Apple Watch Series 12 release date expectations, price estimates and upgrades
Apple Watch Series 11 for illustrative purposes. | Image by Apple
Apple Watch Series 12: what to expect
What's expected to change vs the Apple Watch Series 11:
- Touch ID may be coming
- A big change in design is not expected
- Stability and performance improvements
- New S12 chip
- New watch faces
- Better heart-rate tracking is expected, but details on how are not clear
- Earlier rumored AI coaching is not happening
Expected release timeline:
- The Apple Watch Series 12 is expected to accompany the iPhone 18 Pro Max and Pro and (potentially) the first foldable iPhone in fall 2026.
Expected price:
- So far, the price of the Series 12 has not leaked.
- Expect a similar price to the Series 11: starting at $399.
Jump to:
Apple Watch Series 12 release date
The Apple Watch Series 12 will likely be announced alongside the iPhone 18 models and the first foldable iPhone in September 2026.
| Device family | Announcement | Market release |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 8 | September 7, 2022 | September 16, 2022 |
| Apple Watch Series 9 | September 12, 2023 | September 22, 2023 |
| Apple Watch Series 10 | September 9, 2024 | September 20, 2024 |
| Apple Watch Series 11 | September 9, 2025* | September, 2025* |
| Apple Watch Series 12 | September 2026 | September 2026 |
* - probable dates
Apple may be splitting its releases this time with the Pro-branded iPhones coming in the fall and the non-Pro in the spring next year. The smartwatches, which include the Series 12 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4, are likely coming with the Pro iPhones.
Typically, a pre-order period follows the announcement. After this period, the smartwatches officially hit the shelves.
Apple Watch Series 12 price
We haven't seen any official price leaks for the Series 12 just yet. If Apple keeps things steady, the new watch will likely start at $399.
| Apple Watch model | 41mm (or 42mm) GPS only | 45mm (or 46mm) GPS only | 41mm (or 42mm)GPS + Cellular | 45mm (or 46mm) GPS + Cellular |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 8 | $399 | $429 | $499 | $529 |
| Apple Watch Series 9 | $399 | $429 | $499 | $529 |
| Apple Watch Series 10 | $399 | $429 | $499 | $529 |
| Apple Watch Series 12 | $399* | $429* | $499* | $529* |
*- anticipated price
Apple Watch Series 12 design
Apple's watch design has stayed very consistent lately, and the Series 12 looks to continue the trend of refinement. We aren't expecting a total revolution just yet: some reports suggest a major visual overhaul may be held back until 2027 or even 2028.
The Series 12 will likely stick to its classic square shape with the familiar button layout on the right and speakers on the left. New watch faces are coming as well as improvements in performance and stability, but that may just be about it.
Here's what we expect about the Series 12 design:
- Case sizes: likely returning in 42 mm and 46 mm options
- Aluminum finishes: expected in Rose Gold, Silver, Space Gray, and Jet Black
- Titanium finishes: premium options in Gold, Natural, and neutral shades
- Security: there's a lot of buzz about Touch ID finally arriving, possibly hidden in the side button. Some recent leaks suggest Apple may prioritize battery life over this biometric update, but having a fingerprint scanner would be a huge win for secure payments and health data.
- Personalization: as always, a fresh batch of stylish bands and exclusive watch faces will likely be launched with the Series 12.
Apple Watch Series 12 display
When it comes to the Apple Watch Series 12 display, expect standard upgrades like better viewing angles or higher brightness. The screen size will likely stay the same as its predecessor's.
For context, the Series 12 features an Always-on Retina display with up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness. It also offers a 1-nit minimum brightness and a resolution of 326 pixels per inch. It is widely considered a great smartwatch display.
Apple Watch Series 12 battery
Apple Watches are not known as battery champions. Yep, Apple manages to squeeze a lot of juice from a tiny battery, but still, there are other competing brands on the market offering significantly longer battery life than Apple's Watches.
The Series 12 is not rumored to be getting an upgrade in this department, unfortunately.
With the Apple Watch Series 11, the Cupertino tech giant introduced some changes and advertised a 24-hour battery life, but the upgrade in itself is not as big as Apple makes it sound. We also have found that the battery life is not ideal in our Apple Watch Series 11 review.
Apple Watch Series 12 features and software
The Apple Watch Series 12 is likely going to sport watchOS 27. The new OS is unlikely to bring huge changes, rather refinements of the Liquid Glass look, potentially.
WatchOS 27 is said to focus on stability and improving battery life. It's also said to bring AI-powered refinements, including Workout Buddy tools with Apple Intelligence, powered through your iPhone.
A recent leak is now giving us a glimpse of what we may expect from watchOS 27. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman now suggests that Apple will be introducing new AI features with the new OS, although he doesn't reveal what those may be.
Meanwhile, the rumored earlier AI coach may not happen. It was supposed to use Apple Health data for a proactive and personal set of features, but it's reportedly been delayed.
Blood pressure monitoring
There was a lot of hope that the Series 11 would bring blood pressure monitoring, but we ended up with high blood pressure notifications instead.
There's some hope the technology will instead be ready for this year's model, but recent reports suggest Apple is facing accuracy challenges. Because of these issues, the feature may be delayed for a future version.
Meanwhile, Samsung already offers blood pressure tracking on its smartwatches. This puts Apple a bit behind its main rival when it comes to this specific health tool.
For years, we've heard that Apple is working on non-invasive blood glucose monitoring for the Apple Watch. However, these rumors have yet to come true, and it is unlikely we will see the feature this year.
Non-invasive blood glucose monitoring
The technology is difficult to get right. People who need to track their blood sugar require perfect accuracy to stay healthy. Yes, a smartwatch isn't a medical device, and it is a huge challenge for Apple to make a sensor that is reliable and safe.
Mark Gurman recently noted that Apple is still committed to the idea. The company is said to be working actively on the feature, but Gurman doesn't expect it to arrive in the Series 12.
Other features
Apart from that, the Series 12 may bring a wide variety of workouts, ECG, blood oxygen, irregular heart rhythm notifications, sleep monitoring, wrist temperature, and other health metrics. Crash Detection, Emergency SOS, and Fall Detection are also likely to be there.
Apple Watch Series 12 hardware and specs
We expect a new chip to power the Series 12, as usual. The chip is likely to be Apple's S12 chip, although we don't have details on how the processor would be upgraded.
Apple Watch Series 12's expected specs:
- CPU: S12
- Battery: Up to 24 hours
- Sizes: 42 and 46 mm
- Materials: Aluminum and Titanium
- Connectivity: GPS-only or GPS + Cellular
- Storage: 64GB
Should I wait for the Apple Watch Series 12?
- You should wait for the Apple Watch Series 12 if you are looking for a significant boost in processing power and battery efficiency. Apple reportedly skipped a major chip upgrade last year, so the new S12 chip is expected to be a massive leap forward. This new silicon will finally allow for complex Apple Intelligence features. You should also hold out if you are interested in new security features like Touch ID, which may finally be integrated into the side button.
- You should not wait for the Apple Watch Series 12 if you are hoping for a radical visual redesign or a different case shape. Reputable leaks suggest Apple will stick with the same thin, rounded rectangular design used for the Series 11. Furthermore, you should not wait if you are an athlete who needs multi-day battery life and a rugged build. The current Apple Watch Ultra 3 already offers those specific features today.
Popular stories
Latest News
