With WatchOS 26 now in public beta, we’re getting a telling preview of what’s coming to Apple Watches this fall. But for those of us eyeing the next model (likely the Apple Watch Series 11, and possibly an Ultra or SE), the real question is: How will Apple one-up itself from last year’s Series 10? Better yet, how will it compete with newer flagships vying for your wrist this year?

Some of these requests are grounded in rumors, while others are mere wishful thinking. Here’s everything I hope Apple brings to its next smartwatch.

This wishlist is focused on the Series 11, because it’s the flagship model and the one that usually sets the tone for where the platform is headed next.

1. Smarter Siri

After using Gemini AI on the Galaxy Watch 8, it’s painfully clear just how far Siri is lagging. Gemini isn’t just more conversational; it’s actually useful on the wrist. It handles complex prompts in one go, summarizes aloud and spares you from dead-end results or clunky app handoffs. On a smartwatch, where time and screen space are limited, that makes a huge difference.

If Apple wants to compete, it needs to bring more “intelligence” to the Apple Watch. Right now, the few AI features that are available on the watch in the beta of WatchOS 26 (live translations in text messages and Workout Buddy) require an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone to do the heavy lifting. Siri needs a serious upgrade across the board, along with more standalone processing power on the watch. 

2. More powerful processor

This brings us to the chip that runs everything. The Ultra 2 and Series 10 already made strides by enabling on-device Siri for tasks like starting or stopping workouts without needing a phone nearby. 

For the smarter Siri Apple envisions, the Series 11 will need more on-watch processing. The rumored S11 chip will have to bring real gains in speed and efficiency to support features like Workout Buddy directly on the watch, without leaning on the iPhone.

3. Two-day battery life

For me, battery life is one of the biggest deterrents to using the Apple Watch to its full potential. I get about 26 hours on the smaller Series 10 — barely enough to make it through a full day and night — which means constantly choosing between sleep tracking and starting my day with a full charge.

Most days, because I’m rushing out the door, I pick a full day over sleep tracking. That creates gaps in my Vitals app, throwing off the outlier alerts that could help flag onset illness, or the retroactive ovulation predictions that require overnight temperature tracking. And when I do manage a quick top-up, I often run out of juice midday (usually before my workout) so I don’t get the satisfaction of closing my rings. 

The Ultra line has already shown what’s possible, pushing up to two days of battery life at full throttle (or 72 hours in low power mode). And while this may be far-fetched, I wish the regular Series would catch up. Apple hasn’t mentioned any efficiency gains in WatchOS 26, and so far, battery life rumors for the Series 11 are scarce. But if Apple can get us to a reliable 48 hours (even in low power mode), it would eliminate a major pain point for anyone serious about sleep tracking.

4. A surprise health/fitness metric

Blood pressure monitoring might be the most requested health feature I see (based on my very unscientific comment section data). Apple is reportedly testing it, but it may still be a year or more away. Noninvasive glucose tracking is another wishlist item but that’s even further out.

Still, there’s room for a novel feature that hasn’t leaked yet. Samsung’s Antioxidant Index was a pleasant surprise: a first-of-its-kind skin analysis that detects carotenoids. The feature hasn’t received FDA approval so it’s mostly categorized as a “wellness” tool and it’s questionable whether it will prove helpful long-term. But it sets the watch apart — and honestly, it was just fun to be surprised for once. It’s also been a neat little add-on that’s helped me stay more mindful of what I eat and how I manage stress by giving me something measurable to work on.

5. Clearer signals when you’re getting sick

The Apple Watch Vitals app already alerts you when multiple metrics are off but it doesn’t connect the dots for you. I’d love to see a feature like the Oura Ring’s Symptom Radar, which interprets those shifts and gently nudges you to take it easy, letting you pause your activity goals until your numbers are back to normal. 

Apple does let you pause activity rings manually but when you’re dazed and sniffling, you’re probably not thinking about toggling settings. It should do that heavy lifting for you.

6. Circular design or rotating

This is veering deep into the realm of deranged wishful thinking but if Apple ever released a circular version of the Apple Watch — or better yet, added a rotating bezel like Samsung’s Classic series — I would be first in line. The rectangular design is iconic, but circular watches will always hold a special aesthetic place in my heart. And the beze l… that tactile cherry on top of a very elegant, albeit far-fetched, sundae.

7. UV exposure alerts

As someone who loves being outdoors, I never even considered I’d have issues getting enough Vitamin D in my day until I wore the Ultrahuman smart ring and realized my marathon office sessions were taking their toll. And I imagine this rings true for a lot of us. The ring would alert me when I hadn’t met my daily UV minimum — a surprisingly helpful nudge that made me rethink how much time I spend indoors.

The Apple Watch does have a UV Index complication option on some of its watchfaces but it’s passive and easy to ignore. I’d love proactive alerts that track your cumulative exposure and warn you when you’ve had too much — or not enough.

8. Dual frequency GPS, standard

The Ultra already includes precision dual-frequency GPS, but the regular Series 10 still doesn’t. Apple should make this standard across the board, just like Samsung did with its Galaxy Watch 8 lineup. It’s a feature you don’t realize you’re missing until you experience it, as it significantly improves location accuracy, especially in dense urban areas.

9. More app functionality

Now we’re crossing into software wishlist territory but I’d love to see full-fledged apps like WhatsApp on the watch with full call and message capabilities. The Notes app is finally arriving in WatchOS 26 (better late than never) and it’s a good reminder that there’s still a lot of untapped potential in bringing more everyday phone tools to the wrist.

10. More gesture customization 

Apple introduced the double-tap gesture in 2023 and WatchOS 26 adds a flick gesture for quick controls. But gestures still feel underused (at least by this reviewer), mainly because you can’t customize them much beyond the limited list that Apple provides.

The default actions like silencing alarms or calls are fine but I’d love to assign gestures to things like pinging my phone or launching specific apps. Also, a small on-screen reminder flagging gesture shortcuts could go a long way in retraining that muscle memory.

Bottom line 

Apple doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel with the Series 11 (although a rotating bezel would be nice) but with Gemini AI pushing Android forward, it does need to make some moves. Smarter Siri, more contextual health insights and a battery that can actually keep up … that’s the Apple Watch I’m waiting for.