When watchOS 26 is published in September, it will include several new and interesting capabilities for your current Apple Watch.
Among the most noticeable features are a wrist flick gesture for handling alerts, a Workout Buddy feature, new Control Center apps, enhanced Smart Replies for iMessage, and customisable Smart Stack widgets.
Furthermore, your Apple Watch will include a new feature that claims to make notifications less disruptive to those around you (and hence less embarrassing for you).
Volume That Adjusts Automatically
When running watchOS 26, your Apple Watch will be able to modify the loudness of notifications based on your surroundings.
According to Apple’s watchOS 26 press release, your Apple Watch will “automatically adjust the speaker volume based on ambient noise in a user’s surroundings for notifications, timers, alarms, incoming calls, and Siri, allowing them to stay connected without worrying about disturbing those around them.”
Essentially, if you’re in a public location or at a small gathering with friends, your Apple Watch will identify this and not ring as loudly when someone calls you or reads a message you’ve received. It essentially seeks to avoid a social faux pas.
Of course, this will not affect individuals who keep their watchOS in silent mode all the time, which many do, but it may offer those same folks a cause to change it back.
When is the Apple Watch being released?
At the time of writing, it is unknown whether these automatic volume adjustments would be enabled by default or will need to be enabled in Settings.
Apple will formally release watchOS 26 in the fall, coinciding with the debut of the next-generation Apple Watch devices.
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