watchOS 26 is the Apple Watch’s next major hardware update, and it includes several Apple Intelligence-powered features. Here are the hardware requirements to get Apple Intelligence on your Watch.
New AI features on Apple Watch each have unique requirements
Last year when Apple Intelligence first launched, it was exclusive to iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Since then, Vision Pro has been added.
In watchOS 26, Apple is bringing AI features to the Apple Watch too. But when it comes to hardware compatibility, things get a little messy.
That’s because a variety of Apple Intelligence capabilities will co-exist on the Watch, but with different requirements. The reason is that only some features use on-device models, while others rely on LLMs running on their paired iPhone.
Here’s a rundown of hardware requirements for different AI-powered features:
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Available on Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2, with an Apple Intelligence-supported iPhone.
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Available on Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2.
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