Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
T3
T3
Technology
Matt Kollat

I spent 24 hours with watchOS 26 for the Apple Watch – here's the good, the bad and everything in between

Black Apple Watch Ultra 2 displaying watchOS 26.

After 24 hours of tapping, swiping and sweating through Apple’s latest smartwatch software, I can confidently say watchOS 26 is… fine. There are some useful upgrades, a few subtle design changes, and the long-overdue arrival of the Notes app. But is it exciting? Not especially.

Announced at WWDC 2025 and now available in public beta, the newest Apple Watch OS feels more like a light refresh than a bold step forward. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing, unless you were hoping for something more transformative.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.