Watchos 26: Apple Watch gets new gesture – details about support

Together with WatchOS 26, Apple will also introduce a new hand gap to make it easier to operate Apple Watch. As is now evident, the gesture can only be used on newer models of the computer clock – apparently because the necessary sensor supplies are missing on older devices. However, it could also be due to a lack of computing power, since Apple relies on a local model for machine learning.

Useful hand -free

The restriction that only newer models may play existed in another gesture introduced last year, the so -called double touch. This allows you to respond to messages, open the smart stack or scroll through it by bringing your thumb and index finger together. Alternatively, you can also control music playback by double. All of this allows the Apple Watch to operate with just one hand, which often occurs in everyday life.

The new gesture, called Wrist Wrist Flick, i.e. turning the wrist, now serves in Watchos 26 to react to incoming notifications, an activity that Apple watch owners perform dozens of times (if not more often) every day. If a message comes, you can acknowledge it by turning the wrist. Furthermore, alarms can also be stumbled, return to the dial or open calls. Watchos 26 is currently available as a developer beta, but in the coming weeks should also be normal users can.

Watchos 26 dominate these devices

According to Apple, Wrist Flick (just like the double type) only master only a total of three Apple watch models. It is the Series 9 of 2023, the Series 10 of 2024 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 from 2023. The first ultra does not rule both gestures, as well as Series 8 and earlier or the SE models.

Interestingly, there are gestures from the area of accessibility, so -called operating aids, which also run on older watches. They also comprise the fist together and can control the entire screen via AssistiveTouch. However, the gestures are a bit more difficult to learn than double taps and Wrist Flick, the learning curve is higher. Technically, the operating aids and gestures for the three newer models use a different basis according to Apple, which brings accuracy differences.