Is battery life worse with watchOS 26?

Early beta builds show only minor impacts on battery life during GPS‐heavy activities.

Can I safely install the watchOS 26 beta?

Only if you’re comfortable with potential bugs; otherwise, it’s best to wait for the public release.

watchOS 26 New Features: Liquid Glass, Smart Stack, and More

Q: Does Liquid Glass work on SE 2nd gen?

Yes, the new Liquid Glass UI is fully supported on the Apple Watch SE 2nd gen.

Q: Do I get Workout Buddy or Apple Intelligence?

No, Workout Buddy and other Apple Intelligence features require Series 9 or newer models.

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Apple has officially unveiled watchOS 26 new features, and this is one of the most significant updates to Apple Watch in years. Featuring the bold Liquid Glass design and new AI-powered tools, watchOS 26 new features push the platform forward. But if you’re like me and own an Apple Watch SE (2nd gen), not every headline feature will land on your wrist. In this guide, I’ll walk through what’s new, what’s missing, and what’s worth your attention as an SE 2nd gen user.

watchOS 26 New Features: Release Timeline and Compatibility

Stage	Date	Notes
Developer beta	June 9, 2025	Available now via Xcode or Apple Developer app
Public beta	July 2025 (projected)	Typically follows WWDC by 4-6 weeks
Gold Master	Early September 2025	Near-final build before public release
Official release	Mid-September 2025	Launches alongside iPhone 16 and iOS 26

The Gold Master build represents the final developer release before public rollout.

Supported Models

Apple Watch Series 6 and newer
Apple Watch SE (2nd gen)
Apple Watch Ultra and Ultra 2

Note: Apple Intelligence features require Series 9, Series 10, or Ultra 2 paired with iPhone 15 or newer.

Liquid Glass UI: Design Refresh for All Models in watchOS 26 New Features

The new Liquid Glass UI is fully supported on SE 2nd gen. Apple has swapped solid backgrounds for translucent, frosted-glass layers that reflect your watch face and ambient lighting.

Smart Stack: Cards hover over glassy layers, adding depth.
Control Center: Toggles gleam beneath the frosted surface.
Photos Face: Blur levels shift depending on your image.

While the aesthetic feels modern and vibrant, I’ve noticed (and many others agree) that legibility can take a hit in bright light or at quick glances during workouts.

Community Reaction

Fans love the modern, animated feel. Critics point to reduced clarity and possible eye strain. I enjoy the visual refresh most of the time but still prefer solid backgrounds for readability on the move.

Workout Buddy: AI Features MIA On SE 2nd Gen

Sadly, Workout Buddy is unavailable on the SE 2nd gen due to hardware limitations. This AI-powered coaching feature is exclusive to newer models with Apple’s enhanced neural engine.

For users with compatible models, Workout Buddy provides:

Real-time pacing adjustments
Milestone haptic feedback
Playlist recommendations based on workout intensity
Rest-day activity suggestions

Smart Stack & Widget Intelligence: Fully Available in watchOS 26 New Features

Smart Stack sees major upgrades in watchOS 26, and the SE 2nd gen benefits fully from these refinements. Widgets now update automatically based on your time, location, and habits.

At the gym? Workout cards appear.
Morning coffee run? Wallet rises to the top.
Evening? Home controls offer lighting shortcuts.

You can still pin or remove widgets to personalize your stack. Developers can also tap into the new Relevance API for richer third-party widget experiences.

Wrist-Flick Gesture: Hardware-Limited

The convenient wrist-flick gesture that dismisses notifications or silences alarms is only available on Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2. SE 2nd gen users remain limited to existing AssistiveTouch gestures like double-pinch and clench.

Apple Intelligence: Mostly Out of Reach in watchOS 26 New Features

The much-publicized AI features in watchOS 26 require newer hardware. SE 2nd gen owners won’t see:

Live Translation inside Messages
Call Screening to screen calls before they ring
Hold Assist for customer service wait times
Contextual Smart Replies

Despite missing these, SE 2nd gen owners still benefit from some general system optimizations and stability improvements.

Accessibility Improvements: A Solid Upgrade

Several meaningful accessibility upgrades are included for all supported models:

Live Captions during FaceTime calls
Live Listen controls with improved accessibility
Adaptive speaker volume that adjusts AirPods based on ambient noise

These features improve usability for all users, regardless of hardware.

Notes App: Fully Supported on SE 2nd Gen

One of the most practical additions, the new Notes app, works perfectly on SE 2nd gen:

Create notes via dictation, Scribble, or keyboard
Edit and pin notes for easy access
Sync instantly across iPhone, iPad, and Mac
Attach voice memos directly from the watch

Retired Watch Faces in watchOS 26

The following faces are no longer available for new selection after upgrading to watchOS 26:

Fire and Water
Gradient
Liquid Metal
Toy Story
Vapor

Existing users with these faces already active will retain them but won’t be able to reselect them after switching.

Battery Life & Stability on SE 2nd Gen

Early beta builds show only minor battery dips during GPS-heavy activities. Overall performance remains fast and responsive, with smooth navigation and app launches. Third-party complications may need updates to fully integrate with the new Smart Stack behavior.

Should SE 2nd Gen Owners Upgrade?

For SE 2nd gen owners, watchOS 26 offers a refreshing visual overhaul, improved Smart Stack functionality, new Notes support, and meaningful accessibility upgrades. While the AI-powered features are absent without newer hardware, the core enhancements still make the update worthwhile.

If you’re happy with your watch’s core performance and can live without Apple Intelligence features, watchOS 26 delivers enough polish to justify upgrading.

Quick Pros and Cons for SE 2nd Gen

Pros:

Liquid Glass design refresh
Enhanced Smart Stack intelligence
Full Notes app support
Strong accessibility improvements

Cons:

No Apple Intelligence features
Workout Buddy unavailable
Wrist-flick gesture not supported
Some watch faces retired

Frequently Asked Questions About watchOS 26 New Features

Does Liquid Glass work on SE 2nd gen? Yes, fully supported.

Do I get Workout Buddy or Apple Intelligence? No, these require Series 9 or newer.

Is battery life worse? Only minor impacts observed during GPS use.

Can I safely install the beta? Only if you’re comfortable with bugs; otherwise, wait for public release.

I’ll continue testing watchOS 26 on my SE 2nd gen and update this guide as Apple refines the beta builds leading up to launch.

Tony Simons

Tony has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Phoenix and over 14 years of writing experience between multiple publications in the tech, photography, lifestyle, and deal industries.