Apple Releases Pride Luminance Watch Face With watchOS 11.5

Apple has released a new watch face for the Apple Watch as part of its annual Pride celebrations. The Pride Luminance face is available with the latest software updates and comes in radial and vertical versions. The face creates a refraction effect that shifts colors as the watch moves, simulating the appearance of light catching on ridged material.

The effect is generated through software and the accelerometer. It is similar to the existing Reflections watch face. The vertical version displays stripes while the radial version arranges elements in a circular pattern. According to the report, the radial version shows the refraction effect more effectively.

Users have 11 preset color patterns available along with a custom option. The custom setting allows selection of up to 12 colors that refract simultaneously. The pre-selected patterns generally produce stronger visual results. On models with an always-on display, the face changes when the wrist is lowered.

It shifts to a black background with narrow pinstripe colors marking the 12 hours. The face can be set to full-screen or circular layouts, with complications available around the edge in the circular format.

In the Apple Watch app on the iPhone, users open the Face Gallery section where Pride Luminance appears under New Watch Faces. Tapping the face allows configuration of colors and style before adding it to the watch. The face can also be added directly on the Apple Watch by pressing and holding the current face until it shrinks, then swiping to the plus sign and selecting Pride Luminance.

The annual release follows Apple's pattern of introducing new watch faces, wallpapers and bands during Pride month.