watchOS 26 introduces significant enhancements to watch faces, expanding options for Apple Watch users. The update features a total of four new watch faces, including Exactograph, which offers a modern twist on a traditional design, and Waypoint, a live compass that integrates with Maps for navigation. Additionally, the Hermès Faubourg Party face presents animated characters based on time and movement, exclusive to the Apple Watch Hermès.
Improvements to existing watch faces are also noteworthy. The popular Photos face received two key updates: a new 'Glass' color option that enhances visibility of images and a 'Featured' selection that showcases top photos from the user's library. Furthermore, support for always-on ticking seconds has been extended to more models, including the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Series 11, increasing the number of compatible watch faces.
Another interesting addition is the 'hints' feature, which appears as a Liquid Glass complication at the bottom of the watch face. This element suggests apps and actions based on improved predictive algorithms that utilize contextual and sensor data.