It seems that the Apple Watch is far too easy to steal, based on a recent report from iDownload Blog. Although you can set a passcode to lock the device every time you take it off, the Apple Watch can presently be easily reset and paired with a different iPhone under a new iCloud account. The current version of Watch OS does not have an activation lock in place, which would require the owner’s passcode upon reset.
Recently, Apple’s iOS platform added an activation lock of sorts, wherein a would-be thief can no longer simply reset the device without the proper iCloud login registered on the device. This essentially turns a stolen iPhone with iOS 7 or later, into a paperweight. The absence of the activation lock on the Apple Watch means that it is very easy to rest the device as a new Apple Watch, if it’s stolen. The publication that brought the issue to light even published a video showing how simple it is to reset.
It is curious that Apple not include that specific security feature on its first smartwatch, seeing as it has been standard on its phones for two years now. However, it is important to point out that a user’s data is indeed safe on the Apple Watch, so thieves won’t be able to make mobile payments using the Watch, which is connected to your Apple Pay account. They can, however, reset it as a new device with their own account very easily.
Activation lock could be included in the next update to the Apple Watch OS, although Apple has yet to respond to recently voiced concerns over the device’s security.
At the 2026 Android Dev Summit, Google has announced some interesting features coming to both Android XR and Android CLI. Developers can now build and test apps for smart glasses without owning the hardware, while Android's command-line tools are getting upgrades that help AI coding agents test applications and identify performance problems. Both announcements could eventually mean better apps for both Android and extended reality hardware users.
Building Android XR apps without owning smart glasses
Samsung is making its Galaxy Watch sleep apnea tracking more useful than a simple warning. The upgraded system estimates how often breathing disturbances occur each hour, then sorts the result into three frequency levels.
There’s a catch for anyone holding onto an older model. Detailed results require Wear OS 7.0 or later, while watches stuck on older software will keep simpler alerts.
Not everyone can afford to hire a personal trainer. And let’s be honest, learning exercises from YouTube or the gym regulars isn’t exactly foolproof. We need a solution that is both affordable and accurate.
A research group at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN), led by Dr Biswajit Saha, has a solution. He created a bendy wearable sensor that works in the gym and for sports like tennis and swimming.