watchOS 26: New Notes app and gesture to dismiss notifications
Starting with watchOS 26, the Notes app is available on the Apple Watch. With the Notes app on the Apple Watch, you can finally view your notes directly on your wrist. You can also create new notes with Siri or the on-screen keyboard and sync them via iCloud with your iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Other features of the Notes app on Apple Watch include pinning and unlocking notes, as well as completing checklist items.
This is a minor but very useful change with watchOS 26, which is now available in beta. The update will be released later this year for all users of Apple Watch Series 6 and later, Apple Watch SE 2, and all Apple Watch Ultra models.
Apple watchOS 26 with new gesture for dismissing notifications
Apple has also added a new one-handed wrist gesture in watchOS 26 for easily dismissing notifications. However, this gesture only works on newer Apple Watch models.
If you raise your wrist to check a notification but aren’t ready to respond, you can now dismiss the notification simply by flicking your wrist—that is, twisting and turning. This quick gesture lets you dismiss notifications and incoming calls, mute timers and alarms, and return to the watch face.
The feature uses your watch’s accelerometer and gyroscope, as well as a machine learning model that analyzes your wrist movements. However, functionality is limited to the Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2.
The watchOS 26 user interface adopts Apple’s new Liquid Glass design, while Apple Intelligence enables the new Workout Buddy feature, which offers personalized, spoken motivation. The Workout app also has a new layout and now offers music that suits your tastes and workout style. The Apple Watch now also supports live translation in Messages.
watchOS 26 is now available for testing through the Apple Developer Program, and a public beta will be available next month through the Apple Beta Software Program.
