Apple Watch to get watchOS 26 – that’s NOT a typo
Big changes are ahead for the Apple Watch in a couple of weeks at WWDC, as Apple is rumoured to be overhauling the Watch software, including its name.
Along with all other operating systems, numbering will be aligned with the year after release. Thus, examples of the new versions released this year include macOS 26, watchOS 26, and tvOS 26.
Other changes include a full visual refresh of many operating systems, including watchOS and tvOS, the latter of which has remained largely unchanged in appearance for years. Heavily rumoured are simple colour and transparency changes; however, I suspect that iPhone and Watch will also benefit from revamped menu logic. That’s also been rumoured, but less heavily.
Take Out
Many Apple customers own multiple product types. Numbering changes make sense to align customer understanding with the features and compatibility on their devices. That’s a no-brainer in my eyes. #GoodMove.
More interesting to me is the iPhone and the Watch. The logic and location of, for example, Health and app permissions, as well as general options on iOS, are awful and confusing. In my mind, any improvement is long overdue.
Watch presents further difficulties for Apple. Going back over five years, the Apple Watch was a simpler beast. It had far fewer options and tweaks to hide in its simple menus, displayed on its small screen. In recent years, I have mentioned several times that the current Watch interface won’t be sustainable in the long term if Apple plans to add new capabilities. And…Apple plans to add new capabilities. Something has to give. WatchOS needs a significantly improved interface. However, as Garmin and others have found, it’s challenging to cram access to a multitude of features into a small-screened device in a sensible way, and Garmin has more buttons to leverage than Apple.
I wouldn’t want to be an Apple WatchOS designer. But Apple does give FAR more thought to usability than companies like Garmin. If anyone can pull it off, Apple can.
Source: via Gurman, Bloomberg
This post is part of the Apple Watch guide for endurance sport on this site, which covers the full lineup, watchOS, accuracy data, the medical roadmap, and the complete set of articles.
Last Updated on 27 May 2026 by the5krunner
My favourite kit and nutrition
- Maurten — the race nutrition trusted by elite athletes. Gels and drink mix engineered to be easy on the stomach.
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter — the small adapter that keeps your charging cable tidy at the stem. Essential for race day.
- Garmin charging puck — the fastest and most reliable way to top up your Garmin before a session.
- Ravemen FR300 — front light that mounts directly under your Garmin or Wahoo head unit. Keeps your bars clean and your beam pointed where it matters.
- Garmin Varia RTL515 — radar rear light that alerts you to vehicles approaching from behind. Pairs with your Edge or Garmin watch.
- Stryd — the footpod that brings running power to your Garmin. The single most useful running upgrade I have made.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2 — the power meter pedals most serious cyclists end up choosing. Accurate, easy to move between bikes.
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. ID
