Apple Watch Pride Luminance: What The New Watch Face Is Like And How To Get It

InnovationConsumer TechApple Watch Pride Luminance: What The New Watch Face Is Like And How To Get ItByDavid Phelan,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about lifestyle techFollow AuthorMay 12, 2026, 11:16am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.SummaryApple has launched its annual Pride celebrations, unveiling new iPhone and iPad wallpapers, an Apple Watch band, and the innovative Pride Luminance watch face for watchOS 26.5. Available in radial and vertical styles, this new face features a dynamic refraction effect, making colors appear to shift and catch light with Watch movement, simulating a ridged surface through advanced software. Users can personalize it with 11 pre-set color patterns or select up to 12 custom colors. For always-on displays, the face elegantly transitions to a black background with subtle pinstripe colors. The new face is easily accessible via the Apple Watch app on an iPhone running iOS 26.5 or directly from the Watch itself.Show More Apple Watch with Pride Sport LoopAppleEach year at this time, Apple launches its Pride celebrations, usually including new wallpaper options for the iPhone and iPad, a new face for Apple Watch and even a new Apple Watch band. All those things have come to pass this year.ForbesApple Reveals 2026 Pride Collection: New ‘Luminance’ Wallpapers And Sport Loop UnveiledBy David PhelanInside The Pride Luminance Watch FaceWith watchOS 26.5, users can download and install the new Pride Luminance watch face which comes in two versions, radial and vertical, with significant customization. The hallmark of the face is the way the colors refract as you move the Watch, as though made of ridged materials that catches the light dynamically.Of course, it’s not ridged, the refraction comes from clever software coding working with the accelerometer, but it’s a persuasive effect. If you’ve us...