or apps like Zoom, making remote interactions more engaging.

Shared Spatial Experiences

visionOS 26 introduces shared spatial experiences, allowing multiple Vision Pro users in the same room to collaborate or entertain together. Imagine watching a 3D movie in a virtual theater, playing a spatial board game, or co-designing a 3D model. Remote participants can join via FaceTime, with their Personas appearing in the shared space. Enterprise apps like Dassault Systèmes’ 3DLive leverage this for collaborative 3D design reviews, enabling teams to manipulate models in real-time, whether in-person or across continents. This feature, supported by new APIs, positions Vision Pro as a leader in collaborative spatial computing.

Spatial Browsing in Safari

Safari’s new spatial browsing mode transforms web interactions. Articles can incorporate Spatial Scenes, letting users explore embedded 3D content—like a virtual museum exhibit—while scrolling. Web developers can use the Spatial Web API to embed interactive 3D models, enabling experiences like rotating a product in an online store. This mode, optimized for low-latency rendering, ensures smooth performance even on complex pages, making the web feel more immersive than ever.

Expanded Media and Gaming Support

visionOS 26 supports a broader range of media formats, including 180-degree, 360-degree, and wide field-of-view content from cameras like Insta360, GoPro, and Canon’s RF-S7.8mm F4 STM DUAL lens. Users can relive adventures in apps like Spatial Gallery with unparalleled immersion. Gaming also gets a boost with PlayStation VR2 Sense controller support, enabling precise input for titles like Resident Evil 4 VR. The Logitech Muse, a stylus-like accessory, enhances precision for apps like Spatial Analogue, ideal for sketching or annotating in 3D.

Enterprise and Security Enhancements

New enterprise APIs empower organizations to build custom spatial apps, from training simulations to data visualizations. The Protected Content API ensures sensitive data—like medical imaging or financial models—remains secure by restricting access, disabling screenshots, and preventing data copying. These features, combined with MDM support, make visionOS 26 a robust platform for industries like healthcare, finance, and engineering.

Apple Intelligence and Global Accessibility

Apple Intelligence powers features like Image Playground, which generates spatial artwork based on user prompts, and Writing Tools for refining text in spatial apps. Language support expands to include Japanese, French, German, Italian, Korean, Spanish, and English variants for Australia, Canada, India, Singapore, and the UK. Siri also gains contextual awareness, answering questions about on-screen content or spatial objects, enhancing usability for global audiences.

Cellular Call Relaying

A new cellular call relaying feature lets users route iPhone calls to Vision Pro, provided both devices run visionOS 26 or iOS 14 or later, are signed into the same Apple Account, and are connected via Wi-Fi. This ensures seamless communication, with calls appearing as spatial audio experiences in the Vision Pro’s interface, perfect for hands-free conversations.

Additional Optimizations

• Performance Boosts: visionOS 26 optimizes rendering for smoother transitions between spatial and passthrough modes, reducing motion discomfort during extended use.
• Accessibility: New gaze-based controls and voice command options make it easier for users with motor impairments to navigate spatial environments.
• Developer Tools: The Vision Pro SDK now supports ARKit 6 for advanced spatial mapping, enabling richer app experiences.

tvOS 26: Transforming Home Entertainment with Style and Smarts

tvOS 26 brings a vibrant redesign and smarter features to Apple TV, making it a more immersive and user-friendly hub for home entertainment. With the introduction of the Liquid Glass design, enhanced audio capabilities, and seamless app interactions, this update elevates the living room experience. Here’s a detailed look at what’s new:

Liquid Glass Redesign

tvOS 26 introduces the Liquid Glass design language, bringing a vibrant, translucent aesthetic to the Apple TV interface. This real-time rendered material reflects and refracts the user’s surroundings, creating a dynamic and modern look across the Apple TV app, Control Center, and poster art for shows and movies. The redesigned Apple TV app showcases more titles at a glance with visually striking posters, making content discovery more engaging. Interactions like fast-forwarding, rewinding, or setting a sleep timer now keep the video front and center, ensuring users never miss a moment. For example, activating a “Movie Night” scene in Control Center dims lights and adjusts audio without obstructing the screen, creating a theater-like experience.

Enhanced Profile Switching and App Login

tvOS 26 streamlines user interactions with improved profile-switching and a simplified app login process. Users can now switch between profiles with a single click from the home screen, making it easier for families to access personalized recommendations and watch histories. The new login system uses Face ID or Touch ID on a paired iPhone for seamless authentication across streaming apps like Netflix or Disney+, reducing the hassle of entering credentials. This feature, highlighted in posts on X, enhances convenience for multi-user households.

Apple Music Sing Upgrades

Apple Music Sing gets a major upgrade, turning Apple TV into a karaoke powerhouse. Users can now connect their iPhone to display real-time lyrics in sync with the TV, creating a seamless sing-along experience with friends. New vocal adjustment tools let users tweak their voice’s pitch and tone, while background vocals can be muted or amplified for a professional-grade performance. Apple Intelligence curates song recommendations based on past sing-alongs, ensuring the perfect playlist for any gathering. This feature transforms movie nights into interactive music sessions, blending entertainment with social fun.

Advanced Audio with Dolby Atmos 9.1.6

tvOS 26 introduces support for 9.1.6 Dolby Atmos, adding front-wide channels and two additional overhead channels for compatible receivers and processors. This upgrade delivers a more immersive audio experience, with soundscapes that envelop the viewer—think explosions that feel like they’re circling above or dialogue that pinpoints voices in a room. Passthrough support ensures compatibility with high-end home theater systems, making Apple TV a top choice for audiophiles. Posts on X indicate strong excitement for this feature among home theater enthusiasts.

Thread 1.4 for Smarter Home Integration

tvOS 26 adopts Thread 1.4, enhancing connectivity for smart home devices in the Apple Home ecosystem. This update improves network stability for Thread-compatible devices like smart lights, thermostats, and locks, ensuring faster response times and fewer dropouts. Users can control their smart home directly from the Apple TV’s Control Center, with scenes like “Movie Night” automatically adjusting lighting and shades for an optimal viewing experience. This makes Apple TV a central hub for both entertainment and home automation.

FaceTime and Translation Enhancements

tvOS 26 enhances FaceTime with improved video quality and Apple Intelligence-powered live translation, supporting languages like English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish. This allows users to hold multilingual video calls directly from their TV, with real-time captions displayed on-screen. The feature is ideal for connecting with family or friends across language barriers, adding a new dimension to Apple TV’s communication capabilities.

Additional Features

• Edge-to-Edge Playback: Videos now fill the screen more effectively, with minimal overlays during playback for a distraction-free experience.
• Siri Upgrades: Siri on tvOS 26 supports more natural language queries, such as “Find action movies from the 90s,” and integrates with Apple Intelligence for context-aware recommendations.
• Accessibility Improvements: VoiceOver enhancements and dynamic text sizing make tvOS 26 more inclusive for users with visual or hearing impairments.

Conclusion

watchOS 26, visionOS 26, and tvOS 26 showcase Apple’s vision for a future where technology seamlessly integrates into our daily lives. watchOS 26 makes the Apple Watch a smarter fitness and productivity companion with features like Workout Buddy, a revamped Workout app, and Live Translation. visionOS 26 pushes spatial computing forward with Spatial Scenes, shared experiences, and enterprise-grade tools, transforming the Apple Vision Pro into a powerhouse for work and play. Meanwhile, tvOS 26 elevates home entertainment with its Liquid Glass redesign, Dolby Atmos 9.1.6 audio, and smarter home integration, turning Apple TV into a versatile hub. Available now in developer previews through the Apple Developer Program, these updates set a high bar for wearable, immersive, and entertainment tech. As they roll out to the public, expect a wave of innovative apps and experiences to unlock their full potential. Dive in and explore what’s next!