Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 Expected at September Launch

Apple is slated to unveil two new watches—Series 12 and Ultra 4—at its upcoming September event. Leaks suggest both models will ship with a next-generation processor (an “S11” or possibly “S12”) and run WatchOS 27, which introduces an upgraded Siri AI and expanded health tools.

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The original Ultra debuted in 2022 with a rugged titanium case, sapphire crystal, and features for outdoor athletes. Its successor, Ultra 3, launched with a $799 starting price—roughly double the entry-level Series 11. All three Apple Watches released in the prior year still use the S10 chip, prompting speculation that Apple will avoid leaving its premium line behind with an outdated processor. Bloomberg analyst Mark Gurman reports Apple is aligning the Ultra 4’s chip naming with the flagship Series 12, indicating a shared “S11” or “S12” silicon platform.

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• Processor & Performance: A faster chip is expected to improve Siri AI responsiveness, which currently shows lag in beta testing.

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• Health & Fitness: WatchOS 27 will add a “Workout Buddy” with one-handed gestures, Spanish language support, and perimenopause insights. Expanded health data storage will capture sets, reps, weight, equipment, body side, and duration. Apple has internally tested blood-pressure measurement but has not confirmed its release.

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• Sensors & Storage: Code discovered by MacRumors forum member “pdfu” points to a new optical-sensing system (“Sunstone4p0”) with lower noise and orientation-based channel selection, suggesting refined heart-rate readings. The same code hints at 128 GB of NAND storage for both watches, doubling the previous 64 GB capacity.

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• Design & Battery: Gurman notes no major design changes; the Ultra 4 will retain its larger case and Action button. Battery life, already the longest among Apple watches at roughly two days, may see modest gains from the more efficient processor, though it will still lag behind multi-week sports watches from Garmin and Coros.

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• Potential Touch ID: Internal Apple code suggests experimentation with fingerprint authentication on the watch, possibly debuting on the Ultra 4 given its larger chassis.

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Apple raised prices across its hardware lineup in 2026, and competitors Google and Samsung have done the same with flagship smartwatches. While no concrete price is confirmed, analysts anticipate the Ultra 4 could exceed the current $799 entry point, especially if new hardware such as the Sunstone4p0 sensor and expanded storage are included.

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Apple’s September event will confirm specifications, pricing, and availability for the Series 12 and Ultra 4. Until then, the details remain speculative, based on leaks from Mark Gurman, MacRumors contributor “pdfu,” and observations by CNET’s Vanessa Hand Orellana.

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