The 'Wrist Flick' feature is expected to be available in the public beta of watchOS 26 launching in July 2025, with a full release anticipated in the fall.

The update is set for release this fall, with a public beta available soon, encouraging users of older models to consider upgrading for access to these new features.

Apple has not clarified why older models lack support for the 'Wrist Flick' gesture, but it likely depends on a new machine learning model that requires more powerful chips found in recent watches.

watchOS 26 introduces the 'Workout Buddy,' an AI-powered feature that provides personalized spoken motivation during workouts by analyzing data like heart rate and pace.

Additional new functionalities in watchOS 26 include an updated 'Workout' app with a refreshed layout and music suggestions, enhancing exercise engagement.

The update also features a new 'Liquid Glass' design, which adds a translucent aesthetic to elements like the Smart Stack, Control Center, and Photos watch face, improving the overall user interface.

A new volume adjustment feature for notifications, which requires hardware support, is available only on the latest Apple Watch models: Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2, due to their advanced ambient noise analysis capabilities.

These newer models also support the existing Double Tap gesture, complementing the new volume control feature.

The 'Wrist Flick' gesture was demonstrated at Apple Park after the WWDC 2025 keynote and was described as intuitive and easy to use, with the developer beta of watchOS 26 currently accessible.

A new Notes app in watchOS 26 allows users to jot down ideas and checklists directly from their wrist, adding to the productivity features.

The notification volume adjustment feature addresses the need for discreet alert management in quiet environments, helping users stay connected without disturbance.

Apple is introducing a new 'Wrist Flick' gesture in watchOS 26, allowing users to dismiss notifications, mute calls, and silence alarms by flicking their wrist backwards, providing a faster, touch-free way to manage alerts.

This gesture, which can also be used for navigation within the interface, is activated by turning the wrist over and back, leveraging the watch's accelerometer and gyroscope.