Apple’s latest watchOS 26 update brings optimizations for the upcoming Apple Watch Series 10, but it also marks the discontinuation of five more watch faces. This follows last year’s removal of four faces in watchOS 11, including the Siri, analog Chronograph, Explorer, and Numerals designs.
The newly retired faces include:
- Fire and Water
- Gradient
- Liquid Metal
- Toy Story
- Vapor
While Apple has introduced new faces like Flux, Reflections, Pride Harmony, and Unity Rhythm in recent updates, watchOS 26 did not debut any fresh designs. Analysts speculate that new watch faces may arrive alongside hardware announcements in September.
Behind the Scenes: The Art of Discontinued Watch Faces
Apple previously offered a glimpse into the creative process behind some of these now-retired faces. In an interview with Hodinkee, Apple designer Alan Dye explained that many were crafted using practical effects rather than digital rendering.
“We probably could have done this digitally, but we actually shot all of this practically in a studio,” Dye said. “It’s indicative of how the design team works—bringing together art directors, color experts, graphic designers, and even model makers to build physical structures, some of which were set on fire for the final effect.”
The removal of these faces suggests Apple’s ongoing effort to streamline its watchOS offerings, though the decision may disappoint users who favored the discontinued designs. The company has yet to comment on whether any of these faces could return in future updates.
