The Apple Watch already does a lot. It tracks your sleep, monitors your heart rate during workouts, helps you find your iPhone when you drop it down the side of the sofa (that latter one is a classic). However, Siri on Watch has always felt a little like an afterthought – a voice assistant that could set a timer but not much else.

The upcoming watchOS 27 is set to change that, however.

During Apple’s WWDC 26 conference, the company announced all the new software and features coming to its iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch devices, with Siri AI sitting at the centre of it all.

There’s a little bit of bad news in that watchOS 27 requires an Apple Watch Series 9 or newer. That means support is dropped for several models compared to watchOS 26, including the original Watch Ultra and Watch SE 2. But, I've been attending WWDC all week to find out more and so, if you do have a compatible model, here’s what Siri AI will be able to do.

Conversation, from your wrist

Siri AI will let you ask open-ended questions, brainstorm workout ideas, and have natural back-and-forth conversations from your wrist. There should be no more barking commands and hoping for the best only to be disappointed with the results.

Instead, Siri AI will be able to tap into your personal context across all your Apple devices, from your iPhone to your Mac.

Need your passport number on the go? The door code for your Airbnb? A note you saved three weeks ago with your workout routine? You should just be able to ask, and as long as that information is available somewhere within Apple’s native apps, like Mail or Messages, Siri should be able to pull it up.

Siri AI will also be able to take actions in apps, like share flight details with your family, play the song your personal trainer recommended to get you motivated, or update your Activity ring goals without you having to fiddle around in the settings on your wrist.

Siri gets its own home

Like iPhone, a dedicated Siri app is coming to Apple Watch with watchOS 27.

As you would expect, it has a slightly different layout to what you will see on iPhone, but the premise is the same: it brings all your Siri conversations into one place, and syncs them across iPhone and Apple Watch. That means you can start with a question or prompt on your phone and pick it up from your wrist.

You’ll also be able to pin conversations for quick access, or kick off a fresh one from the icon in the bottom right corner.

Beyond personal context, Siri AI can pull real-time information from the web, whether you need workout inspiration, check your train timetable, or get some wellness tips.

A new dynamic grid

There are a couple of other features worth mentioning, too, which are partly related to Siri.

The watchOS 27 software will bring a new dynamic app grid that will automatically surface your most-used apps and Siri suggestions, with the Siri app sitting in the middle.

There’s also a feature called Call Context that is coming to iPhone with iOS 27, and Apple Watch with watchOS 27. This brings relevant information to your Watch face during business calls, such as your booking reference code when you are on the phone to British Airways trying to change your flight because you haven’t closed your rings yet.

Other watchOS 27 features worth noting

Beyond Siri and the dynamic app grid, watchOS 27 brings several other improvements.

A new single tap gesture lets you open a Smart Stack widget just by pinching your index finger and thumb together once. The Smart Stack will also be smarter, surfacing more contextually relevant widgets, such as birthday reminders for close contacts or the location of your parked car.

On the fitness front, Workout Buddy which arrived with watchOS 26 is getting new data insights around pace, distance, and workout duration, and it will also be able to run without your iPhone nearby.

Improved motion tracking algorithms also promise more accurate distance measurements for treadmill runs and walks for those who prefer to workout inside.

There are health improvements in watchOS 27, too: the Cycle Tracking app now offers perimenopause and menopause support, sending notifications when your logged cycle patterns suggest perimenopause, along with related symptom tracking and educational resources.

Meanwhile, the Find My app is being consolidated so that Find Devices, Find People, and Find Items all live in one place with a map-centric view (thank god, this one might become my favourite), and the Wallet app will let you create custom passes for any membership or card that uses a QR or barcode. It'll also pin it in the Smart Stack for easy access.

Which Apple Watch models are compatible?

Apple's watchOS 27 requires an iPhone 11 or later, or an iPhone SE (2nd generation or later), running iOS 27. You’ll also need an Apple Watch SE 3, Series 9, Series 10, Series 11, Ultra 2, and Ultra 3.

However, with the Apple Watch SE 3, it is worth noting that Apple Intelligence features will require a compatible iPhone to be nearby.

It's safe to assume at this point that the next generation of Apple Watches might not look dramatically different on the outside, but a fresh rumour suggests one of the wearable’s most controversial features could be getting a major internal overhaul.

According to recent reports, Apple is exploring a redesigned blood oxygen monitoring system for future Apple Watches following its lengthy legal battle with medical technology company Masimo.

The dispute has dominated the Apple Watch conversation for the last two years and forced Apple to rethink how one of its flagship health features actually works.

The issue dates back to 2023, when the US International Trade Commission ruled that Apple had infringed Masimo’s pulse oximetry patents, resulting in an import ban affecting certain Apple Watch models in the US.

Apple responded by disabling or limiting blood oxygen functionality on affected devices while it worked on a workaround.

Last year, the company reintroduced the feature with a redesigned system that shifts part of the blood-oxygen processing from the Apple Watch itself to the paired iPhone.

In the feature's current iteration, the watch collects raw data, while the iPhone handles the calculations and displays the results in the Health app.

A legal fix that could become a hardware strategy

Apple has since scored several legal wins, with US trade officials recently ruling that the redesigned implementation does not infringe Masimo’s patents.

Even so, the company now appears keen to move beyond temporary software workarounds and develop a more permanent hardware-level solution for future watches.

This fits neatly into the direction Apple is expected to take under the soon-to-be CEO, John Ternus.

While Tim Cook helped introduce and turn the Apple Watch into a health and wellness platform through software, services and ecosystem integration, many analysts expect Apple’s next era to focus more aggressively on proprietary hardware and sensor technology.

The Apple Watch has already become increasingly sensor-led over the years, adding ECG, temperature tracking, sleep analysis and advanced heart monitoring.

Blood oxygen sensing was supposed to be another cornerstone of that strategy before the Masimo dispute interrupted Apple’s plans.

Health remains the Apple Watch’s biggest selling point

The rumoured redesign suggests Apple still sees health hardware as the future of the Apple Watch, especially as the smartwatch market becomes more competitive and AI-driven software features become easier for rivals to replicate.

A more advanced blood-oxygen system might open the door for deeper respiratory and recovery insights, areas Apple has gradually been investing in through watchOS updates.

For now, the rumours remain unconfirmed, but the broader direction feels believable.

Apple has spent years positioning the Apple Watch as a serious health device, and after two years of legal turbulence, it looks increasingly likely the company wants complete control over the underlying hardware powering those features.

[via PhoneArena, Reuters, Techradar]

Your Apple Watch just got a reimagined version of the Headspace wellness app. Available on multiple versions of the Apple Watch and all Headspace subscriptions, the upgraded Headspace for Apple Watch app has more meditation, breathing and sleep features than before.

Headspace has been available on the Apple Watch since 2016. Now 10 years later, it’s been upgraded to offer better, streamlined mental health support on the go. How it works is by using Apple Health data, which allows the new Headspace app for Apple Watch to identify moments where users may want to rest and reset throughout the day.

The new Headspace app features include daily meditation sessions which pops up on your Apple Watch every morning so you can start your day calmly and more mindfully. Similarly, Apple Watch wearers can opt in for ‘breathing nudges’ which prompts them to do a 60-second breathing exercise when Headspace x Apple Watch thinks you need a quick break.

Other handy features include better sleep support, including wind-down sessions and sleep casts which are accessible via your Apple Watch so you don’t have to use your phone. Collections are also now available from your watch so you can enjoy meditations on the go.

My favourite feature is the SOS mode. If your Apple Watch detects stress or anger, SOS mode will name your emotional state before offering content which can help you avoid these feelings. Examples include ‘Panicking’ and ‘Losing Your Temper’. As someone who’s always panicking about something, this feature sounds like a helpful way to calm down and take a breath without getting too overwhelmed.

When asked about the new app, Fay Kallel, Headspace’s chief product and design officer said it “brings our clinically backed content to members in a new way, helping them find moments of mindfulness throughout their day and build resilience through small, consistent practices that seamlessly fit into their lives.”

To start using the new Headspace app on Apple Watch, you’ll need to update the Headspace mobile app. This will automatically download the Apple Watch app although some users may have to download it manually. Members will also need an iPhone 11 or later with iOS 26 or above.

Any Headspace app subscription will grant access to this new content via the Apple Watch app. The app is also available on Apple Watch Series 6 - 11, second and third generations of the Apple Watch SE, and Apple Watch Ultra, Ultra 2 and Ultra 3.

Apple may be offering blood sugar monitoring on your future Apple Watch if a new breakthrough is anything to go by.

Scientists at MIT have released research which was able to use a light to measure blood glucose. This is not only huge news for the world of smartwatches but also for anybody with diabetes, who may have had to take invasive finger pricks for blood measurements.

How does non invasive glucose monitoring work?

The MIT team used a form of Raman spectroscopy to detect glucose levels in the blood. This is done by shining near-infrared or visible light onto tissues in order to detect their chemical composition.

At the early stage the device used in testing was large - around the size of a desktop printer - far to large to work in a wearable.

But since then it's already been scaled down with a new prototype the size of a smartphone which is currently in testing. Researchers are working on making it even smaller, "about the size of a watch".

More work needs to go into not only scaling it down in size but also to ensure it can work accurately across different skin tones.

There are plans to run a larger study next year, working with a local hopsital, which will include people with diabetes.

So when this filters its way down to the mainstream, and Apple specifically, remains to be seen. But, at long last, non invasive blood glucose monitoring appears to be on its way.

This isn't anything new, but I'd like to think that the job of a tech journalist is to shine a light on issues in the industry, big and small – and in this case, it's actually shining lights that are the issues. I've been to the theatre a couple of times in recent months and each visit has brought a minor annoyance to my notice.

In any performance in a darkened room, whether it's live theatre or a cinema, most people know that it's obnoxious to take their phones out and check them – the light is a distraction for everyone, after all. That might not stop them, but there are plenty of announcements telling people to turn their phones off.

What we also need, though, is announcements telling people to use cinema mode on their smartwatches, and particularly on Apple Watches. I'm tired of seeing the flashes of screens waking as people shift in their seats, or indeed of older models with always-on displays that constantly glow out in the dark.

The mode is unbelievably easy to activate and deactivate on Apple's wearables, and I do it myself every time I go to an event – so I can attest that it's no great sacrifice.

As a reminder, if you click the side button on your Apple Watch (above the digital crown) you'll get access to your control centre. On here by default you'll see one icon that looks like two masks – one happy, one sad. That's a nod to historic symbols of the dramatic arts, and tapping it will activate cinema mode.

This will keep your watch's screen powered off unless you tap on it, and will also put it into silent mode. You'll still get haptics for notifications, but they won't disturb anyone around you.

Best of all, rather than tapping on the watch's screen if you want to check the time, you can instead turn the digital crown. As you turn it, the brightness will crank up from the bare minimum, so you can keep the disturbance to a minimum.

As I say, I get annoyed by someone's smartwatch literally every time I go to a dark-room event of any description, and I'm amazed that so few people seem to know about this mode and use it. Obviously, it might be that I'm in a silent majority by using it, since I'll never notice smartwatches that are turned down, but I'd still love it to be more widespread.

So, consider this a PSA, whether you knew about cinema mode or not – spread it around, and get more people using it if you can.

If you've been holding off on upgrading your old Apple Watch, now is the time to act. Amazon has decided to slash the price of the Series 9 by $400 – that's 57% percent off! Black Friday truly came early with this offer.

Shop all Apple Watch deals at Amazon

It's by far the lowest price I've ever seen, and it's also the biggest discount on Apple Watch deals currently available on Amazon. That said, the Ultrea 2 and the Series 10 are also a lot cheaper than usual.

The 41mm Cellular version of the Apple Watch Series 9 packs all of Apple’s latest smartwatch tech into a compact, everyday-friendly size. It runs on the S9 SiP chip, which brings faster performance and enables on-device Siri, allowing you to access health data and control functions without relying on the cloud.

The 1.7-inch Always-On Retina LTPO OLED display is one of its standout features, with up to 2000 nits of brightness, making it easy to read even in direct sunlight. The screen also scales down to just 1 nit for low-light environments, helping preserve battery life and improve night-time usability.

As a Cellular model, it supports LTE connectivity via eSIM, meaning you can take calls, stream music, and use apps without your iPhone nearby. Connectivity also includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.3 for stable pairing with accessories.

Health and fitness tracking remain central. You get a third-generation optical heart sensor, ECG capability, blood oxygen monitoring, sleep tracking, and advanced workout tracking, alongside safety features like Emergency SOS and international calling.

Design-wise, the 41mm case measures 41 x 35 x 10.7mm and weighs just over 32g in aluminium, making it lightweight for all-day wear. It’s water-resistant to 50 metres and IP6X dust-resistant.

What's the biggest difference between the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Ultra 3? Sure, you get slightly longer battery life, a marginally larger screen area, thinner bezels, and other small refinements, but are these worth an extra $300?

Shop all Apple Watch deals on Amazon

That's right, the Ultra 2 is currently $300 off on Amazon, making it one of the best deals I've seen in this year's Spring Sale. As Apple’s most capable smartwatch, the Ultra 2 packs a bright display, precision GPS and impressive battery life. The wearable was as cheap as $549 last Black Friday, but hasn't dipped under $500 – until now.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is Apple’s most rugged and feature-packed smartwatch, with a large 49mm titanium case with a flat sapphire crystal display that hits 3,000 nits of brightness for excellent visibility in harsh conditions.

It’s powered by Apple’s S9 chip, enabling faster performance, on-device Siri and gesture controls like Double Tap.

The Ultra 2 features dual-frequency GPS for more accurate tracking, alongside a full suite of sensors including heart rate, ECG, blood oxygen and temperature monitoring. Water resistance reaches 100 metres, with support for recreational diving to 40 metres, plus a built-in depth gauge and compass for navigation.

Battery life is a major highlight, offering up to 36 hours of normal use and up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode, making it far more capable than standard Apple Watch models. You also get built-in cellular as standard, along with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and NFC for payments and connectivity.

Apple’s long-running legal dispute with Masimo over the blood oxygen feature in its smartwatches has taken another turn, following a new ruling from a US trade judge.

Masimo previously secured a decision that Apple had infringed its pulse oximetry patents, which led to an import ban on certain Apple Watch models in the US.

In its case, Masimo claims Apple used its patented blood oxygen monitoring technology without permission.

The company says Apple hired away key staff, gained access to their expertise, and then built similar pulse oximetry features into the Apple Watch, leading to the original infringement ruling.

What blood oxygen monitoring actually does

Blood oxygen monitoring on smartwatches uses optical sensors to estimate how much oxygen is carried in the blood.

The device shines light into the skin and measures how it is absorbed to calculate SpO2 levels, offering a general indicator of respiratory and overall health.

Apple quickly introduced a workaround and has continued selling its smartwatches in the US.

The company adjusted how the feature works by shifting some data processing from the wearable itself to a paired iPhone.

The latest ruling says that this updated implementation does not infringe Masimo’s patents.

That change allowed Apple to reintroduce the feature while the legal process continued.

Legal victory for Masimo, practical win for Apple

It is worth noting that the earlier finding of infringement has not been overturned.

Masimo retains its original win, and separate proceedings have also resulted in the award of financial damages.

However, the latest decision limits the practical impact of those outcomes on Apple’s current products.

The ruling means Apple can continue selling watches with the revised feature in place.

For consumers, this maintains access to blood oxygen tracking, although the way the data is handled differs from earlier versions of the feature.

The case remains ongoing, with further appeals and decisions expected.

For now, the latest development suggests that while the legal dispute is unresolved, Apple’s changes have addressed the specific issue at the centre of the import ban.

Garmin wearables have long been some of the best running watches money can buy, but they’ve always lagged behind rivals when it comes to everyday smart features. Now, that’s finally starting to change.

The brand has announced a new WhatsApp app for select devices, allowing you to read, reply to and react to messages directly from your wrist.

It’s available now as a free download from the Connect IQ Store and works with compatible models across the Fenix, Forerunner, Venu and Vivoactive ranges.

Garmin finally gets serious about smart features

Until now, Garmin’s approach to messaging has felt functional rather than fully integrated.

You could see notifications and send quick replies in some cases, but the experience never quite matched what you’d get on an Apple Watch or a Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic.

The new WhatsApp app lets you view recent conversations, read full messages, and reply with a built-in keyboard, as well as send emojis and quick reactions.

You can even scroll through chat history, with up to 10 messages visible on screen.

It’s still tied to your smartphone, so you’ll need your phone nearby with WhatsApp installed, but the experience is far closer to a proper smartwatch messaging system than anything Garmin has offered before.

What the WhatsApp app can actually do

Beyond basic notifications, the app adds a layer of interaction that makes Garmin watches more useful throughout the day, not just during workouts.

Incoming calls can be viewed with the option to decline them, while messages remain protected by WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption, meaning conversations stay private, even when accessed from your wrist.

Garmin says the app is made possible through its Connect IQ platform, and it’s currently the first third-party messaging app available on its watches.

That alone suggests the company is opening the door to a broader app ecosystem.

If that happens, this could mark the beginning of a shift for Garmin, from a fitness-first wearable with limited smart features to something that better balances performance tracking with everyday usability.

It won’t turn a Garmin into a full Apple Watch rival overnight, but Garmin is clearly starting to take the “smart” part of smartwatch a lot more seriously.

You can download the WhatsApp app via the Connect Store for free.

Apple has just become an official partner of the TCS London Marathon, one of the world’s most iconic endurance races, and while the announcement itself is light on detail, it could signal something bigger for runners and Apple Watch users alike.

The announcement comes on the same day as the launch of the company's second take on the over-ear headphones, the AirPods Max 2.

The partnership places Apple alongside the event’s existing sponsors and supporters, bringing the company directly into one of the most influential communities in global running.

Every year, the London Marathon attracts tens of thousands of participants and millions of spectators, making it one of the most visible platforms for fitness technology.

For instance, a record 1,133,813 people applied for a place in this year's ballot, competing for roughly 15,000–20,000 spots.

For Apple, the move looks like another step in a long-term push to position the Apple Watch as a serious running wearable rather than 'just' a lifestyle smartwatch.

Apple is leaning further into running

Over the past few years, Apple has steadily added more advanced training tools to the Apple Watch platform.

Features such as running power, training load, pace alerts and advanced running metrics have brought the device closer to dedicated sports watches from companies like Garmin and COROS.

The company also introduced more detailed running analytics through watchOS updates, while premium models such as the Apple Watch Ultra 3 added dual-frequency GPS and longer battery life aimed at endurance athletes.

Partnering with a major race like the London Marathon helps reinforce that message.

Instead of simply marketing the Apple Watch as a general health tracker, Apple is aligning the product with a global running event that attracts everyone from first-time participants to elite athletes.

What the partnership could lead to

Although the announcement does not yet outline specific features, marathon partnerships often evolve into deeper integrations over time.

It would not be surprising to see Apple introduce race-specific tools, such as enhanced pacing features, training programs through Apple Fitness+ or tighter integration with the event’s digital experiences.

By attaching its brand to one of the world’s biggest marathons, Apple is reinforcing its long-term ambition to be seen not just as a tech company, but as a major player in the global fitness and health ecosystem.

Read the announcement on the London Marathon website.

Have the Apple Watch Series 11 and the AirPods 4 with ANC been this cheap before? Yes. Should you care? No. As someone who's been reporting on the company for coming up to seven years, it blows my mind how quickly Apple deals come around these days.

Shop all wearable deals in Amazon's Spring Deal Days Sale

Both the Apple Watch Series 11 and the AirPods 4 with ANC are the brand's latest wearable tech, yet merely months after their launch, you can own both and save £100 in the process. Get a Mac Neo and the iPhone 17a, and you can have a full Apple ecosystem for hundreds less than a 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 Pro chip.

The Apple Watch Series 11 brings Apple’s latest smartwatch features to a compact aluminium case, pairing a bright always-on Retina display with the company’s fast S10 chip for smooth performance.

Designed for everyday wear as well as workouts, it offers comprehensive health tracking including heart-rate monitoring, ECG readings, sleep insights and activity tracking across dozens of sports modes.

Built-in GPS allows runners, walkers and cyclists to record pace and routes without carrying a phone, while safety tools such as fall detection and emergency SOS add extra peace of mind.

The Apple AirPods 4 with ANC complement the watch with Apple’s latest wireless audio tech. These open-fit earbuds add Active Noise Cancellation and adaptive audio processing to reduce background noise while keeping sound clear and balanced.

Seamless pairing with Apple devices, voice-optimised microphones for calls and a USB-C charging case make them a convenient choice for commuting, workouts and everyday listening.

Fresh rumours suggest that the Apple Watch Ultra 4 could land as early as September, bringing with it a notable overhaul to the most rugged Apple Watch.

This might also be the time we first get to see the updated Apple AirPods Pro 3, equipped with infrared cameras, not to mention the potential smart glasses and pendants the company is supposed to be working on.

According to a new report, the next-generation Ultra is expected to debut alongside Apple’s usual autumn hardware lineup.

While a dramatic redesign isn’t on the cards, the upgrades under the hood could be more substantial than they first appear.

The report suggests Apple may double the number of sensor elements inside the Ultra 4 compared to the Apple Watch Ultra 3, potentially improving the accuracy of health tracking and environmental readings.

For a smartwatch that already positions itself as the go-to option for endurance athletes, divers and outdoor adventurers, incremental gains in precision could be a meaningful step forward.

The return of Touch ID

References discovered in Apple-related code reportedly hint at biometric authentication built into a hardware control, possibly the side button, Digital Crown or Action button.

If accurate, that would mark a notable shift for the company, which has relied exclusively on passcodes and wrist detection for authentication on its wearables.

Integrated fingerprint recognition could make Apple Pay and secure app access more seamless on the Ultra.

Performance and efficiency upgrades are also expected, with a new-generation S-series chip likely powering the device.

Improved battery management could potentially extend endurance beyond the 'multi-day' life seen on current Ultra models.

Glucose tracking remains on the horizon

One feature that reportedly won’t make the cut, however, is non-invasive blood glucose monitoring.

Despite years of rumours and patent filings, the report suggests this breakthrough health metric remains in development rather than ready for commercial release.

Garmin is said to be working on a version of this tech, but given the rumours, wider adoption may still be a few years away.

For now, it appears the Apple Watch Ultra 4 will focus on refinement over reinvention.

If the rumours prove accurate, this year’s update could once again be about quietly strengthening the Ultra’s position as Apple’s most capable wearable, rather than a full revamp.

With September still months away, expect the rumour mill to spin faster as launch season approaches.

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is currently £50 off at EE in all colourways, selling for £699.

[via Business Standard]

Wearables are undoubtedly brilliant training partners, but the default setup can make them feel more like a needy sidekick than a helpful coach.

If your smartwatch keeps lighting up mid-run, buzzing about non-urgent messages, or talking at you through your workout headphones, you’re not alone, and there are some fairly simple settings tweaks that can help.

Apple Watch, Wear OS, and Samsung Galaxy Watch include ways to cut distractions, make your key stats easier to glance at, and keep battery life more predictable on longer sessions.

The best part? You can do most of these in a couple of minutes, then forget about them until you upgrade your watch.

Apple watchOS

We'll start with Apple Watch and watchOS, since that is likely what most people are working with. To keep things readable, we'll break down the settings in broader groups, like notifications or auto-pause.

Stop the Workout app from nagging

Turn off "Start Workout Reminder": If your Apple Watch keeps tapping you to start a workout when you’re just walking to the station (or cooling down), switch this off. Go to Settings → Workout → Start Workout Reminder, and you’ll still be able to start sessions manually in a second.

Turn off "End Workout Reminder": This one’s great in theory, but it can be distracting if you pause briefly, slow down, or stop to stretch and your watch assumes you’re done. Disable it in Settings → Workout → End Workout Reminder, and you’ll avoid those “are you finished?” prompts.

Turn off "Resume Workout Reminder": If you regularly pause workouts (intervals, gym sessions, or just waiting at a crossing), the resume prompt can quickly become background noise. Toggle off Resume Workout Reminder in the same Settings → Workout menu.

Make pauses and controls feel fiddly

Enable Auto-Pause for outdoor runs and cycles: Stopping for traffic lights shouldn’t trash your pace, or inflate your “time moving” stats. Turn on Auto-Pause in Settings → Workout → Auto-Pause.

Use button controls instead of swipes: If you’ve ever brushed the screen with a sleeve and accidentally paused (or ended) a session, switching to more deliberate controls can be a lifesaver. In Settings → Workout, look for workout controls options on your model, then choose the best approach for you.

Cut the noise without going offline

Use Silent Mode (keep haptics, ditch the chimes): If your watch is pinging loudly during a workout, flip on Silent Mode so you still get vibrations without the audio.

Set up a Fitness Focus: Rather than blocking everything, Focus lets you choose which interruptions to allow. Once it’s set, you can switch it on before training (or automate it), so you won't get pulled out of the zone by every random notification.

Make your stats easier to read

Customise Workout Views: The Workout app can show a lot of screens you’ll never use, which means extra swipes when you’re trying to stay in rhythm. Open the app, head into your workout type, then edit the views.

Tailor the metrics for each workout type: Even a great screen is pointless if it’s showing the wrong numbers. Customise the metrics for each workout so your “main” view surfaces what you actually care about, and you won’t be stuck fiddling mid-session.

Change battery and screen settings

Turn on Workout Low Power Mode for longer sessions: If you want your watch to last without constantly worrying about the battery percentage, enable Low Power Mode for workouts. It reduces background activity and, on supported models, disables the Always On display during training.

Reduce GPS and heart-rate sampling: For long walks, hikes, or recovery runs where precision matters less, Apple lets you choose a setting that takes fewer GPS and heart-rate readings in Low Power Mode.

Ditch the annoying commentary

Turn off Activity “Daily Coaching” prompts: Closing your rings is motivating… until your watch starts acting like a backseat fitness coach. Switch off Daily Coaching, and you’ll still track Activity as normal, just without the extra nudges.

Disable Workout voice feedback: Some people love audio call-outs for splits and milestones, but they can also break your flow. Turn off Voice Feedback for workouts, and you’ll keep the data, without your watch narrating the session.

Google Wear OS

Stop the screen grabbing your attention

Turn off Always-on Display: While handy during training, it can feel like your watch is constantly “on show”. Switch it off in Settings → Display → Always-on Display, and you’ll usually get a calmer experience and more predictable battery life on longer workouts.

Turn off Tilt-to-wake: If you’re doing anything with lots of arm movement – running, rowing, circuits – tilt-to-wake can turn your watch into a tiny strobe. Disable it in Settings → Display → Tilt-to-wake to cut accidental wake-ups, reduce distractions, and save battery.

Use Quiet Mode

Enable Bedtime mode: Bedtime mode isn’t only for sleep; it’s also a handy way to make your watch behave itself during a session when you want fewer interruptions. On the Pixel Watch, it helps by blocking most notifications and preventing the display from waking so readily.

Samsung Galaxy Watch

Stop Samsung Health from talking over your workout

Disable the workout audio guide: If Samsung Health keeps announcing pace updates, it can get old fast – especially when you’re already listening to music. In Samsung Health, turn off the audio guide/voice coaching for your workout type to keep tracking without the narration.

Turn off or adjust automatic workout detection: Auto-detection is useful when it works, but it can also pop up at the wrong time. In Samsung Health, switch off automatic detection entirely, or limit it to the one activity you actually want it to catch.

Over recent months, I started noticing a weird pattern: I’d wake up feeling… fine, then glance at my wrist and see a sleep score that suggested a sub-standard night of honk-shoo.

At first, I assumed the watch must be right, but the more I dug into it, the more I realised most smartwatches aren’t directly measuring sleep in the way a sleep lab would. Perhaps unsurprising, but it makes you wonder, nonetheless.

Smartwatches estimate your sleep quality using a mix of movement sensors and an optical heart rate sensor (green light PPG), then turn that raw data into sleep stages and a headline score via software.

Even though they don't have lab-level accuracy, smartwatch sleep data is far from useless. Wearables can be genuinely helpful for spotting trends, like whether you’re consistently short on sleep or showing signs of poorer overnight recovery.

However, they can, on occasion, misinterpret certain nights, especially when the sensor signal is messy, or the algorithm confuses quiet wakefulness for sleep (and vice versa). So, if you’ve ever found yourself thinking, "Why does my watch keep saying I slept badly?", these are the smartwatch-and-software factors at play.

What your watch is actually measuring overnight

Before I started blaming my body, I looked at what my smartwatch can realistically “see” while I’m asleep.

For most mainstream smartwatches, such as the Apple Watch Series 11 or the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, it boils down to two inputs: motion (via the accelerometer and gyroscope) and optical heart data. This is a slight oversimplification, but humour me on this occasion.

From these, the software then estimates time asleep, wake-ups, and, on many platforms, sleep stages, along with related metrics such as resting heart rate and HRV, which are often used in readiness or recovery scores.

The key detail is that none of this is the same as a sleep lab, which uses sensors like an EEG to measure brain activity. Wrist-based wearables are working with indirect signals, so they’re usually better at the broad strokes.

Knowing all this, I identified seven potential issues that might make your watch think you had a bad night's sleep, ranging from misread sleep stages to misaligned sensors. Below, I presented all in no particular order.

Your watch’s heart sensor had a “bad signal” night

Most smartwatches rely on an optical heart sensor (PPG) overnight, and it’s surprisingly easy for that signal to get noisy if the watch shifts, the strap is a bit loose, or you move around a lot in your sleep.

When that happens, the software still has to interpret imperfect data, which can show up as odd heart-rate spikes or a strangely low HRV reading.

Those quirks can drag down a sleep or recovery score, even if you feel like you slept fine (and, in fact, you did sleep fine).

I now treat a one-off “bad night” as a sensor-and-fit issue first, and I’ll try wearing the watch slightly higher on the wrist with a snug (not tight) strap, plus a quick sensor wipe, before I change anything else.

Sleep stages are easy to misread

The moment I stopped taking my REM and deep sleep charts 'personally', my sleep data became much more useful.

Sleep stages on a smartwatch are an algorithmic estimate based on indirect signals like wrist movement and optical heart rate data, not a direct measure of brain activity as you’d get in a sleep lab.

Validation studies regularly find wearables can be pretty good at the broad strokes, such as “asleep vs awake”, but only moderately accurate when it comes to splitting the night into neat stage buckets.

Watches can misread “quiet wakefulness”

A big one for me is when I’m lying still in bed, but I’m not actually asleep yet, or I wake up and stay motionless while my brain spins up for the day. I remember once sitting so still while watching a gripping movie that my watch began logging a couple of hours of "sleep".

Because wearables rely heavily on movement patterns (actigraphy-style logic), they can struggle to distinguish between quiet wakefulness and light sleep, which can skew sleep onset time, awakenings, and “sleep efficiency”.

In practice, that can make a perfectly normal night look fragmented, or make it seem like you fell asleep instantly when you didn’t.

Your ‘bad sleep’ score might flag stressed physiology

This is the one that made the biggest difference for me, because it explains why I can sleep for ages and still get a brutal score, which makes me feel even worse.

Many watch ecosystems bake heart-rate patterns into sleep, readiness, or recovery scoring, so a night with a higher resting HR and lower HRV can be labelled “poor” even if you barely remember waking up.

Alcohol is the clearest example: research shows it can raise nocturnal heart rate and reduce HRV during sleep, which is exactly the kind of pattern a wearable will interpret as weaker recovery.

The catch is that the watch can’t tell you the cause. After all, watches know only the date they can sense with their LEDs and information you tell the algorithm (e.g., lifestyle logging on Garmin watches). It can only 'see' your body working harder overnight.

Your sleep "baseline" has shifted

a Jet Lag Adviser feature that can recommend actions and a timeline for reducing jet lag symptoms, includingA lot of sleep scoring is relative, which means your watch isn’t only looking at last night; it’s comparing it to your recent patterns and baseline.

That’s why you might see scores wobble after switching devices, changing how you wear the watch, travelling, ramping up training, and so on.

It can also happen after firmware or app updates, because small tweaks to models and scoring can change what gets labelled as “good” or “poor” sleep from one week to the next.

Some wearables, such as the Oura Ring 4, can provide readiness insights that help track how well you’re adapting post-flight.

Some Garmins, such as the Venu X1, have what's called a Jet Lag Adviser feature, which can recommend actions and a timeline for how to reduce jet lag symptoms, such as when to rest, exposure to light, and other behavioural guidance.

Your watch isn’t the only judge

One thing I’ve come to learn is that a “sleep score” isn’t a standardised metric, so you can’t assume it means the same thing across brands.

Some platforms, such as the Apple Watch, lean heavily on duration and disruption, while others, including Google's Pixel range and Fitbits, fold in recovery-style signals like overnight heart rate, HRV, and stress, which can make the exact same night look “fine” on one device and “poor” on another.

That’s also why switching watches, or comparing a watch to a smart ring, can feel like you’ve suddenly become a different sleeper – it’s often the software’s weighting, not a dramatic change in your actual sleep.

Anything else I should know?

When my watch flags a rough night, I first check whether it’s complaining about sleep itself (short duration, lots of wake-ups) or physiology (a higher overnight heart rate), because those can mean very different things.

Wearables are generally better at the broad strokes of sleep–wake detection than they are at pinning down exact sleep stages, so I try not to overreact to a single-night REM or deep-sleep chart.

Stress can be one of the biggest sleep inhibitors, so if your watch is consistently producing readings that cause it, try a few nights off.

Like clockwork, Apple launched its latest lineup of wearables in September 2025. These include three new products, of which I have already reviewed two. I left the mainline Apple Watch until last, partly because it felt like the safest bet of the bunch, and in many ways, that assumption proved accurate.

That said, and as is always the case, one has to take out their magnifying glass from their drawer to see what’s changed between the Apple Watch Series 10 and the Series 11. Both watches use the same design and the same size, as well as the S10 chip, among other key similarities.

Even though strapping the Series 11 on my wrist felt like a familiar sensation, I can’t say I disliked the experience. Apple still isn’t behind the competition too much with its watches, except maybe battery life, which it really needs to work on and even though the Series 11 introduces a longer battery life compared to all other Apple Watches that preceded it.

I've been wearing the watch for the last few weeks to find out if it’s worth the upgrade or if you’re better off sticking with your older Apple Watches. Spoiler alert: I wouldn’t rush to the nearest Genius Bar to order the watch, but it might be worth the upgrade if you have an older Apple Watch (no surprise there).

Apple Watch Series 11 review

Price and availability

The Apple Watch Series 11 comes in two sizes, 42 mm and 46 mm, with prices from £369 / $399 / €449 / AU$679 for the more affordable aluminium model. The titanium model adds a significant premium and is selling for £649 / $699 / €799 / AU$1,249 (42 mm model).

The watches are available now at Apple UK, Apple US, Apple EU, and Apple AU.

As before, the Series 11 is available in GPS-only and GPS+Cellular versions, the latter of which allows you to make and receive phone calls and messages with an iPhone in sight.

Since the watch has been out for a few months, it’s not impossible to find good discounts. In fact, Apple seems to have shifted its strict pricing policy we’ve seen for yours, allowing third-party retailers such as Amazon to sell the Series 11 at a heavily discounted price.

So much so that these days, you can own the latest Apple Watch Series 11 for as little as $300 in the US. Prices in other countries vary; the semi-permanent price cut seems to focus only on the brand’s largest market (i.e., the USA). Having said that, the UK has seen some price drops in recent weeks.

Design and materials

As mentioned above, the Series 11 is a spitting image of the Series 10. It comes in the same two sizes, 42 mm and 46 mm, and feels identical to its predecessor. As such, it has the same dimensions, including the ultra-thin case depth of 9.7 mm, and weight as the Series 10.

The main (only?) physical difference is the tougher Ion-X glass on the aluminium models, featuring a new ceramic coating. This new layer is said to make the screen twice as scratch-resistant as before. The watch also comes in a new colour, Space Grey, which joins the Jet Black, Silver, and Rose Gold trio.

Another, admittedly less visible, update is the 5G modem, an upgrade from the Series 10’s 4G modem. This is said to improve performance and provide better coverage when using the Apple Watch for calls and messages. Needless to say, this new feature only concerns the GPS+Cellular model.

This really is all there is to new design elements. The watch still features the same smooth latch mechanism that easily attaches and detaches the straps, as well as the digital crown and push button. The sensors and the chip (S10 SiP) are also the same as in the Series 10.

Features

There aren’t any exclusive features to the Apple Watch Series 11, but watchOS 26 introduced a few new additions to the already robust health and fitness offerings on the Apple Watch.

Chiefly among these is Sleep Score, a feature everyone’s been begging Apple for. The feature has recently been updated to make it less misleading by suggesting that lower sleep scores are bad.

Apple’s Sleep Score isn’t as robust as those from other brands, such as Samsung or Huawei, but it’s a good start, and I look forward to seeing many more refinements in the coming years.

Liquid Glass is another addition to the mix, which made its way over from iPhones. It’s much subtler on the Apple Watch due to the smaller screen and processor. I’d go so far as to say it makes little difference in everyday use, but maybe it's just me.

Workout Buddy has also been introduced with watchOS 26. This AI-powered feature is fully in line with Apple’s approach to workouts and turns solitary workouts into quasi-studio sessions by offering personalised motivation, encouragement, and real-time feedback.

I’m not a person who enjoys random bits of motivation coming from an algorithm mid-run, but I’m sure many people appreciate this. After all, Apple Watch is the most-used wearable on Strava, and given how popular the Apple AirPods Pro 3 are, I wouldn’t be surprised if most Apple Watch users use Workout Buddy.

Hypertension Notifications join the ranks of Apple’s health features. It looks for patterns consistent with high blood pressure over time (using the optical heart sensor) and can notify you if such patterns are detected. I apparently don’t have these, so I can’t really comment on them.

Similar to Crash or Fall Detection, I’m certain some Apple Watch users will appreciate Hypertension Notifications and will be able to use this information to better address blood pressure issues.

Of course, the Apple Watch can’t actually measure high blood pressure – it doesn’t have an inflatable cuff, for one – so Hypertension Notifications look for the signs of high pressure in the data the watch can collect.

Apple has finally brought the Notes app to Apple Watch, letting you view notes, pin items, and check off checklists right from your wrist. This is a fun addition, and I have been using it while testing the Apple Watch Ultra 3.

Double-tap has been the only gesture control option on Apple Watches before watchOS 26. Now, Wrist Flick is also available, allowing you to – well – flick your wrist dismiss notifications/calls, silence alerts and return to the watchface

I still think that Gesture control holds great promise, but, admittedly, Apple hasn’t been rolling it out as quickly as I'd hoped. Both Double Tap and Wrist Flick are only available with a handful of Apple Watch apps, and unless you’re in very specific situations, it’s unlikely you’ll remember to use them. At least, that’s what happens to me most of the time.

I wish Apple championed accessibility by extending gesture control and introducing new features and apps that work with it. Great, now I can dismiss a timer by flicking my wrist or double-tapping my fingers – so what?

Why can’t we have more features connected to these? How about other options, maybe shaking the watch, or circling your wrist? Gesture control has almost endless potential, but unless it’s acted on by the company, it’ll stay just that.

Battery life and charging

One of the most significant Series 11 upgrades over previous Apple Watch iterations is battery life. After 11 years (!), Apple decided to extend the ‘all day’ 18-hour battery life to 24 whole hours. Better still, in my experience, the watch can last nearly two days if you turn off features such as blood oxygen monitoring and the always-on display.

To paraphrase Neil Armstrong, the Series 11’s extended battery life is a huge leap for the Apple Watch, but only a tiny step for smartwatches. Many (most) AMOLED smartwatches have week-long battery life these days, not to mention some Garmin watches, including the microLED Fenix 8 Pro, that can go for weeks without needing a charge.

Luckily, fast charging is still available, providing up to 8 hours of battery life with just 15 minutes on the puck. Charging is fast, in general, which is even better. However, it would be much better if I didn’t have to charge the watch more than once or twice a week.

At this point, Apple’s battery life feels increasingly out of step with the rest of the smartwatch market. Brands started to overtake Apple with their smartwatches, offering deeper health features, better fitness functionality, and even more premium builds.

Verdict

The Apple Watch Series 11 is a reminder of how polished Apple’s smartwatch has become, and how cautious its evolution now feels. The changes over the Series 10 are real but modest, making this a sensible upgrade for owners of much older models rather than anyone already on recent hardware.

Battery life improvements and watchOS 26 refinements keep the Series 11 competitive, but rivals are pushing ahead in areas Apple once dominated. The foundations are all here for something bolder. For now, the Series 11 feels less like a leap forward and more like Apple catching its breath.

There was a time not so long ago when it was nearly impossible to find a deal on Apple products. Now and again, there was a 5 per cent discount on a MacBook, or a 7 per cent 'special offer' on an Apple Watch. Now, it seems the brand is trying a new pricing model, one that almost permanently slashes the prices of its products.

Shop today's Apple deals on Amazon

For example, the Apple Watch Series 11, launched a mere six months ago, has been selling for $299 on Amazon since early December. The retailer occasionally bumps the price back up to $380- $390, but according to price-tracking sites, $299 seems to be the new normal.

Needless to say, Apple sells the smartwatch for full price on its website, but the fact that it doesn't seem to care that the world's largest online marketplace constantly and significantly undercuts it says a lot about how the Cupertino-based company's approach changed in recent times.

The reason for this change of heart could be that interest in the Apple Watch has waned in recent years. The Apple Watch Series 10, which people expected to reset the wearable for years to come, only introduced minor physical changes and little to no new exclusive software.

Re-positioning the wearable as a more affordable product helps shift Apple's stock and, more importantly, make it easier for people to upgrade. After all, the more keenly-priced Apple AirPods Pro 3 seem to be flying off the shelves, according to none other than Apple CEO Tim Cook himself.

Funnily enough, the AirPods Pro 3 is also in a similar situation as the Apple Watch Series 11, often selling for $199 instead of its $249 MSRP. It's currently down to $229 on Amazon, which certainly isn't the cheapest the noise-cancelling headphones have ever been, but it's still a $20 discount.

It would shock the world if the upcoming Apple Watch Series 12 launched at a lower price, but maybe that's not the point. Getting a good discount is part of the game, and the thought of saving $100 on a new Apple Watch makes the deal all the sweeter.

Amazfit may be preparing its most disruptive rugged outdoor smartwatch yet, with new leaks pointing to a MicroLED-equipped successor to the T-Rex Ultra.

According to recent reports, the device, widely referred to as the T-Rex Ultra 2 in early leaks, could adopt MicroLED display technology, a panel type still considered rarefied even at the very top end of the smartwatch market.

Until now, the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro MicroLED has stood alone in that space, though the company has arguably put just as much emphasis on its satellite messaging capabilities as on the display breakthrough itself.

If Amazfit brings MicroLED to a more affordable, rugged platform, the competitive pressure would be immediate.

Garmin watches have built their reputation on being first to introduce features, from solar charging to advanced training metrics and off-grid safety tools, with rivals often following later at lower price points.

Amazfit has long played that second role, rarely leading on innovation but consistently undercutting Garmin on price while delivering solid, dependable hardware and software.

The MicroLED timing problem

The rumoured T-Rex Ultra refresh also lands at an uncomfortable moment for Apple.

MicroLED has been widely tipped as the next major display leap for the Apple Watch Ultra line, yet reports suggest those plans have been delayed indefinitely.

With Apple effectively sidelined in the MicroLED smartwatch race for now, any credible alternative risks reframing MicroLED as something less exclusive (and less premium) than Apple may have intended.

MicroLED promises higher brightness, better efficiency, and longer lifespan than OLED, making it especially appealing for outdoor-focused watches designed for harsh conditions and extended battery life.

Garmin’s Fenix 8 Pro MicroLED already leans heavily into that narrative, pairing the display with satellite messaging to reinforce its expedition-ready credentials.

The leaks don't detail equivalent satellite infrastructure for Amazfit's upcoming wearable, but it doesn't necessarily need it to disrupt the category.

What Amazfit does have is a track record of offering rugged, feature-rich watches at prices that make Garmin look aspirational rather than accessible.

If the T-Rex Ultra 3 delivers MicroLED without a flagship-level price tag, the competitive conversation shifts from “who has it first” to “who makes it attainable.”

Nothing has been officially confirmed by Amazfit yet, and the company has not commented on the leaks.

However, if the rumours hold, this would be one of the clearest signs yet that MicroLED is moving out of its early-adopter phase.

[via Notebookcheck]

Komoot has launched a new app that brings offline, phone-free navigation to Apple's wearable, allowing users to follow routes, view maps and record activities without carrying their iPhone.

According to Komoot, the updated app enables full turn-by-turn navigation directly on the Apple Watch, with maps stored locally on the device.

Once routes are synced and downloaded, users can navigate entirely offline, making the update particularly useful for hiking, running and cycling in areas with limited mobile signal, including remote trails and mountainous terrain.

Komoot's offline maps provide a direct (albeit third-party) competition to Garmin watches, many of which support offline maps and navigation.

The new app is said to support high-resolution, sport-specific maps that can be panned and zoomed on the watch face, along with live metrics such as distance, pace, speed and elevation.

Activities recorded on the wearable sync automatically with the Komoot account once the user is back online, and the app integrates with Apple Health.

Komoot also notes support for Apple’s Water Lock feature, allowing navigation to continue in wet conditions or during river crossings.

Offline navigation on Apple Watch does not require a Komoot Premium subscription, but users must have the relevant map regions unlocked, either individually or via Komoot’s World Pack, which grants worldwide offline map access.

The route gets busier

The update arrives as navigation on the Apple Watch becomes an increasingly competitive space.

The smartwatch just received a software update to support the new AirTag, and Apple has also just launched a new Black Unity Apple Watch band to mark Black History Month.

Strava has also recently started rolling out its own Apple Watch navigation features, adding on-watch maps and route guidance for some users as part of a gradual, beta-style release.

While Strava’s update focuses on bringing long-requested mapping tools to its existing fitness platform, Komoot’s approach centres on fully offline, phone-free navigation designed specifically for outdoor adventures.

Komoot says the redesigned Apple Watch app is the result of extensive user research, including more than 100 interviews with athletes and outdoor enthusiasts, with a focus on reducing reliance on smartphones during activities.

The new Komoot Apple Watch app is now available on the App Store.

[via GadgetsandWearables]

Apple has released watchOS 26.2.1, a new software update for the Apple Watch that adds support for the company’s latest AirTag and introduces Precision Finding on the watch itself.

The update is positioned as a minor release, focusing on bug fixes and performance improvements, but it also enables the company's smartwatch users to locate AirTags directly from their wrist.

With watchOS 26.2.1 installed, compatible Apple Watch models can guide users to a nearby AirTag using directional prompts, distance information and haptic feedback, removing the need to rely solely on an iPhone for Precision Finding.

watchOS 26.2.1 requires an iPhone running iOS 26.2.1 or later and can be downloaded via the Apple Watch app on iPhone or directly on the watch, provided it is on charge and has sufficient battery.

Extending the signal

The software update arrives alongside the launch of a new generation of AirTags, which Apple says offer improved range and findability.

The updated AirTag uses a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, extending the effective range of Precision Finding by around 50 per cent compared with the original model, according to the company.

Apple has also increased the volume of the built-in speaker, making it easier to hear when locating items at close range.

The brand says the new AirTag retains the same physical design as before and remains compatible with existing accessories, such as key rings and luggage straps.

It continues to use the Find My network and Apple’s privacy protections, which are designed to prevent unwanted tracking.

Alongside the watchOS update and the new AirTag, Apple has also unveiled a new Black Unity Apple Watch band to mark Black History Month.

The braided solo loop design incorporates red, green and black threads inspired by the Pan-African flag and is available in multiple sizes, continuing Apple’s annual Unity collection tradition.

Precision Finding support for the new AirTag introduced with watchOS 26.2.1 is available on Apple Watch Series 9 and later, including Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later.

The first time it happened, I assumed it was a one-off. I stepped out into the winter cold, something we know all too well in England, tapped Start on my run, and my smartwatch immediately lost the plot.

My apparent heart rate spiked when I was barely moving, then flatlined, then snapped back to something believable.

GPS wasn’t much better; my pace seemingly lurched up and down, and the route map looked like I’d been zig-zagging.

After a few repeats, it clicked: it wasn’t my fitness or some strange health issue, but the icy conditions.

Cold weather can trip up wrist-based heart rate sensors, and it can make GPS tracking feel less consistent if you rush the start.

The good news? I fixed it with a handful of simple changes and now get accurate readings no matter when I choose to run, walk, or jog.

Why cold smartwatches struggle

Once I stopped questioning my fitness, the pattern made sense. Wrist-based heart rate tracking is optical, relying on getting a clean read of blood flow close to your skin.

In the cold, your body naturally prioritises keeping your core warm, which can reduce circulation in your extremities and make that optical signal noisier and easier to misread.

That’s when you see weird spikes, drop-outs, or a watch “locking on” to something else rhythmic, like your cadence. In simple terms, it's not you, it's the smartwatch.

GPS can feel similarly flaky if you rush the start. Should you begin moving before the watch has a solid satellite lock (something that's very easy to do when you just want to get going), early pacing and the track line can wobble while it catches up.

And, on top of that, manufacturers explicitly note wearable devices have recommended operating temperature ranges, which is worth bearing in mind for proper winter sessions.

Fix 1: Warm the sensor before starting

The biggest change I made was also the easiest. I stopped asking the watch to do its most delicate sensing while my wrists were cold.

If I stepped straight into the cold and immediately started an activity, that was when I’d get the most chaotic heart rate readings. Now, I give myself a few minutes to warm up before I even think about tracking anything.

In practice, that means I’ll walk briskly for five minutes or simply keep my watch tucked under my sleeve until I’m ready to move.

Once my skin’s warmed up a bit, blood flow is more consistent, and the sensor has an easier job, while the heart rate line stops doing that annoying spike-and-drop routine.

Fix 2: Wear your watch properly

The second fix was realising I’d been wearing my watch the “everyday” way, even when the conditions weren’t everyday.

In summer, a slightly looser strap and a lower wrist position can still give you decent results. In the cold, that same setup is basically inviting light leak, movement, and patchy contact.

Now, when it’s cold, I wear the watch a touch higher up my arm, away from the wrist bone, and I tighten the strap so it’s snug without feeling restrictive.

The goal is to have consistent contact. If the sensor is bouncing, twisting, or letting light in, you’re more likely to see those random spikes or drop-outs.

The other winter tweak is layering. If I’m wearing long sleeves, I’ll keep the watch under my cuff so it sits in a warmer pocket of air, rather than exposed to the wind, which might sound obvious but makes a big difference.

Fix 3: Switch to an external heart rate sensor

If the warm-up tweaks help but you still see dodgy readings in the cold, the next step is to stop asking your watch to do everything from your wrist.

For training days where accuracy matters, you can pair your watch with an external heart rate monitor.

A chest strap like the Garmin HRM-Pro is still the most dependable option, because it isn’t trying to interpret blood-flow changes at the surface of your skin, so it’s far less affected by icy hands or the watch moving around.

If you hate the idea of a chest strap, there’s a solid middle ground: an armband-style sensor like the Polar Verity Sense worn higher up the arm.

Fix 4: GPS reliability tweaks that actually help

The quickest GPS win is simply giving your smartwatch a moment to do its thing before you move. Most sports watches will show some kind of GPS indicator – wait until that’s settled, then hit Start.

Additionally, if your watch offers a more advanced GPS mode – usually labelled something like dual-frequency or multi-band – it’s designed to improve consistency in tougher environments, like in tunnels and around cities.

The trade-off is battery life, so you don’t need it for every walk, but it’s worth switching on for sessions where you care about pace accuracy, or you know your route is a bit of a GPS nightmare. Two other quick checks: avoid aggressive power-saving modes during tracked workouts, and try to start in an open area if you can.

Anything else I need to know?

In cold weather, smartwatches aren’t suddenly “bad”: they’re just dealing with weaker signals, more layers, and more chances for the watch to shift around.

A few small habits help. Treat the first minute of any workout as a settling-in period, rather than an instant performance test, and keep the watch in a warmer spot on your arm.

The other mindset shift is knowing what you’re trying to achieve: for easy runs and general fitness, “close enough” is often fine.

Apple’s been banging on about health for years now, with Tim Cook repeatedly hinting it’ll be one of the company’s biggest long-term contributions.

And if the latest report is anything to go by, the firm's Health app is about to get its biggest shake-up in a while.

According to Macworld, Apple is planning a redesigned Health app as part of iOS 26.4, due later this year.

Design shake-up

The update is rumoured to bring multiple “major upgrades”, including a new layout for categories and simplified metric logging, which sounds like Apple finally admitting the Health app is powerful, but also a bit of a mess if you actually want to use it properly.

If the leaks are true, the biggest change will be a simplified app design, with a refreshed layout that makes categories easier to navigate and logging less fiddly. We don’t know exactly what it’ll look like yet, but the direction makes sense.

The Health app has become the hub for everything from sleep and steps to medication reminders, cycle tracking and more in recent years, but it’s starting to feel like it needs a bit of a clean-up.

Bigger ambitions

What Apple might bolt onto the refreshed interface sounds like the more interesting potential news here.

Bloomberg has previously reported Apple is working on proper food tracking, which would be a big move considering the company has mostly tiptoed around calories and meal logging so far. If it lands, it would throw Apple into the same ring as apps like MyFitnessPal and Noom, only with the advantage of being built into iPhone from day one.

There’s also talk of a new library of health-focused videos, essentially a doctor-led sibling to Fitness+. The idea, if true, is that the Health app could serve up relevant guidance from experts like sleep specialists, nutritionists or cardiologists if your data starts trending badly.

The reports also suggest Apple is working on an AI health agent that can pull from your Health data and give personalised recommendations, plus potentially offer form tips using your iPhone camera during workouts.

If even half of these rumoured features make it into iOS 26.4, it could be one of the most meaningful Health app updates in a long time, once it reaches us.

If things stay on schedule, iOS 26.4 could hit beta as soon as next month, with a public release tipped for sometime in spring. But who's counting?

Every year there’s a fresh rumour that the next Apple Watch is finally going to track blood sugar levels without needles - and with every launch, that promise fades, leaving us with the same old “maybe next time” mantra.

But this time there’s at least something tangible to point at.

A new device called Isaac has just entered human clinical trials, and it seems to be tackling the non-invasive glucose problem in a way that actually makes sense - through breath.

Instead of trying to shoot lasers through your skin, it measures volatile compounds (including acetone) in your breath in the same way Lumen does, looking at how those correlate to rising blood glucose levels.

A recent report by Wired says the gadget is currently being tested at Indiana University, starting with adolescents with type 1 diabetes and then expanding to adults with type 2, with the goal of heading towards an FDA review.

Why does glucose tracking matter?

The big deal with glucose tracking isn't just about checking your blood sugar levels - it's how it offers early warning signs for diseases, especially diabetes.

Diabetes affects a massive chunk of the population, and loads of people don’t know they have it until symptoms get serious.

The problem is that the most accurate monitoring tools are still quite invasive, which means most people won’t use them unless they’re already diagnosed or considered high-risk.

That’s why non-invasive monitoring is so important. If you can make a quick, painless check easy enough for normal people to do regularly, there's a good chance you'll spot the risk earlier - and that’s where the real value is.

Could Apple actually use it?

Right now, Isaac comes in the form of a pendant, not a watch feature. Users have to actively test by holding it up and breathing into it, so it’s not constant background tracking like heart rate. And it’s still basically Apple Watch-sized on its own, so there's obviously a big challenge here around size and making this kind of tech smaller.

But if breath-based glucose estimation proves accurate enough to pass clinical validation and regulation, it gives the industry a clearer pathway. And once something works reliably, shrinking it down and refining the user experience is usually the next battle.

So no, your Apple Watch isn’t about to replace a continuous glucose monitoring device tomorrow. But this is the kind of real-world progress that makes the idea feel a lot less like a rumour - and a lot more like an eventual feature Apple’s looking to do properly not too far in the distant future.

I write a lot about consumer tech, especially wearables, drones and action cameras, among other things. And in 2025, I wrote a lot due to major releases from brands including, but not limited to, DJI, Insta360, Garmin, Apple, Samsung, Google, GoPro, and more.

Looking back on the year that brought us 10+ new Garmin watches, it's easy to assume there were loads of gadgets that excited tech lovers like me. Interestingly, that's not the case. As always, less is often more, which is why having a large number of new releases doesn't guarantee that you'll have a ton of exciting new products coming out.

That said, and even in the world of iterative design, there were a few standout models that really blew me away, from the world's first 360º drone and an action camera attachment that prints out your photos instantly to smartwatches that track your antioxidant levels and more.

I'm sure there were loads more interesting products that came out in 2025, but I'll focus on the ones I reported on and/or tested. Some of them are pure tech, while others have an interesting tech aspect. Here's to a 2026 with even more innovation and surprises!

Antigravity A1 Drone

Insta360-incubated brand Antigravity has been building up hype around the world's first 360º drone for months, and I've been lucky enough to try the innovative flying tripod months before it was announced to the public.

Even though I don't think every element of the drone lives up to the hype (including the little display on the headset that allows others to see what you're looking at), the A1 is an exciting new concept in an area that's highly iterative in its design.

DJI is already on Antigravity's heels with its rumoured Avata 360 drone, just like how the Chinese giant went after Zero Robotics' HoverAir selfie drone with the Neo and the Flip. For now, though, Antigravity A1 should enjoy the spotlight – it's well deserved.

From $1,599 | Antigravity

Nike Project Amplify

Nike was on a mission in 2025 to prove there was still innovation within the company. The Oregon-based brand not only revamped its running shoe line and launched a new sub-brand focused on groundbreaking new gear, but it also announced a ton of new projects that might shake up the running industry.

One of these is Project Amplify, which Nike claims is the world’s first powered footwear system for running and walking. It's a motor-assisted shoe that uses a lightweight drive belt and a rechargeable cuff battery to give wearers a subtle boost.

The company says the system can make hills feel flat and shave minutes off slower paces without feeling mechanical. Exoskeletons are having a moment, and Project Amplify shows there is a lot of innovation left to explore in the area.

£TBC | Nike

Garmin Fenix 8 Pro MicroLED

Garmin had the busiest of years, which meant I spent the majority of 2025 testing the brand's running watches and triathlon wearables. One Garmin watch that stood out was the Fenix 8 Pro, the world's first MicroLED smartwatch and the crown jewel of the company's strong wearable portfolio.

Many brands, including Apple, were rumoured to be working on the technology, but Garmin broke through first, showcasing even stronger dominance over the smartwatch market than before. And it was quite a dominating force to begin with.

The Fenix 8 Pro isn't a mass-market watch – just look at the price tag – but it's an important milestone for not just Garmin, but the wearable industry as a whole. I look forward to seeing the tech in future Garmin watches! Not to mention where other brands might take it.

£1,729.99 | Garmin UK

Insta360 Pocket Printer

Insta360 never shied away from innovation, but 2025 really solidified the brand as a force to be reckoned with. It brought out two new 360-degree action cameras, the flagship X5 and the more affordable X4 Air, but it's what the Chinese brand did with one of its existing action cams that impressed me the most.

The Pocket Printer turns the already excellent Insta360 Ace Pro 2 into a bona-fide Polaroid with all the trimmings of a modern digital camera. It's a fascinating reframing of compact rugged cameras, and shows that the company is still thinking outside the box.

Insta360 always had a strong accessory game, and it got even more robust in 2025. It's also nice to see that a tech brand doesn't just forget an 'older' product as soon as it's out of the door. Wish more companies would follow suit.

£99 | Insta360 UK

Lumia 2 Smart Earring

Smart rings had a bit of a slow year due to limited market saturation and other smart products nipping at their heels (see also my Oakley Meta Vanguard review). That said, companies are already hunting for the next everyday object that hasn’t been “smartified” yet.

The Lumia 2 Smart Earring is one of these. It weighs less than a gram, yet it can monitor vital health stats, such as sleep, temperature, menstrual cycle, and readiness, and with greater accuracy and continuity than even smart rings, the company claims.

I've yet to try one, so I take all this with a pinch of salt, but even I must admit that a heart rate-tracking earring sounds enticing and opens up a whole new avenue of possibilities. What's next? Smart necklaces? Smart headbands? I'm here, waiting.

TBC | Lumia Health

Peloton IQ

Peloton launched a heap load of new hardware in the second half of 2026, which, to be fair, is very similar to its previous lot of treadmills and exercise bikes, but with bigger screens and – you guessed it – and more AI.

Now, I'm just as sceptical about AI as everyone else, but I saw Peloton IQ in action, and it looks pretty impressive. The system 'sees' you and can recommend changes to your workout in real time, provide feedback, and take commands.

It's a clever setup that might not sell the new Peloton Cross Training Bike+ on its own, but certainly adds to its appeal. I wish the company sold the camera on its own – bring back Peloton Guide, I say!

£2,299 | Peloton (Cross Training Bike+)

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic

Samsung's wearables have always been synonymous with health tracking, and the brand really took it to the next level in 2025. The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic can track everything its predecessors could and adds a few extra tricks, making it an even more indispensable tool than before.

The Antioxidant Index was one of the most obscure features added to any of the smartwatches, and I found it quite engaging to use. If you measure a feature's success by how much it changes your daily habits, the Antioxidant Index was a massive success for me, as it made me eat a lot more vegetables than usual to improve my score.

Gamification has always been a big appeal of smartwatches, and I'm glad there are still new things under the sun when it comes to health and fitness features.

£499 | Samsung UK

Two years ago, “AI” was positioned as the next great leap for wearables. Smarter coaching. Conversational assistants on your wrist. Personalised health insights that felt closer to a doctor than a dashboard. Fast-forward to 2025, and the picture looks a lot more complicated.

AI is everywhere in smartwatches and smart rings, but not always where brands said it would be, or in ways users actually asked for. Some implementations have quietly improved how we understand our health. Others have sparked backlash, confusion, or a sense that “AI” became a business model before it became a benefit.

So, two years on, has AI in wearables proven itself useful, or are we still waiting for the point where it genuinely earns its place?

The promise vs the reality

The original pitch was simple. Wearables already collect vast amounts of data, so – we were told – AI would be the missing layer that finally makes sense of it all. Instead of charts and scores, we’d get explanations, predictions, and guidance tailored to our bodies and habits.

What actually emerged was a split. On one side, AI as presentation, with summaries, explanations, coaching prompts, and chat-style interfaces that sit on top of existing data.

On the other hand, AI as physiology with new derived metrics and models that deepen what wearables can tell us about stress, recovery, and long-term health.

The brands that leaned too hard into the first camp have struggled to convince users. The ones focused on the second have made the strongest case for AI actually belonging in wearables.

Garmin: AI as a pricing strategy

Garmin’s biggest AI moment didn’t arrive as a breakthrough feature, but as a controversy. The launch of Connect+, a paid tier that bundled advanced insights and AI-style summaries, immediately ran into resistance from a user base that had long trusted the company for its no-nonsense, no-subscription positioning.

The features themselves weren’t inherently bad. The problem was perception. AI felt like something that had been put behind a paywall simply because it could be, not framed as a leap forward in understanding your training or health.

In that sense, Garmin tested how much goodwill it had built up over the years. The backlash suggests that, for core users, AI needs to feel additive and essential, not optional and monetised.

Apple: AI lives on the iPhone, not the Watch

Apple’s approach has been more restrained and arguably more honest. Apple Intelligence never truly arrived on the Apple Watch. Instead, the Watch became a surface for AI-powered experiences driven by the iPhone.

Features like smarter notifications, contextual messaging help, and more recently, Workout Buddy-style coaching lean on Apple Intelligence in the background. The Watch delivers the moment, but not the intelligence itself.

That explains why Apple’s AI efforts feel less dramatic on the wrist than on the phone. The Watch is an interface, deliberately limited, not an AI computer.

That restraint has kept expectations in check, but it’s also left the Watch feeling like a secondary beneficiary of Apple’s AI strategy rather than a platform where AI is being fully explored.

Samsung: health modelling beats chatbot energy

Samsung entered this phase with a head start. Its health features were already deeper than most, and recent additions, like vascular load, which estimates cardiovascular strain during sleep, reinforce that strength.

What’s notable is that Samsung’s most compelling “AI” features don’t look like AI at all. They’re advanced physiological models, built quietly into Samsung Health, without a big language-model-shaped spotlight.

Yes, Samsung has talked up Gemini and voice-based experiences on the Watch, but they feel like add-ons. The real progress is happening where AI helps reinterpret sensor data into something more meaningful for long-term health.

Google and Fitbit: AI as coaching, not hardware

If you’re looking for AI in the Pixel Watch, you won’t find a dramatic “assistant on your wrist” story. Instead, Google’s AI influence shows up through the Fitbit app via personalised run recommendations, adaptive coaching, and increasingly conversational health guidance inside the app.

Fitbit’s lack of new hardware over the past couple of years has made the brand feel quieter, but the signals point to software doing the heavy lifting. AI becomes a way to justify Premium, deepen engagement, and turn historical data into forward-looking guidance.

Oura: the strongest argument for AI done right

If there’s one category where AI feels genuinely at home, it’s smart rings, and Oura has been the clearest example.

The ring itself does very little beyond sensing. Well, that may be an oversimplification, but the ring itself is just that: a sensor array and a battery in a circular shell.

All the intelligence lives in the app. Features like Oura Advisor don’t try to replace doctors or coaches; they explain trends, connect dots between sleep, stress, and activity, and help users understand why something changed.

This is AI as interpreter, not oracle, and it works because it respects the limits of both the hardware and the user’s attention. It also hints at where wearables may be headed more broadly.

Where AI in wearables is actually going in 2026

Speaking of the future, the signs are clearer than the hype ever was. Instead of becoming the headline feature of wearables, AI is becoming invisible infrastructure.

In 2026, expect less talk of assistants and more focus on prediction. Instead of telling you what happened, wearables will increasingly tell you what’s likely to happen next: fatigue accumulation, injury risk, sleep debt, cardiovascular strain trends.

We’ll also see AI lean more toward coaching than conversation, which is something I begged companies to do since they started floating the idea AI as a feature. Adaptive plans, subtle nudges, and better-timed recommendations will matter far more than chat interfaces on tiny screens.

Crucially, more intelligence will shift on-device, not to run large language models, but to enable faster pattern recognition, better privacy, and real-time feedback without a constant cloud connection. At least, that's what I hope.

And form factors will diversify. Earbuds with built-in cameras, smart earrings, and AI-powered glasses are better suited to ambient, context-aware AI than smartwatches ever were. The wrist may remain the hub, but not the whole story.

So, useful or not?

Two years in, AI in wearables hasn’t transformed the category, but it has certainly improved it. When AI tries to be the product, it struggles. However, when it acts as the translator between raw data and real-world decisions, it earns its place.

The biggest shift at the end of 2025 is that AI became the user manual for the data they’ve been collecting all along. And in 2026, that – not hype – is likely what finally makes it indispensable.

It's been a minute, but WhatsApp has finally introduced a dedicated Apple Watch app – and it brings a whole host of features to your wrist.

Available on the Apple Watch Series 4 and up (as long as you're running watchOS 10 or greater), the new app gives you the ability to receive and respond to chats directly on your device – without needing to pull out your iPhone.

Looking familiar, the WhatsApp functionality you can now tap into includes call notifications – so you can see who's calling on your Watch.

There's also the ability to read WhatsApp messages in full, including extra long posts as you can scroll through them.

Voice messaging is possible too. You can record and send a voice message from your wrist, rather than having to use the mobile WhatsApp app. And when you receive a message, you can reply to it using quick emoji reactions. That way you can send an easy answer to a question, or let friends and family know your initial response before a full reply later.

Images and stickers will appear in chats, when attached by someone in your group. And you can even see a decent slice of your chat history on the Apple Watch screen, not just the most recent messages.

WhatsApp plans to add extra features over time.

How to install WhatsApp on your Apple Watch

As with all Apple Watch apps and extensions, you will need the full WhatsApp installed and on your iPhone first, before you can add it to your Watch.

If it is, double check whether there is an update available for the iOS version and download it if not done automatically. Head to the App Store on your iPhone, tap on your profile image in the top-right of the screen to go to your Account settings, and pull the screen down to refresh the app update queue..

Scroll down and see if the WhatsApp app is listed. If so, either tap "Update" next to it, or "Update All" at the top of the app list.

Now head to the Watch app on your iPhone. Scroll down to find the WhatsApp app and tap on "Install" if it isn't installed already. It should then install onto your Apple Watch.

I’ve worn an Apple Watch on and off for years, and every time a new one lands I’m tempted. It’s shiny, feels super premium and the apps are always so polished. It just works.

But after the honeymoon period, I always hit the same wall - it slows down, it tells me lots yet rarely guides me and the battery life that means I have to charge it every night gets pretty annoying.

That’s why, this time 'round, I'm leaning more towards Garmin’s new Venu 4. Based on the launch info, Garmin looks the better shout right now - here are just a few reasons why.

More in-depth health tracking

Dedicated health tracking is the star feature that's swaying me towards the new Venu 4 over the Series 11 Apple Watch. Garmin, generally, does a better job of explaining why I’m seeing the stats I am. But with the brand's fresh Lifestyle Logging feature - which lets you tag the little things like late caffeine, a glass of wine, a mid-afternoon nap, for example - you'll actually be able to see those choices reflected in Health Status trends.

Whether it's HRV dips, skin temperature blips, a wobble in resting heart rate, the Venu 4 will join the dots rather than just throwing a graph at you. Meanwhile, Apple’s new sleep score sounds great an all, but a single number without context, I think, wouldn't offer me much in the long term.

The Venu 4 goes further with sleep alignment and circadian insights, which is a fancy way of saying it helps edge your bedtime in the right direction, so mornings feel less tragic.

Small touches that add up

Little touches make a big difference, and there are a bunch of these nifty additions in the Venu 4 that are getting me more excited than Apple's Watch Series 11 is.

For starters, the Venu 4 has a proper LED flashlight (with a red mode), which sounds a bit 'meh' until you’re fumbling for keys or jogging in the dark. And, for me, it sounds massively more useful than blasting a white screen.

There’s also a speaker and mic for quick calls, voice notes and assistant prompts, plus accessibility additions like a spoken watch face and colour filters. None of this is headline-grabbing stuff on its own, but together, the Venu 4 sounds like a watch I'd like to wear (and show off).

A battery that lasts days not hours

One of the biggest reasons why I’d pick a Venu 4 over the new Apple Watch, though? That's an easy one: battery life.

Garmin quotes up to 12 days in smartwatch mode. Even assuming that drops with the always-on display and heavier use, you’re still looking at days rather than hours if Garmin’s numbers hold. That means proper overnight sleep tracking without the 10pm re-juice, and fewer compromises generally once you see that battery dwindling. Apple Watch 11, for its part, still lists “up to 24 hours” of normal use, which is doable, but it keeps you tethered to the charger more often.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think the Apple Watch Series 11 is bad - it’s brilliant at looking the part and it's genuinely enjoyable to use day to day. But if your priority is getting fitter, sleeping better and understanding your body, the Venu 4 sounds more like the kind of “smart” I would actually stick with.

Despite being one of the biggest health risks going, hypertension creeps up quietly, putting a strain on your heart and arteries overtime while largely going unnoticed. Most people only find out they have it during a GP visit - or not at all - until it causes trouble.

According to the World Health Organisation, the condition is "a major cause of premature death worldwide". And while it's estimated that over 1.28 billion adults aged 30–79 years have the condition, almost half (46%) of those are completely unaware.

That’s why I think Apple switching on Hypertension Notifications in watchOS 26 is a much bigger deal than any of the other new features unveiled in its big launch keynote last week.

Presented as one of the key additions of the all-new Series 11 and Ultra 3 Apple Watches (which launch on 19 September), the groundbreaking feature is also rolling out to existing users of the Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 smartwatches. This comes in the form of the watchOS 26 update, which hit existing devices on 15 September.

What are Hypertension Notifications exactly?

Rolled out with watchOS 26 when it landed on Monday - after being cleared by the FDA in the US - Apple’s new hypertension feature runs in the background on compatible Watch models and looks for consistent signs of chronic high blood pressure over time.

It uses the optical heart sensor and Apple’s new algorithm to analyse how your blood vessels respond to each heartbeat, reviewing data across 30-day periods. If the pattern looks like hypertension, you’ll get a notification nudging you to follow up.

It’s currently live in over 150 regions (pending local approvals), with Apple saying it’s been scientifically validated, that is, trained on data from more than 100,000 people, then validated in a clinical study of over 2,000 participants.

No silver bullet

While it's a worthwhile feature to have, it's worth noting that Apple's new feature doesn’t replace a proper blood pressure monitoring cuff, and it isn’t a diagnosis. Think of it as more of an early warning that suggests “maybe get this checked properly”.

It’s not intended for under-22s, those already diagnosed with hypertension, or those who are pregnant. And availability can vary by country (it’s not in Canada yet, for example).

So why I am excited about it? Because I think little nudges like this can actually make a difference. If your watch quietly spots something you’d never notice yourself and gives you a prod to book a GP appointment, that could genuinely be life-changing.

How to turn it on

To get your hands on the new blood pressure notification feature, update your iPhone to iOS 26 and Apple Watch to watchOS 26. After updating, look for Hypertension Notifications in the Health app (and/or the Watch app’s Heart settings), follow the prompts, and make sure health permissions are enabled. Be sure to keep your watch snug on the wrist and wear it consistently, as the feature needs weeks of data to be useful.

While it might not be the flashiest feature on the Apple Watch, it gets more people checking and (eventually) treating high blood pressure earlier, and that's why I think it’s one of the most important Apple Watch updates in years.

The watchOS 26 update is available to download now for users of Apple Watch Series 6 or later as well as the SE 2 or later.

Check out Apple’s official page for the full breakdown of what’s new and which devices are supported.

It’s download day for Apple Watch owners. From today, watchOS 26 is officially rolling out worldwide, landing on everything from the trusty Watch SE 2 up to the brand-new Series 11 and Ultra 3.

Apple previewed the smartwatch update back in June and teased it again during last week’s big September launch event. Now, anyone with a compatible watch and iPhone can get their hands on it with a few simple taps.

How to get watchOS 26

Downloading and installing watchOS 26 to your Apple Watch is easy. To get the fresh upgrade, you’ll need to head to the Settings app on your connected iPhone, followed by General, then Software Update, where the update should be waiting.

Opt in to the terms and conditions, and the download should begin. How long this takes depends on your internet connection speed, the server load, and your iPhone's Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection to your Watch. However, Apple says you should expect it to take "anywhere from several minutes to over an hour" to complete the entire process of downloading and installing the update.

watchOS 26: first impressions

The thing you’ll probably notice first after downloading watchOS 26 is Apple’s new design style, Liquid Glass. It overhauls menus, widgets and notifications with a new frosted, layered effect that feels a lot more modern. It’s not a dramatic change, but it does make the Watch interface look less flat and a bit more premium.

Our very own T3 Active Editor, Matt Kollat, said in an earlier watchOS 26 preview, it’s a small change that will probably have a big impact on how the Watch feels day to day. Notifications are easier to read at a glance, and even the humble Photos watch face looks slicker thanks to new font treatments that wrap neatly around your images.

Features you’ll actually use

watchOS 26 isn’t lacking practical upgrades, either. There are plenty of new, useful features you can look forward to using once it's installed. Workout Buddy - Apple’s new AI-powered fitness companion - is one of those. This app will give you encouragement during runs or gym sessions, using your personal stats to keep you motivated. It’s not quite a coach, more like a supportive mate nudging you to stay on track, which is preferable if you ask me!

The Workout app has also been redesigned, giving quicker access to tools like Pacer and Custom Workouts, while a new Wrist Flick gesture makes it easier to silence alarms or dismiss notifications when your hands are full.

Other long-requested features have also landed, for example, the Notes app is now built in, so you can dictate lists or jot reminders on the go, and Smart Replies in Messages are smarter and more context-aware than before. There’s also automatic volume adjustment for calls and alerts depending on your surroundings, so no more blaring alarms in quiet coffee shops or libraries.

The watchOS 26 update is available for users of Apple Watch Series 6 or later as well as the SE 2 or later.

For the full breakdown of what’s new and which devices are supported, check out Apple’s official page.

Apple’s big September launch event earlier this week was dominated by all the usual hardware headlines. Alongside the iPhone 17, you had the Apple Watch Ultra 3 flexing with satellite SOS, and then the Series 11 and AirPods Pro 3 also quietly slid into the line up.

But beneath all those shiny announcements, the thing most people will actually notice in daily life is about to arrive: watchOS 26. Rolling out on September 15, the software update won't be earth-shattering in terms of new features, but it does promise to be crammed with plenty of little tweaks that could make the Apple Watch feel fresher than it has in years.

Here are the features I'm most looking forward to and how they'll make a difference on your wrist.

A refresh you can actually see

The thing most people will notice off the bat when upgrading to watchOS 26 is Liquid Glass - Apple’s new glossy, translucent look that bleeds through the Watch UI. It’s not a total makeover, but it will still make the Watch feel fresher.

The revamp will see Notifications, Smart Stack cards and Control Centre sit in frosted panels, with the Photos face getting a slick Liquid Glass time treatment that bends around your image. It’s subtle on a small screen, but it'll make all the difference. T3 Active editor, Matt Kollat, called it more of a gentle polish than a complete overall after spending 24 hours testing the software the other month, adding that it won't see you relearning your watch - it just looks less flat.

The Smart Stack is getting smarter, too. It'll nudge the right card to the top based on what you’re doing, for example, put music on and the controls will float up automatically, or head out and weather will pop into view. It’s still more reactive than predictive, but it’s likely to be better at staying out of your way and surfacing the right thing at the right moment than before.

A (sort of) coach on your wrist

Arguably, the most headline-grabbing change in the 26th iteration of watchOS is Workout Buddy. Apple’s calling it an AI trainer, but I wouldn't go that far. In reality, it’s probably more like a supportive gym mate who pipes up with encouragement when you’re flagging.

The feature will look at your past stats, your pace, your ring streaks, then nudge you mid-session with spoken prompts. Sounds good on paper, but I'm not so sure how well this will go down IRL - we'll have to wait and see.

The Workout app has had a redesign, too, and is supposed to make it easier to flick between tools like Pacer, Race Route or Custom Workouts without breaking stride. Along with an additional Wrist Flick gesture, which lets you dismiss notifications or silence alarms one-handed, these updates should make the Watch feel less fiddly and more like it’s working with you.

Some long-overdue fixes

Other updates to watchOS are more on the small tweaks-level, but still worthwhile by the sounds of it. Take the arrival of the Notes app, for example, which has been a long time coming in my opinion. Being able to dictate shopping lists or scribble quick thoughts on your wrist, I think, will be far more useful than it sounds, and you’ll wonder why it wasn’t there sooner.

And while watchOS 26 won’t transform your Apple wearable overnight, what it will do is smooth any rough edges, add useful little tricks to make your life that bit easier, and make the Watch interface feel generally more intuitive and less tired. Roll on 15 September!

It wouldn’t be a surprise for an Apple Watch reveal to take place at an iPhone event, and that’s exactly what we’re expecting from the iPhone 17 event coming in September.

While Apple has stuck to the same playbook for a while, with watchOS 26 debuting at WWDC in June and a new mainline watch arriving alongside iPhone, this year could see a revamp for all three Apple Watch models.

All we know about this year’s Apple Watch lineup

Naturally, there’s a new Series 11 expected, and it’ll offer a relatively modest update as far as leaks have suggested.

The new mainline watch will follow on from last year’s Series 1, which increased the display size while slimming down the chassis. Expect that same form factor this year, but with a new SiP (System in Package) to improve performance.

It’s likely to help with the new AI Workout Buddy from watchOS 26, and could help future-proof the Apple Watch as Apple gets serious about AI.

Expect the Apple Watch Ultra 3 to get the new chip, too. Apple’s rugged wearable gets a refresh every couple of years at present. We’re not expecting any fresh colors, but we could be surprised in that regard, and we’re also expecting it to get 5G this time around, alongside satellite connectivity for emergencies.

Will it get a design refresh? It’s hard to say. Apple Watch Ultra 2 looks just like the first version, but we’ve not heard much about a new look for the Ultra 3.

Finally, and not to be forgotten, the Apple Watch SE should get a third iteration. The SE 2 remains a great value proposition, but we’re expecting the new version to get a design upgrade to look a little more modern (although not as modern as the Series 10).

Naturally, there should be a chip upgrade, too, particularly with Apple Intelligence on the horizon.

Any of those models intriguing you ahead of the full reveal? Naturally, we’ll have coverage of the new models as soon as we have fresh information on all three.

I’ve been using Apple Watch models since their debut in 2015, and I now feel a little bit uncomfortable not wearing one.

Still, since 2023 I’ve been wearing an Apple Watch Ultra. I’m not running any ridiculously impressive marathons or completing continent-spanning triathlons, but as someone with a heart condition that’s often more noticeable at night, I needed a watch that I wouldn’t have to charge every 18 hours.

It’s served me well, but after some soul-searching (and staring wistfully at my bank balance before Apple’s next event), I’m ready to send it off into the sunset with my best wishes.

A question of performance

If it’s not clear, I love my Apple Watch Ultra. It’s by far my favorite Apple wearable, and the size and weight never bothered me as I was coming from a Stainless Steel model.

It’s still kicking, too. I have no doubts that I could keep using it for a few years yet, but something is nagging at me: Apple Intelligence.

Apple Watch doesn’t have Apple Intelligence just yet (you could make an argument none of the company’s platforms do to the fullest extent, really), but it feels like it’s just a matter of time.

The evidence is piling up, too. Workout Buddy is one of this year’s headline features in watchOS 26, and it’s tied to Apple Intelligence on the iPhone. Could it run on Apple Watch one day? Don’t bet against it.

Then there’s the S9 SiP processor, which is considerably more powerful than the S8, and is likely to be replaced when the inevitable Ultra 3 comes. After all, the Apple Watch Series 10 already has an S10.

This is all on top of the more general battery drain that happens when a product has been in near-constant use for a couple of years, plus I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t keen on a new black version.

Are you interested in an Apple Watch Ultra 3? Let us know in the comments!

With Apple’s upcoming OS updates, now conveniently with a uniform number slapped on them, I had been particularly keen on checking out the new Apple Intelligence-powered Workout Buddy in watchOS 26.

The thought of a cheerleader of sorts pushing me on whether I’m running, rucking, or just about anything else sounded great. And yet, as I looked at my first-gen Apple Watch Ultra this week, I realized there was something else I was even more excited about: a fresh UI design.

A splash of color?

watchOS, since its inception, has been primarily black. While Apple dresses its wearable operating system up with some undeniably slick animations and plenty of data that’s relatively glanceable, the upcoming watchOS 26 update will inject some much-needed color.

Of course, we’ve been able to customize Apple Watch for years with fresh watch faces, but early signs are that the new Liquid Glass design paradigm will allow for a much more colorful interface.

It’s a small thing, but I genuinely think that it’ll make the Apple Watch feel like a genuinely new device, particularly for someone who’s been using watchOS since the Series 0.

Just look at this image of the Control Center above, which shows more color than just about any other part of watchOS does at present. It begs to be prodded, rather than the stale look we have now.

I get why watchOS is predominantly text and images on black backgrounds, too. The Apple Watch has long struggled for anything more than a day or so of battery life, and having a black screen where the OLED panel doesn’t need to illuminate everything makes a lot of sense.

Will watchOS 26 see older devices struggle to maintain charge as a result? We’ve only got a few days to find out.

Apple is working towards a goal to become completely carbon neutral by 2030, but a German court has suggested the Apple Watch isn’t quite ticking the eco-boxes it’s supposed to, as yet.

During its launch in 2023, Apple reportedly claimed that its Apple Watch 9 was its first product to be "carbon neutral". However, a court in Frankfurt has recently ruled that’s "unfounded" based on the company's definition of the process.

It all comes down to Apple planting trees to offset the carbon emissions of manufacturing the device.

Apple set to appeal the ruling

The regional court in the German city has found that, while Apple has committed to planting eucalyptus trees in Paraguay, three-quarters of the land where they’re being planted is only leased to Apple until 2029. It is concerned that there's no guarantee of the program continuing following that.

The court suggested the lack of a “secure future for the continuation of the forest project" means the carbon neutral claim cannot be substantiated:

"This promise deceives consumers, because it is based on a carbon-indulgence scheme with an ineffective offsetting project," said Juergen Resch, federal managing director for Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH).

Apple naturally disagreed with the claims, stating that its actions complied with EU guidelines on carbon neutrality:

"We strongly disagree with the DUH's position, which runs counter to the EU's and Germany's climate strategy and widespread international scientific consensus that both emissions reductions and carbon removal are necessary to achieve global climate goals," an Apple representative told AppleInsider.

Apple will be able to appeal the decision, so watch this space.

It's fair to say that Apple has caused quite a stir with its Liquid Glass design for iOS 26 and this year's other software updates. And according to the majority of comments we've seen on social networks, it has been received positively,

That's good for one company in particular as it's already marketing an Apple Watch dock that personifies the Liquid Glass design concept. And, like Apple's intentions, it's not just crafted that way to look pretty.

The NightWatch (via Yanko Design) was actually first released in 2021 – long before Apple's new design concept was conceived (or, at least, long before it made it off the drawing board).

It is a clear orb in which you place your Apple Watch Series 10 or another model into, which then magnifies the screen. With your Apple Watch in Nightstand Mode, that gives you a neat-looking, futuristic beside alarm clock effect.

The entire NightWatch dock is made from a single piece of lucite and hand-polished. You can add your Apple Watch wireless charger into the rear section so when you place your's into the dedicated slot it also charges it overnight.

Sound is amplified to, thanks to the design of the base, so alarm functionality works more effectively. And the dock as enables you to wake your Watch with a single tap – presumably through vibration.

The NightWatch is available from numerous retailers, including Amazon in the US and eBay in the UK. Prices can vary – we've seen it for $69.99 in the States and as little as £41.99 in the UK – the latter with 2-3 days free shipping.

When will Liquid Glass be available?

As for Liquid Glass, Apple's new design language will launch with iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26 Tahoe, WatchOS 26, and the other operating system updates later this year.

They'll likely be available from September, shortly before Apple refreshes its best iPhones. We think the iPhone 17 range will arrive around the third week of the month, so you could see the new software a week or so beforehand.

While the recent launch of watchOS 26 may have promised added personalisation features, it may not be the only change coming to the platform. That's because a recently unveiled patent could completely revolutionise personalising your Apple Watch.

That showcases an NFC-aware Apple Watch band. In essence, that would allow the band to communicate with the watch head itself, to do things like change the dial when you swap out the bands.

As reported by MacObserver, the technology draws power from the watch itself, which should ensure it never needs a battery of its own. The design utilises a tiny tag, which snaps into place on a reader.

While there are an almost infinite number of possibilities with that technology, I'm most swayed by the prospect of personalisation. It's entirely feasible that each different strap could then trigger a corresponding watch face to appear, or even unlock faces which aren't available without the strap.

As someone who spends a lot of time testing the best luxury watches on the market, I think this idea is fantastic. The prospect of buying, for example, an Hermès watch strap and attaching it to unlock a specific suite of faces is fantastic to me.

Even a step removed from that – simply being able to marry a face to a particular strap – is a lovely idea. Changing your watch strap from, say, a sports band with a dive watch face to a leather strap with something classier is a really neat idea.

It's not just the personalisation which could be affected, though. The idea could also open the door to other, modular pieces of hardware.

Things like health tracking monitors, or even key fob access could be attached to a particular strap, allowing users to get into the office or a hotel room by simply uploading access data to their compatible watch strap.

There's no word on exactly when – or, indeed, if – this technology will hit the market. Still, it seems to be the way Apple is thinking, and I certainly hope we see something of this ilk soon.

Riding on the crest of the news coming out of Apple’s WWDC right now, comes the rumour of Apple Watch support in an unexpected place – and not just support for Apple Watch.

According to a new report, the forthcoming Vivo X Fold 5 will offer support for the Apple Watch, even though it'll run on Android. It’s said that it will be able to display incoming calls, messages, while the health data will be recorded in the Vivo Health app.

The details come via 91mobiles, while the site goes on to say that there’s an iCloud connection built into the file management system on the Vivo X Fold 5. Currently, Apple Watch doesn’t work with any other Android devices, so this report raises more questions than answers.

However, these details come from Han Boxiao, product manager at Vivo, with extensive details offered across a series of Weibo posts. The first confirms that the Vivo X Fold 5 will be the first Android phone to work with Apple Watch.

He then goes on to detail that the Vivo X Fold 5 is going to sync with iPhone, so you can run both phones without the two ecosystems being disconnected. He says that you’ll be able to accept incoming calls on your iPhone using your Vivo device instead, and vice versa.

Fleshing out the details of the Vivo iCloud connection, we learn that you’ll be able to log into your Apple account so you can directly access photos and files you stored in iCloud, and it also allows for synchronisation back to the service. That means you can access notes from the iPhone, family albums and so on.

Vivo is also adding the ability to use your X Fold 5 as an extension screen for your Mac. You’ll be able to drag windows from your Mac onto your unfolded device to give you more working space. He also mentions that you’ll be able to connect AirPods too, but it’s already possible to connect AirPods as standard Bluetooth headphones to Android devices.

Apple has traditionally been coy about opening up access to its products and services, so this substantial access to Apple’s walled garden raises more questions than it answers.

Han Boxiao goes on to say that the Vivo X Fold 5 conference is going to be worth watching and it certainly sounds like it is.

But the big question is why is Apple going to let Vivo access its services. Is this a change of policy from Apple? Is this the start of closer collaboration between Apple and other manufacturers, or is this all too good to be true?

We're just days away from Apple's WWDC conference, where the company is expected to announce a number of new features for its devices, including iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Apple Vision Pro.

But while we wait to find out what watchOS 12 – or watchOS 26, as it is now expected to be called – will bring to Apple Watch later this year, there's been a surprise addition to the company's smartwatch in the form of Snapchat.

The Apple Watch has had its own App Store independent of iPhone since 2019, but while several developers have pulled support for their dedicated Watch apps in recent years, Snapchat is bucking the trend and investing in the smartwatch instead.

According to 9to5Mac, the Snapchat app for Apple Watch launched on 5 June and is all about offering messaging for its users – of which it has nearly a billion.

What does the Snapchat Apple Watch app offer?

The Snap announcement said: "With the Snapchat app on Apple Watch, you can preview an incoming message and reply using the Keyboard, Scribble, Dictation, or send an emoji.

"Respond to let your friend know you’re 'here' when you’re meeting up at a restaurant. Out for a run? Glance down and send a quick reply without breaking stride."

In the past, you have been able to see incoming Snapchat notifications on Apple Watch of course, with the smartwatch mirroring your paired iPhone, but until the launch of the dedicated app, it wasn't possible to reply from your wrist.

It's still not possible to start a Snapchat conversation from your Apple Watch even with the dedicated app, but at least you can now reply to any notifications from your Snapchat friends when they come in rather than having to get your iPhone out.

You can download the Snapchat app directly from the Apple Watch App Store on your wrist now.

While the unveiling of the Motorola Razr 60 range is likely to be the real headline grabber, it's certainly not the only new goodies from the brand. It also surprised us with a pair of earbuds and a new smartwatch as part of its launch event.

It's the latter which has really caught my eye. The Motorola Watch Fit is a bargain smartwatch with some seriously enviable specs. In fact, as I sat and trawled through the information about the watch, I couldn't believe some of what's on offer.

I've picked out three things in particular which don't even appear on the spec sheet for the much more costly Apple Watch models.

1. Sweeping seconds hand

One of the things I've always missed on traditional smartwatches is a sweeping seconds hand. As someone who tests a lot of the best mechanical watches, a sweeping seconds hand is something which signifies quality to me.

Given that most modern displays make use of high refresh rates, it wouldn't be too tough to implement, yet few seem to do so. Not so for the Moto, it seems, as the webpage shows it clearly. It's a small thing, but something I'd personally really appreciate.

2. Slim case

When the Apple Watch Series 10 was launched, it was lauded for its slim 9.7mm case height. Rightly so, too – even in the world of luxury watches, slipping under the 10mm threshold is mighty impressive.

But the party has been pooped, somewhat, by the introduction of the new Watch Fit. That beats the Apple Watch flagship, coming in at 9.5mm thick. Sure, you probably wouldn't notice it on the wrist, but as a matter of bragging rights, it's a big deal.

3. Battery life

It's likely no surprise to any Apple Watch user that the new model packs in an extended battery life. The current Series 10 model is rated for 18 hours of use, which is pretty low in the wider scope of the market.

Still, seeing a budget smartwatch offer a whopping 16 days of longevity is going to be a kick in the teeth. The Moto Watch manages that by using a proprietary software – no WearOS on offer here – so you will sacrifice some familiarity. But it's likely a worthwhile sacrifice for most people.

Apple launched its version of AI in the form of Apple Intelligence back in June 2024, before releasing it to compatible devices towards the end of last year.

But while the latest iPhone models, MacBooks and iPads running Apple silicon chips, and even Vision Pro have all had a dose of Apple Intelligence, there’s one product missing – the Apple Watch.

That could change with watchOS 12. It is claimed that Apple will reveal that it's the latest to get Apple Intelligence features, most likely during Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) in June this year.

Although we won’t know for sure what those will entail, there have been some speculation on what might appear. And how it will work.

What can we expect from watchOS 12?

One of the biggest upgrades tipped for the Watch is Apple Intelligence. However, it seems that rather than running the AI-powered tools on the smartwatch itself, you will need a compatible iPhone to do much of the leg work.

According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, who generally has a decent track record with Apple leaks, “the company is branding a new set [of] features as 'powered by Apple Intelligence' (even though the device isn’t actually running the AI models directly)”.

Gurman doesn't reveal any specifics on the features coming, and as 9to5Mac adds, the Apple Watch already runs a couple of Apple Intelligence features through iPhone – including Reduce Interruptions Focus and Notification Summaries. Presumably, there will be a few more coming with the new software.

There's plenty of potential for the use of AI in a smartwatch – Samsung uses it for its Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra for the Sleep Score and Energy Score, for example, two features we'd love to see on Apple Watch.

For now though, we will have to wait and see what is confirmed for watchOS 12 and what Apple Intelligence brings to Apple's smartwatch.

IKEA has launched a new version of its Home Smart app, meaning it's now available for download on the Apple Watch. This update provides users with an even more convenient way to control your IKEA smart home ecosystem.

The IKEA Home Smart app allows users to remotely manage smart home products connected to the IKEA DIRIGERA Hub. Previously, the app was only available for iOS and Android smartphones, but with the release of version 1.43.0 last week, Apple Watch users can now access and control their smart devices directly from their wrist.

Version 1.43.0 of the IKEA Home Smart app is currently available for download from the Apple App Store, but it's important to note that your Watch will require watchOS 10.6 or later.

The IKEA Home Smart app listing on the Apple App Store displays that Apple Watch users can navigate through room-based cards directly from the home screen. Each card displays icons representing the connected smart home devices in that space, allowing for seamless control.

Users can also activate Scenes, or manage individual devices, including IKEA's best-selling smart bulb. For example, you can now adjust the brightness and colour of your IKEA smart lights with just a tap on your wrist.

Technology is great but it all needs charging at some point and unfortunately, not everything is charged the same way. You might have a smartwatch that uses a proprietary puck, a smartphone that uses USB-C, and a smart ring that also has its own charging dock.

When you're at home, it's not such a problem as you'll probably have all the charging elements you need set up. But if you're out and about, having to bring more than one cable with you is a pain.

There's nothing you can do about a smart ring at the moment, but if you have an Apple Watch and an iPhone, or even an Apple Watch and any other device that charges via USB-C, then there's a new cable in town that might get you excited.

What's does the new Nomad cable offer?

Nomad – which makes a range of superb accessories for phones, tablets and watches – has launched its Universal Cable for Apple Watch. It has a built-in Watch charging puck along with USB-C connectors, so you can charge your smartwatch, as well as your iPhone (15 or later), AirPods, MacBook or even an Android device.

The single cable is built with double-braided Kevlar reinforcement and electroplated metal connectors, and it has an integrated cable tie made from Liquid Silicone Rubber so doesn't fray or tear in use.

It supports up to 100W charging speeds – you won't get charging speeds that fast with Apple Watch, but there are some Android devices that do support it, so it's a good feature to have.

The Nomad Universal Cable for Apple Watch is 1.5-metres long and it supports USB 2.0 data transfer.

Keep in mind that you will need to buy an adapter separately, and you will need at least a 20W adapter in order to allow for multi-device charging. It is compatible with Apple Watch Series 1-10, SE, Ultra, and Ultra 2, and it will also be able to charge AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods 4 (ANC) on the Apple Watch Charger.

You can buy the Nomad Universal Cable for Apple Watch for £85 / $100 / AU$170 from nomadgoods.com.

It's no secret that the Apple Watch is one of the most popular products in the world. The wrist-mounted health tracking gadget has captured the attention of all kinds of users, making it a mainstay on millions of wrists.

Still, that health and fitness tracking stance does make it a little one-sided. Most users will wear one on a rubber strap, which is great for working out, but not quite so good when you need to dress up.

Fortunately, there's a solution. You might not have heard of Golden Concept before now – but you'll definitely remember them after this. The Swedish fashion company is best known for making accessories to stylise your Apple Watch – and it has just unveiled a stunning alligator leather strap.

For those who aren't into the best watches on the market, alligator leather is one of the most sought after strap materials out there. It's revered for its texture, and can be found on some seriously high end watches – I recall it on the A Lange and Söhne Lange 1, for example.

Golden Concept sources its alligator leather from the wetlands of Mississippi in the USA. They say it's renowned for its symmetrical scale patterns and exceptional durability – and it certainly does look fantastic in the images we've seen.

Still, that's only half the story here. The pin lock system which attaches to the case is also really neatly done, with a small integrated link adorned with the Golden Concept logo. That's very reminiscent of the design from brands like Patek Philippe, and looks seriously classy.

The Golden Concept Alligator Leather watch strap comes in four colours – Black, Brown, Green and Blue – with each available on Titanium, Gold or Black toned hardware. They fit the 45, 46 and 49mm cases, meaning that these can be paired with recent updates like the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and the larger Apple Watch Series 10.

Priced at $399 (approx. £326 / AU$643) this certainly isn't a cheap addition to your smartwatch. Still, it does seriously improve the overall look of the piece, and should make it much easier to wear in dressier environments.

Apple Watch is set for a big year, with the latest rumours pointing towards an entirely new Watch SE in 2025. There should also be refreshes for the firm’s main Watch and Ultra line-ups.

According to well-connected insider Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, the Cupertino, California based firm is readying the next generation of its "affordable" smartwatch that’ll “sport a new look”.

Gurman (via 9to5Mac) doesn’t reveal much else about the new Apple Watch SE 3, but considering his strong track record of garnering early information on launches like this, there’s a very good chance a major refresh for the SE line is in the works.

We’ve only seen two generations of the Watch SE, with the smartwatch originally launching in 2020 alongside the Apple Watch Series 6. The second generation Watch SE 2 then arrived in 2022 with an updated chipset, improved Bluetooth, a pair of new sensors, and a slightly refined body.

Overall, the upgrades over the original Watch SE were relatively minor, which means the significant design changes Gurman is talking about for 2025 could well be the biggest change in the model’s life to date.

We’d expect this to mean slimmer bezels round the display and a more refined body, while Gurman has previously suggested a future SE model could come with a plastic frame rather than metal.

Apple Watch 11 and Ultra 3

Don’t get your hopes up for any major redesign of Apple’s two other Watch lines though, as Gurman also notes the Apple Watch 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 will aesthetically “probably stay roughly the same” versus their predecessors.

There will be plenty new to talk about for both though, with internal changes and upgrades including rumoured high blood pressure detection and an AI coaching service – plus the Watch Ultra 3 is tipped to get satellite connectivity for when you’re adventuring off-grid.

Whatever Apple has in store for us, we’ll likely need to wait until September and the iPhone 17 launch for news on any updates to the entire Watch line, as they tend to be announced in tandem with the next generation smartphone.

If you simply can’t wait until September for the new Apple Watch series, visit our best Apple Watch deals roundup to get the best price on your next Watch.

It might be an unpopular opinion, but I'd wager that the Apple Watch is the brand's most significant contribution to the world of tech. Sure, the iPhone also deserves a shout, but the impact of the Apple Watch is hard to comprehend.

One of my favourite stats about the Apple Watch is that in 2019, it outsold the entire Swiss watch industry combined. That's simply ludicrous, and a testament to the sheer staying power of the device.

Now, though, it looks as though another older Apple Watch is set to face the chopping block. That's because the Apple Watch Series 4 has just been marked as 'vintage' by the Cupertino-based brand.

That should really come as no surprise, though. Apple's vintage list simply includes every product which has been off sale for more than five years. And while that may not sound vintage compared to a bottle of port or a car, in the world of technology, that's a lifetime.

We're now six iterations on from that device, and that has brought some changes. Physically, the Apple Watch Series 10 is slimmer than previous models, having shaved a full millimetre from the case thickness.

That should be quite useful in balancing out the increased case diameter, which has risen from 40 and 44mm options to 42 and 46mm options. Materials have also changed, from Stainless Steel and Aluminium to Aluminium and Titanium variants.

The internal processor is also leaps and bounds ahead, and while the smorgasbord of different sensors may read fairly similarly, they've gone through six years of revisions and upgrades. The end result is not only going to be better right now, it's going to stay updated for a few years to come, too.

So, while the news may be a sad moment for those still using the Apple Watch Series 4, it's certainly no surprise. If you're ready to upgrade to the latest model, check out the best prices listed below.

The Apple Watch has been around for over a decade now – yes really – but it was only in 2020 with watchOS 6 that Apple launched the dedicated Apple Watch App Store.

That doesn't feel like all that long ago really, and while you could get apps on your Apple Watch before the dedicated App Store launched, it wasn't as easy as it is now they had to be downloaded on your iPhone as well as your Apple Watch.

That's no longer the case, and within that dedicated Apple Watch App Store is superb software specifically designed for the smartwatch. One of those us from the developer that brought us Lens, which allows for Instagram on your Apple smartwatch – Butterfly.

What is the Butterfly app for Apple Watch and what does it do?

Spotted by 9to5Mac, Butterfly is for the latest Twitter alternative, Bluesky, putting the social network on your wrist and allowing you to browse your feed, engage and send messages, as well as write posts from the teeny tiny keyboard.

You can download it directly from the Apple Watch App Store so there is no need to have it downloaded on your iPhone too, which makes sense given you will likely use the official Bluesky app on your smartphone.

Butterfly is free to download, after which you will need to log in with your Bluesky account on your Apple Watch, or by using the pop up keyboard that will appear on iPhone when prompted.

When you're signed in, the Bluesky app will then show you your Discover or Following timeline, and you can browse both for free. There's an in-app purchase available too, if you want to message, post, or unlock some other functionality.

However, the free version is pretty good as it is.

Apple is reportedly working on massive upgrades to both the Apple Watch and the Apple Watch Ultra, which could arrive in next year's models.

The headline news is that the Apple Watch Ultra is said to be getting satellite connectivity. That's important for the hardcore Ultra users who use the device for going off-grid. It could enable communications via the Globalstar satellite network when the wearer is far from a wireless router or mobile mast.

As exciting as that is, it's a pretty niche feature. For most of us, the more important upgrade is less spectacular but much more useful – the Apple Watch cellular model is tipped for a 5G upgrade.

What Apple Watch upgrades are coming in 2025?

Bloomberg reports that Apple is moving away from Intel's cellular modems to alternatives made by MediaTek. That's important because it would enable the Apple Watch to connect to 5G Redcap, a version of 5G designed specifically for low-powered devices. Current cellular Apple Watch models only have 4G modems.

Here in the UK, Vodafone, BT (via EE) and Three have been investing in 5G Redcap. The big European networks have been investing in it too, because it's considered to be an important technology for small devices and sensors in the Internet of Things.

The main difference between Redcap and full-fat 5G is that it's made for devices that don't need super-speedy data connections – it's the coverage and connectivity that matters, not the sheer speed.

Blood pressure monitoring is another key upgrade that's reportedly coming in 2025 – although that date is still tentative. The feature has been predicted to arrive in the Apple Watch for a few years now, but it's proved more difficult to deliver than Apple expected thanks to a mix of hardware, software and regulatory issues.

The other long-rumoured Apple Watch sensor, the non-invasive blood glucose tracker, is apparently still in development but there's no indication of a launch date as yet.

Both the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 are expected to launch in late 2025.

It's a big day for Apple users, with the highly-anticipated iOS 18.2 update imminent and bringing several extra Apple Intelligence features like Image Playground with it. We should also get Apple Intelligence in UK English at last, among several other languages.

But, spare a little thought for some of the extra updates that happen in and around the bigger software releases. Uber, for example, has made its Live Activity on Apple Watch significantly better over the last few days.

As spotted by 9to5Mac, Uber has tweaked its Live Activities interface so it now shows more useful information. Live Activities on Apple Watch appear at the top of the Smart Stack, which you get to by scrolling up with the Digital Crown.

They usually mirror what happens on iPhone, and for Uber, that meant simply showing the Uber logo and the ETA, which is what you see in the compact Live Activity view in the Dynamic Island on iPhone. That's no longer the case though, with users who take an Uber now seeing a circular progress icon, as well as the exact time you are due to be dropped off at your chosen destination.

As the driver is arriving, the Live Activity on Apple Watch will show an image of the car with the license plate too, so you know what car you should be getting into without having to get your iPhone out of your pocket or bag.

Uber discontinued its native app back in 2022, but this update goes to show that developers can still offer useful features even without a specific Apple Watch app.

Your Apple Watch will need to be running the latest version of watchOS 11 and you will also need to have the latest version of the Uber app running on your iPhone for the new Uber Live Activity information to show. You will also need to have an Apple Watch Series 6 or later.

If you tick all of those boxes however, you can enjoy a much better and richer Uber Live Activity experience on your Apple smartwatch.

In the fight to be crowned best EV on the market, there are all manner of brands which are worthy of consideration. The market is packed with legacy manufacturers doing new things, tech brands taking to the road and Chinese makers with price tags which defy belief.

Still, it's hard to have a conversation in this area without mentioning Tesla. Whether you love or hate the brand, its influence is undeniable. Known for minimalist design and cool tech inside the cabin, the brand has moved from strength to strength over the last few years.

Now, Tesla drivers are getting a cool free upgrade – and it's all thank to the Apple Watch. That's because the brand is unveiling a dedicated Apple Watch app, which could be here as soon as next week.

That should be much more useful for users. The app is said to open up access to the key, frunk opener and climate control activation from the user's wrist. That's currently all doable from the phone app, but having it available from your wrist is another step more convenient.

The app is also said to show battery charge level, and will do that independent from any connected iPhone. That should make it easier than ever to check in on charging status without having to get your phone out and check there.

It could be a really significant moment for the brand. The news took me right back to the first time payments were enabled on Apple Watch models. I was working part time in a hardware store, and my jaw dropped as someone awkwardly flapped their wrist against the card reader and marched off.

This could well be another dawn of a similar kind. The difference it could make in terms of usability will certainly appeal to the Tesla-owning demographic, which should see some fairly widespread adoption early on.

If you’ve been eyeing an Apple Watch this Black Friday, you might be tempted by the Apple Watch Series 8 deals. Before you buy one, please heed my advice!

Apple itself doesn’t sell it anymore, and most of what you’ll find are refurbished models or leftover stock. While there is nothing wrong with getting second-hand products (it's better for the environment), the refurbished Watch 8s are not much cheaper than the watch I'd recommend.

While the Series 8 was a great smartwatch in its prime, it’s been surpassed in every way by the Apple Watch Series 9. And there are actually good deals available on the newer version, as you can see below.

The Series 9 offers notable upgrades that make it a much better buy, especially if you’re already planning to spend hundreds of pounds. It introduces the new S9 SiP processor, making it faster and more efficient.

That improved efficiency also extends to battery life, giving you more power for longer. It also boasts Double Tap gesture control, allowing for one-handed operation—perfect for when you’re multitasking. Plus, its brighter display ensures better visibility, even in direct sunlight.

What’s more, Black Friday has brought some excellent discounts on the Series 9, making it more affordable than ever. Rather than settling for last year’s model, take advantage of these deals and get a watch that’s ready for the future.

There are a lot more wearable deals out there, all of which we keep collating in our best smartwatch Black Friday deals live hub. For anything else, head over to T3's main best Black Friday deals roundup.

Now, this is an Apple Watch deal I can stand behind! Walmart just did us a solid and dropped the price of the SE (Gen 2) to an all-time low, making the already most affordable wearable even more accessible. Snap this up before stocks disappear!

One of the best Apple Watches for people on a budget, the SE (Gen 2) sports a Retina LTPO OLED display protected by an Ion-X glass lens, an S8 SiP with a 64-bit dual-core processor and a 100% recycled aluminum body. Despite the lower price point, it provides a very close approximation of the flagship Apple Watch and even looks the same.

The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) is a smartwatch superstar, combining essential Apple Watch features with an unbeatable price. This Black Friday, Walmart is offering it for just $149, $100 down from its usual price—making it one of the best tech deals of the season.

Perfect for those new to the smartwatch world, the SE (2nd Gen) provides all the essentials without the higher price tag of premium models. It includes fitness tracking, heart rate monitoring, and access to Apple’s extensive app ecosystem. Paired with your iPhone, it allows you to receive notifications, calls, and texts directly from your wrist.

The SE also supports Apple’s Family Setup, making it ideal for kids or seniors who don’t need their own iPhone but want to stay connected. Its robust design, swim-proof build, and impressive battery life make it versatile for everyday use.

With Apple’s hallmark reliability and software updates, the SE (2nd Gen) is a smart investment. At just $149 this Black Friday, it’s an affordable way to experience the convenience of Apple Watch. Whether for yourself or as a thoughtful gift, this deal is too good to pass up. Don’t wait—grab it before it’s gone!