Apple's annual iPhone event is expected to take place next month, and the Apple Watch Series 12 is almost certain to be unveiled alongside it. According to reports, the upcoming watch will continue a trend of "modest upgrades," with most changes occurring internally rather than in the device's appearance.
Design: Same Look, Possible New Materials
Apple has not altered the Apple Watch's design since the Series 10 arrived in 2024, and it is not expected to change this year either, making 2026 the third year of the current casing. This is not unusual, as every Apple Watch casing design has historically lasted through three successive generations before being refreshed.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said he does not expect any significant design changes to the Series 12 or the Apple Watch Ultra 4. However, a ceramic case option could return for the Series 12, with Apple having tested white and dark grey versions similar to those offered on the high-end Apple Watch Series 3 in 2017. The leaker and prototype collector known as "Kosutami" claimed that the ceramic case will arrive with the Series 12, a finish that has been absent from the lineup for six years. Gurman also reported that the ceramic casing is set to return either this year or in 2027. Beyond the case, Gurman expects the Series 12 to be unveiled with a fresh collection of case finishes and band options.
Performance: New Chip After Three Generations
The Series 11, released last year, retained the same S10 chip as its predecessor for the first time. The S10 chip is itself functionally the same as 2023's S9 chip. After three generations with the same processor, the Series 12 is highly likely to deliver the first meaningfully new chip in years. Evidence of this has been spotted in internal Apple code. The new chip will likely be branded as the "S11," but it could be the "S12" if Apple wants to keep its numbering in line with the series.
Battery Life: A Priority
A known leaker on the Chinese social media platform Weibo said in May that Apple is prioritizing battery life with the Series 12, pursuing a physically larger battery as well as efficiency gains elsewhere in the device. Apple rates the Series 11 at up to 24 hours on a charge, or up to 38 hours in Low Power Mode. The Series 12 may improve on those figures, though official numbers are not yet available.
Health and Fitness: Upgrades in the Works
Gurman referred to a number of health and fitness upgrades for the device without detailing them. DigiTimes pointed to a new blood pressure notification feature awaiting FDA clearance, which would build on the hypertension notifications Apple introduced last year. Additionally, Apple is testing a feature that would let the heart-rate sensor collect data continuously throughout the day, and the company is working on revamped Health and Fitness apps that could show more wellness-related metrics, similar to offerings from Whoop and Oura.
Kosutami claimed in July that the Series 12 could ship with at least one health sensor in a band, a departure from the current design in which all sensors are housed in the case itself. However, this claim has not been corroborated, and it remains unclear whether such a feature will materialize.
What's Not Expected: Touch ID
The previously expected Touch ID feature appears unlikely. Leaked code related to the Series 12 included references to "AppleMesa," Apple's codename for Touch ID, but the same leaker who flagged the battery focus denied the fingerprint sensor claim. Gurman also did not mention a health sensor embedded in the watch band as a likely feature.
Launch Lineup
The Apple Watch Series 12 is expected to be announced alongside the Apple Watch Ultra 4, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a foldable "iPhone Ultra." There is not expected to be a new Apple Watch SE this year.
As always, these are rumors and reports rather than official announcements from Apple. The company has not confirmed any details about the upcoming products, and plans could change before the event.