Apple Watch Faces Retire as watchOS 26 Approaches

Five Beloved Designs Disappear Ahead of Series 10 Launch

Apple is streamlining the Apple Watch experience once again, removing five watch faces with the upcoming watchOS 26 update. While the new software promises optimizations for the anticipated Series 10, some long-standing customizable options are being phased out, continuing a trend that began last year.

Faces Fade Away

The watch faces set to be discontinued are Fire and Water, Gradient, Liquid Metal, Toy Story, and Vapor. This follows Apple’s decision to remove four faces – Analog Chronograph, Explorer, Numerals, and the Siri face – with the watchOS 11 update in 2024. The company has simultaneously introduced new faces like Flux, Reflections, Pride Harmony, and Unity Rhythm, but the net result is a shrinking library of choices.

The removal of these faces comes as Apple focuses on enhancing existing features and introducing new designs, often tied to hardware releases. According to Statista, Apple Watch held a 34.4% market share of the smartwatch market in the first quarter of 2024, demonstrating the significant user base impacted by these software changes. Statista

A Designer’s Perspective

Apple previously offered insight into the creative process behind some of these now-discontinued faces. Alan Dye, an Apple designer, explained to Hodinkee the preference for practical effects over digital ones during their creation.

“We probably could have done this digitally, but we actually shot all of this practically in a studio. What I love about the fact that we did this is that it’s just so indicative of how the design team works. It was really about bringing together some of our various talents to create these faces. There are of course art directors, and color experts, and graphic designers, but also model makers who helped build these structures that we would eventually, you know, set on fire.”

—Alan Dye, Apple Designer

This emphasis on tangible elements highlights the artistry involved, even as Apple shifts its focus to new aesthetic directions.

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Looking Ahead

While Apple didn’t unveil new watch faces alongside the watchOS 26 announcement, it’s anticipated that fresh designs will accompany the release of the Apple Watch Series 10 in September. The focus remains on leveraging the upgraded display of the new hardware to deliver enhanced visual experiences. For now, users can enjoy the existing faces and the promise of future innovations, even as some favorites are retired.