Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4: What to expect - 9to5Mac

What the report says

9to5Mac reports that Apple’s next smartwatch lineup is expected to arrive in September, led by the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4. Citing Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the outlet says Apple has three new watch models in late-stage testing: Wi-Fi-only and cellular versions of the Series 12, plus the next Ultra model.

According to the report, buyers should not expect a major external redesign this year. The anticipated changes are described as more internal, with Apple reportedly prioritizing health and fitness tracking upgrades alongside faster performance. A key expected change is a more meaningful chip update for the Series 12 and Ultra 4. 9to5Mac notes that although Apple has changed watch chip branding in recent years, the last clearly new Apple Watch processor arrived with the Series 9 and Ultra 2 in 2023.

The article also points to a DigiTimes report that Apple has been working on a revised high-blood-pressure notification feature, though 9to5Mac says the broader health and fitness additions for this generation remain unclear. Gurman reportedly does not expect a new Apple Watch SE this year, after Apple introduced the SE 3 last year with upgrades such as an always-on display and improved performance.

Looking further out, 9to5Mac says Gurman has heard Apple is developing a larger rethink of the Apple Watch, but that it is likely still a year or two away. The report also says Apple continues work toward a blood-sugar detection feature later this decade, a long-running health project. If accurate, this year’s models may be more about performance and sensors than a visible product reset.