TL;DR
watchOS 26 introduces four new watch faces, updates to existing faces (notably Photos), and a new Smart Stack "hints" element that surfaces suggested actions on the watch face. Some features are limited to specific models, and always-on seconds support has been expanded to additional hardware.
What happened
Apple's watchOS 26 centers on three watch-face focused changes: new face designs, tweaks to established faces, and a proactive suggestion feature. The release adds four faces — Exactograph (a regulator-style layout separating hours, minutes, seconds), Flow (Liquid Glass numerals with motion-reactive color), Waypoint (a live compass tied to saved places, available on Apple Watch Ultra), and Hermès Faubourg Party (animated shorts for Hermès models). The Photos face gained a Glass-clock color option to let more of the image show through and a Featured-photos option to surface top images. Separately, ticking seconds in always-on mode has been extended to more faces and hardware; Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Series 11 are listed as offering always-on seconds. Finally, watchOS 26 adds Smart Stack "hints," a Liquid Glass-style prompt that appears at the bottom of the watch face and uses contextual, sensor and routine data to suggest apps or actions.
Why it matters
- Gives users more personalization options with four new faces and enhanced Photos features.
- Proactive Smart Stack hints aim to make relevant apps and actions easier to access without opening the Smart Stack manually.
- Wider support for always-on ticking seconds increases glanceable precision on supported devices.
- Some features are tied to specific Apple Watch models, affecting which users will see the full set of updates.
Key facts
- watchOS 26 adds four new watch faces: Exactograph, Flow, Waypoint, and Hermès Faubourg Party.
- Exactograph presents a regulator-style layout separating hours, minutes and seconds for precise timekeeping.
- Flow uses Liquid Glass numerals that refract a colored orb responding to wrist movement.
- Waypoint functions as a live compass that can show relation to saved Maps locations or points of interest; it is available on Apple Watch Ultra.
- Hermès Faubourg Party is an animated face available for Apple Watch Hermès models.
- The Photos face received two updates: a Glass clock color option and a Featured photos source to surface top images.
- Always-on ticking seconds, introduced last year on Series 10, has been expanded to more faces and hardware; Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch Series 11 support ticking seconds in always-on mode.
- Smart Stack "hints" appear on the watch face as Liquid Glass-style prompts and use contextual, sensor and routine data to propose actions.
- Smart Stack previously required scrolling the Digital Crown to access suggestions; watchOS 26 brings some suggestions directly onto the face.
What to watch next
- Which additional watch faces and older Apple Watch models will receive always-on ticking seconds beyond the noted Ultra 3 and Series 11—not confirmed in the source.
- Whether Smart Stack hints can be disabled or personalized and how granular controls will be exposed to users—not confirmed in the source.
- Potential battery-life impact from expanded always-on seconds and on-face Smart Stack hints—not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Watch face: The primary display on a smartwatch that shows the time and can host short bits of information or app shortcuts.
- Liquid Glass: A design aesthetic used by Apple characterized by translucent, layered visuals designed to convey depth and fluidity.
- Smart Stack: A dynamic collection of widgets or cards that surfaces context-relevant information and actions based on usage patterns and sensors.
- Always-on display: A display mode that keeps certain screen elements visible while the device is in a low-power state so information can be seen at a glance.
- Complication: A small area on a watch face that displays information from apps (such as weather, activity, or calendar items) or acts as a shortcut.
Reader FAQ
How many new watch faces does watchOS 26 add?
Four new faces: Exactograph, Flow, Waypoint, and Hermès Faubourg Party.
Are any of the new faces model-specific?
Yes. Waypoint is available on Apple Watch Ultra; Hermès Faubourg Party is available on Apple Watch Hermès.
What changed with the Photos watch face?
It gained a Glass color option for the clock to reveal more of the photo and a Featured photos option to surface top images.
Can I get always-on ticking seconds on any Apple Watch?
Always-on seconds support has been expanded; Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch Series 11 are specifically mentioned as offering ticking seconds in always-on mode.
Can I turn off the new Smart Stack hints?
not confirmed in the source
iOS 26 has three new iPhone features I’ve been really loving Ryan Christoffel Dec 29 2025 WATCHOS 26 watchOS 26 has three big new updates for Apple Watch faces Ryan…
Sources
- watchOS 26 has three big new updates for Apple Watch faces
- OS – watchOS 26
- What's new in Apple Watch and watchOS 26
- Apple is adding four new watch faces with watchOS 26
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