Certain, watchOS 26 is bringing Apple’s Liquid Glass appears to your wrist, a ‘Exercise Buddy’ to offer you a vote of confidence or a nudge to hit a private greatest throughout a exercise, and a bunch of latest Messages options. All that’s cool, but it surely’s one of many extra primary updates has me probably the most jazzed, and I’ve had an opportunity to attempt it out already.
When you’re something like me, when a barrage of Slack alerts comes via, or actually any notifications that are not tremendous pressing, I’ll really feel the thrill on my wrist and ignore it or place my different hand’s palm over the Apple Watch to dismiss them. Thus far that’s labored properly, however Apple’s newest gesture is taking issues to the following stage.
‘Wrist Flick’ is exactly what it appears like – when a notification comes via, you’ll simply flick your wrist backwards to dismiss it. You can too use it to go one step again anyplace throughout the Apple Watch’s interface, or to shut out or silence incoming calls, whether or not they’re mobile or FaceTime ones.
So, say you’re checking the Climate app for the forecast however want to return, simply flick your wrist twice. As soon as takes you again to the launcher, and one other brings you again to your watch face.
It’ll be part of the likes of Double Faucet when it arrives with watchOS 26, which is about to reach this fall (seemingly in September or October). Though it’s out there in developer beta now, it’s going to ship with the general public beta, anticipated this month, July 2025.
To be clear, the developer beta may be very a lot what the identify implies – it is an early model of the software program and isn’t advisable for set up in your major gadget, as you may count on bugs, slowdowns, speedups, and instability. Merely, it isn’t last software program, however reasonably an early look.
In my fast demo at Apple Park in a briefing after the WWDC keynote, I shortly obtained the cling of utilizing ‘Wrist Flick’, and I believe as soon as it arrives in your wrist, it’ll grow to be a every day behavior. It’s merely pairing one thing you’d count on with a gesture, making it simpler to navigate the Apple Watch while not having to the touch the display screen or dismiss a notification or two.
You will have a comparatively new Apple Watch to see ‘Wrist Flick’ seem with the watchOS 26 replace: it can work on the Apple Watch Collection 9, Apple Watch Collection 10, and Apple Watch Extremely 2. Apparently, there isn’t any help for both the Apple Watch SE or the unique Apple Watch Extremely, because the function requires the S9 or S10 chip inside. For some, that may very well be a cause to improve to a more recent Apple Watch.
Additional options
I am enthusiastic about ‘Wrist Flick’, however in Apple’s eyes it is most likely not one of many flagship additions for watchOS 26. There’s additionally ‘Exercise Buddy’, which I obtained to see in motion – this improve solely requires the Apple Watch to be paired with an Apple Intelligence-capable iPhone.
In a demo, I noticed the AI-powered coach communicate in a mode much like among the greatest Health+ Trainers (shout out to Jessica Skye), who had been used to coach the mannequin. They interject at key moments through the exercise: initially to set the stage, within the center at numerous milestones, and on the finish.
The function is there to supply a nudge at instances, however extra so a dose of encouragement. The coach I heard was very peppy; she knew the day and time, noting we had been going for a Monday night exercise, and on the finish informed me I introduced all of it the way in which residence. It is a good improve, which, for me, I feel will get me understanding extra.
There’s additionally the Liquid Glass interface and good hints – delicate icons that’ll seem on the underside of your watch face or on the prime of the interface, suggesting actions. So if you happen to’re utilizing the digital camera app in your iPhone, a notification in your wrist would possibly remind you that you could management the shutter that approach.
All of it comes collectively for a fairly compelling software program improve for Apple’s chief wearable, however I feel you’ll discover Wrist Flick to be a standout. And if you happen to’re eager to have an Apple Watch able to this function, because of Amazon Prime Day 2025 on the horizon, there’s a deal available: the Apple Watch Collection 10 is again right down to the bottom value we’ve seen.
