- Apple revealed Watchos 26 at WWDC yesterday
- Watchos 26 is compatible with Apple Watches going back year
- But some of its best features require a newer device
When Apple revealed Watchos 26 on WWDC 2025 yesterday, it showed an operating system that had been upgraded with a welcome series of new features and abilities. However, if you hope to try these, you will check if your Apple Watch is compatible – because lots of the most popular models won’t be.
Against this background, most of the best Apple Watch models with Watchos 26. Apple work it is compatible with the Apple Watch series 6 or newer, second generation of Apple Watch SE, plus each Apple Watch Ultra model; You also have to pair your watch with an iPhone 11 or later running iOS 26. It’s a good selection of devices going back for many years.
But there are several features that only work if you pair your watch with a much newer iPhone. For starters, everything driven by Apple Intelligence, an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max or any device from the iPhone 16 series requires. It immediately increases the threshold of compatibility with Apple’s artificial intelligence (AI) platform.
In addition, some of the new features introduced in Watchos 26 have their own requirements. E.g. “Wristflick” movement needs an Apple Watch series 9, Series 10 or Ultra 2. Again, this excludes this many of the older devices that can technically run Watchos 26.
Check that little writing
Potential restrictions like this show that it is important to check device requirements before you get excited to download an update like Watchos 26. The one new tool that caught your eye may not work with your existing hardware.
And it is especially important to do this before buying a device. You may have found a lot on an older Apple Watch, for example, but if it can’t run the features you die to try, you’re out of luck.
Watchos 26 has a lot of interesting new updates, including a floating glass design overhaul, a workout mate fitness assistant, improved smart tight tight algorithms and more. If you want to give any of these a chance, remember to double control if your Apple Watch is compatible.
