Apple is retiring several classic watch faces in the upcoming watchOS 26 release, bidding farewell to five longstanding entries. These include Gradient, Liquid Metal, Vapor, Fire-Water, and Toy Story, which have been around since at least 2017. The removal of these watch faces has already been observed in the first watchOS 26 and iOS 26 betas, indicating a deliberate move by Apple.
Last year, Apple made a similar decision with the release of watchOS 11, dropping entire watch faces like Chronograph, Explorer, Numerals, and Siri. While some faces were redundant or niche, others had their features integrated into existing watch faces for a more streamlined experience. Despite the removal of watch faces, Apple introduced new ones like Flux and Reflection, enhancing the overall watch face selection.
Although no new watch faces have been announced for watchOS 26, there is speculation that Apple may surprise users with fresh designs to showcase the latest Apple Watch models. With a wide range of 64 watch faces already available, Apple’s decision to trim down the list reflects a focus on quality over quantity. It remains to be seen whether new watch faces will be introduced alongside the fall iPhone and Apple Watch launch events.
