With WatchOS 26 now in public beta, we're getting a telling preview of what's coming to Apple Watches this fall. But for those of us eyeing the next model (likely the Apple Watch Series 11, and possibly an Ultra or SE), the real question is: How will Apple one-up itself from last year's Series 10? Better yet, how will it compete with newer flagships vying for your wrist this year?
Some of these requests are grounded in rumors, while others are mere wishful thinking. Here's everything I hope Apple brings to its next smartwatch.
This wishlist is focused on the Series 11, because it's the flagship model and the one that usually sets the tone for where the platform is headed next.
1. Smarter Siri
After using Gemini AI on the Galaxy Watch 8, it's painfully clear just how far Siri is lagging. Gemini isn't just more conversational; it's actually useful on the wrist. It handles complex prompts in one go, summarizes aloud and spares you from dead-end results or clunky app handoffs. On a smartwatch, where time and screen space are limited, that makes a huge difference.
If Apple wants to compete, it needs to bring more "intelligence" to the Apple Watch. Right now, the few AI features that are available on the watch in the beta of WatchOS 26 (live translations in text messages and Workout Buddy) require an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone to do the heavy lifting. Siri needs a serious upgrade across the board, along with more standalone processing power on the watch.
Apple's Siri needs and overhaul across the board to keep up with the competition. CNET
2. More powerful processor
This brings us to the chip that runs everything. The Ultra 2 and Series 10 already made strides by enabling on-device Siri for tasks like starting or stopping workouts without needing a phone nearby.
For the smarter Siri Apple envisions, the Series 11 will need more on-watch processing. The rumored S11 chip will have to bring real gains in speed and efficiency to support features like Workout Buddy directly on the watch, without leaning on the iPhone.
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