Picture: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Apple reportedly doesn’t plan to drop assist for any older Apple Watch fashions with watchOS 12 (or watchOS 26). A leaker signifies the upcoming watchOS launch will assist Apple Watch Sequence 6 and newer fashions — the identical as watchOS 11.
Apple discontinued assist for a number of older Apple Watch fashions with the discharge of watchOS 11 in 2024
watchOS 12 may not reduce off any Apple Watch fashions
watchOS 11 at present helps Apple Watch SE (2nd gen), Apple Watch Sequence 6, and all newer fashions launched since then. Each fashions launched in 2020 and will probably be 5 years previous this September. Regardless of their age, Apple will supposedly assist them with watchOS 12/watchOS 26.
A non-public account on X, identified for its correct Apple leaks, claims watchOS 26 will assist the identical fashions as watchOS 11. A MacRumors supply additionally confirmed Apple will change the naming type of its working methods this 12 months. So, as a earlier report instructed, Apple will unveil iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, and watchOS 26 at WWDC25 subsequent week, as an alternative of iOS 19 and iPadOS 19.
Whereas not talked about, Apple might not convey Apple Intelligence-powered options to its older smartwatches because of useful resource constraints. Apple may restrict its AI options to newer fashions, just like the Apple Watch Sequence 10 and Apple Watch Extremely 2.
Subsequent watchOS launch may deal with small usability upgrades
With final 12 months’s watchOS 11 already being a significant replace, Apple will seemingly deal with smaller quality-of-life enhancements this 12 months. One other latest leak indicated watchOS 26 will open up the Apple Watch Management Heart to third-party widgets. This could make it much more highly effective.
Apple may also reportedly let customers customise the Apple Watch’s Management Heart instantly from the Watch app on their iPhone for simpler entry and personalization.
One of many key highlights of watchOS 26 could possibly be a brand new visionOS-inspired redesign. Apple will apparently make the identical UI modifications throughout all its different working methods.
