watchOS 26 vs watchOS 11: Is Apple’s Latest Update Really Worth It?

With every new watchOS release, Apple raises the bar for smartwatch personalization and intelligence. While watchOS 11 focused on smarter health tracking and performance metrics, watchOS 26 redefines the Apple Watch experience with a visually stunning interface and integrated Apple Intelligence features.

Let’s break down how watchOS 26 compares to watchOS 11 so you can decide whether the upgrade is worth your time—and your wrist.

What’s New in watchOS 26 Compared to watchOS 11?

Here’s a quick feature comparison before we dive deeper:

Feature Area	watchOS 11	watchOS 26
Interface	Classic flat UI	Liquid Glass design with fluid animations
Health	Vitals app, Training Load	Adds AI-based coaching and enhanced metrics
Smart Stack	Contextual widgets, Live Activities	AI-powered suggestions, better interactions
AI Features	None	Apple Intelligence (iPhone 15 Pro+ required)
Workout App	Custom workouts, ring pausing	Redesigned layout, automatic music, AI coaching
Notes App	Not supported	Native Notes support with dictation & checklists
Gestures	Double-tap	New wrist flick gesture (Series 9 and later)

watchOS 26 introduces a wave of enhancements over watchOS 11, featuring a sleek new interface and a more personalized, interactive, and intelligent Apple Watch experience.

FaceTime Like a Pro:

Get our exclusive Ultimate FaceTime Guide 📚 — absolutely FREE when you sign up for our newsletter below.

1. Redesigned Interface with Liquid Glass Animations

Taking cues from iOS 26, watchOS 26 introduces a Liquid Glass UI that transforms the way you interact with your Apple Watch. The new interface brings in-depth, blur effects, and system-wide fluid transitions, making everything feel more immersive—just like on your iPhone or Mac.

2. Apple Intelligence Comes to Apple Watch

Apple Intelligence, which debuted on iPhone with iOS 18, now makes its way to the Apple Watch. While features like Visual Intelligence and Writing Tools are still iPhone-exclusive, watchOS 26 offers the following AI-powered tools:

• Workout Buddy: Virtual fitness coach with real-time guidance.
• Smarter Replies: AI-suggested messages in the Messages app.
• Live Call Translation: Supports real-time translation when paired with an iPhone 15 Pro or newer.

Note: You’ll need an iPhone 15 Pro or later to unlock Apple Intelligence features on your Apple Watch.

3. Smart Stack Just Got Smarter

watchOS 11 brought Live Activities to the Apple Watch, but watchOS 26 takes Smart Stack to the next level. It now uses contextual awareness to surface the right widgets at the right time.

For example, if you’re in a new location with no signal, your watch will automatically show a Backtrack widget to help you navigate back safely.

4. Notes App Debuts on Apple Watch

As mentioned, with watchOS 11, Apple primarily focused on fitness and related features, which is why we received the Vitals app. However, in watchOS 26, along with the fitness-centric features, Apple kept productivity in mind. Thus, for the first time, watchOS 26 brings the Notes app to your wrist. You can use the Notes app on the Apple Watch to:

• View and edit existing notes.
• Dictate new ones using Siri.
• Check off items in to-do lists.
• Pin important notes for quick access.

5. Upgraded Workout and Health Experience

While watchOS 11 introduced powerful tools like the Vitals app and Training Load to help users understand their recovery and exertion levels, watchOS 26 takes fitness coaching to the next level, thanks to the all-new Workout Buddy.

Using the power of Apple Intelligence, Workout Buddy functions as a virtual fitness assistant, providing you with real-time feedback, motivation, and insightful guidance during your workouts. Whether you’re running, cycling, or doing strength training, Workout Buddy can:

• Offer real-time voice coaching based on your pace and heart rate
• Celebrate milestones as you hit goals.
• Suggest adjustments if you’re overtraining or underperforming.
• Summarize performance at the end of each workout.

Other workout and health upgrades in watchOS 26 include:

• A redesigned Workout app with a cleaner layout and easier access to controls.
• Automatic music playback for curated or recent playlists when you begin a workout.
• Personalized workout suggestions based on your trends and schedule.

Who Should Upgrade to watchOS 26?

While watchOS 26 has many compelling reasons to upgrade, it may not be for everyone; you must fall into one of the following groups:

• Own a watchOS 26 compatible Apple Watch model (Apple Watch Series 6 and newer models).
• You are a fitness-focused individual who wants to benefit from smarter coaching (Fitness Buddy) and better goal tracking.
• You own an iPhone 15 Pro or newer model.
• If you are using iOS 26 on the paired iPhone, you cannot pair an Apple Watch running watchOS 11 with the iPhone running iOS 26.

Release Timeline and Compatibility

Version	Developer Beta	Public Beta	Stable Release	Supported Models
watchOS 11	June 10, 2024	July 15, 2024	September 16, 2024	Apple Watch Series 6 and later, SE (2nd gen)
watchOS 26	June 9, 2025	June 14, 2025 (est.)	September 2025 (est.)	Same lineup; Apple Intelligence requires iPhone 15 Pro or later

Pros and Cons of watchOS 26

Every operating system, regardless of its quality, has its pros and cons, and the same is true for watchOS 26. Have a look at the below-listed pros and cons to make your decision:

How to Upgrade to watchOS 26 from watchOS 11

Here’s how you can install the watchOS 26 developer beta on your Apple Watch using your iPhone running iOS 26. Here’s how:

1. Open Watch app → General → Software Update.
2. If the watchOS 26 update is available, hit Download and Install.
3. If you want to install iOS 26 beta, tap Beta Updates and select the appropriate watchOS 26 beta option.

Final Verdict: Is watchOS 26 Worth the Upgrade?

If you own a newer Apple Watch and iPhone 15 Pro or above, watchOS 26 is absolutely worth it. With a refreshing UI, smarter workout tools, the new Notes app, and Apple Intelligence features, it transforms your Apple Watch into a more dynamic personal assistant.

However, if you’re using an older device or aren’t upgrading your iPhone, you might want to hold off until all features are fully supported on your hardware.

Tell us—are you upgrading to watchOS 26 or sticking with watchOS 11? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

Related articles worth reading:

• iOS 26 vs iOS 18: Big Changes You’ll Notice Right Away
• macOS Tahoe vs Sequoia: All the Big and Subtle Changes You Need to Know
• Apple Intelligence Features Unveiled at WWDC 2025
• iOS 26 vs Android 16: Form Over Functionality