Apple has announced the watchOS 26 update, which will be released this fall alongside iOS 26. The new version brings many functional improvements to Apple Watches. However, some of the introduced features will only work on the latest models.

These improvements will not be available to older Apple Watch models.

Four features developed for the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, Watch Ultra 2, and upcoming models will not be available to older Apple Watch owners. This limitation stems from hardware compatibility and new AI-based infrastructures like Apple Intelligence.

One of the most notable new features is the new control system based on a wrist turn. This gesture allows you to mute incoming calls, dismiss notifications, or stop timers. Another feature, live translation, allows incoming messages to be translated into your preferred language in real time using Apple Intelligence. This feature simplifies international communication.

Another innovation introduced with watchOS 26 is automatic volume adjustment based on ambient noise. This system adjusts the volume of notifications and calls based on the ambient noise level. Finally, smart replies to messages are becoming more contextual. This system, again based on Apple Intelligence, provides more accurate suggestions tailored to the message content.

The watchOS 26 update will also be available for older models like the Apple Watch Series 6. However, the four features listed above will not be available on these devices. Apple emphasizes this difference and clearly states that the experience with the update may vary depending on the device model. These software innovations, which will be available with the next-generation Apple Watch models, further demonstrate the importance of hardware-level improvements.