Apple Watch to Get visionOS Inspired Refresh, Apple Intelligence Support [Rumor]

Apple is working on user interface updates for watchOS, drawing inspiration from the glassy design of visionOS, according to a recent report from The Verifier. This design refresh will purportedly arrive alongside the much rumored design refresh for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.

The visionOS-inspired design was originally considered for iOS 18 but was allegedly postponed due to the focus on Apple's artificial intelligence rollout. Sources say a high-level internal meeting just before WWDC in June shifted priorities, delaying the interface overhaul to a later update. Now, that same design philosophy is making its way to watchOS. The changes aren't expected to mirror the scale of what's rumored for iOS 19 or macOS 16, but they'll still refresh the Apple Watch experience.

Currently in development, the refreshed design is said to feature buttons that are "slightly more 'floating,' emphasized, and somewhat transparent." These tweaks will show up in menus, icons, and across the operating system. Apple is also "working on several ideas to rearrange the app drawer's appearance," potentially ditching the familiar honeycomb layout for something new.


Beyond aesthetics, Apple is planning to integrate artificial intelligence into the Apple Watch. Among the anticipated features are notification summaries on the lock screen, personalized emoji creation via Genmoji, and an upgraded Siri. The revamped assistant will sport a new look and improved capabilities, such as understanding user behavior across fitness activities, medical tracking, sleep monitoring, and heart rate data.

For the Apple Watch Ultra, Apple is developing a new processor to support these AI enhancements. The report suggests AI will debut on the Ultra model first, with the broader lineup following a year later. Meanwhile, the company is experimenting with additional gesture controls, leveraging hand and body movements—building on existing features like using finger gestures to accept or reject calls.

We're likely to see Apple unveil watchOS 12 alongside iOS 19 at WWDC 2025 in June. For any leaks ahead of the event, please download the iClarified app or follow iClarified on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and RSS.