Apple Watch Set to Introduce Highly Anticipated Notes App

Apple Watch Set to Introduce Highly Anticipated Notes App

As a freelancer tech journalist with over 13 years of experience, I have had the opportunity to explore numerous technological advancements. Among these, the Apple Watch stands out as a remarkable device for managing notifications, tracking workouts, and keeping up with reminders. However, one glaring gap has persisted—the absence of a dedicated Notes app. This is a feature that many users, myself included, have longed for.

On my iPhone, I rely heavily on the Notes app for various tasks such as organizing travel plans, conducting research, drafting longer articles, and creating checklists. The ability to easily refer to or update notes while on the go is something I miss when relying on my Apple Watch. The upcoming watchOS 26 update aims to address this gap by finally introducing a true Notes app into the watch ecosystem.

The newly integrated Notes app will function similarly to the existing Reminders app, providing users with access to a list of recent notes. Notably, users will have the capability to pin important notes at the top of the app for easy access. Furthermore, it will support standard formatting options, including headings, emojis, and images, all displayed conveniently on the wrist. Crucially, the app will feature checklist support, allowing users to tick off items directly from their watch.

In terms of usability, the app allows users to not only view but also add to their notes on-the-go. Utilizing the Dictation feature will enable quick note-taking, while a keyboard option will be available, albeit with a recognized potential for inconvenience due to its size. The official release of the Notes app is anticipated to coincide with the watchOS 26 update in the fall of 2025. Currently, it can be accessed through a developer beta, but caution is advisable when considering this option. Developer betas are known for their instability across devices, and the Apple Watch does not have an easy rollback mechanism if issues arise. Therefore, most users would benefit from waiting for the stable version to avoid complications.

As I share this insight, I can’t help but express my eagerness to use the Notes app on my Apple Watch. It is a feature that I believe will enhance the functionality of the device significantly and streamline the way I manage my notes.

Workout Buddy: Apple’s New AI Fitness Coach

In addition to the much-awaited Notes app, Apple made waves during its WWDC 2025 event with the introduction of Workout Buddy, an AI-powered fitness coach integrated into watchOS 26. This innovative feature harnesses Apple Intelligence to provide real-time spoken feedback and analyze user health data, offering personalized workout experiences.

The introduction of hands-free gestures adds an exciting layer, allowing users to control notifications without losing focus during workouts. Additionally, the ability to curate playlists from Apple Music tailored to training sessions marks a significant enhancement for fitness enthusiasts.

However, despite the excitement surrounding AI-based health coaching, it still feels more conceptual than practical at this stage. Competitors like WHOOP, Oura, and Garmin are also innovating in this space, but there remains a critical lack of context awareness and emotional accountability that human coaches provide.

Looking ahead, Apple’s substantial distribution capabilities and ecosystem integration put it in a prime position to demonstrate the viability of its AI features. Nevertheless, the distinction between a mere voice assistant and an adept coach remains significant, and how Apple will address this challenge in its AI coaching platform remains to be seen.