Apple Watch Ultra 4 release date expectations, price estimates and upgrades
Apple Watch Ultra for illustrative purposes. | Image by PhoneArena
Apple Watch Ultra 4: what to expect
What’s expected to change vs Apple Watch Ultra 3:
Expected release timeline:
- New S-series chip, expected to improve efficiency and responsiveness
- Touch ID for authentication and security
- Marginally larger display, without changing the overall rugged identity
- Slightly thinner chassis, which should make the Ultra more comfortable to wear daily
- watchOS 27 with Siri AI and upgraded Apple Intelligence
- Revised sensor layout
- Expected announcement in September 2026, alongside the iPhone 18 lineup.
- The timepiece should become available within the same month.
Expected price:
- No rumors of a price hike for the Apple Watch Ultra so far.
- Apple has held the Ultra line steady at $799 for three generations in a row, and Ultra 4 will possibly keep the same price.
Jump to:
Apple Watch Ultra 4 release date
Apple is expected to announce the Apple Watch Ultra 4 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro Max and Pro models and Apple's first foldable iPhone in September, 2026. The exact date for the event had not been unveiled just yet.
| Device family | Announcement | Market release |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch Ultra | September 7, 2022 | September 23, 2022 |
| Apple Watch Ultra 2 | September 12, 2023 | September 22, 2023 |
| Apple Watch Ultra 3 | September 9, 2025 | September 19, 2025 |
| Apple Watch Ultra 4 | September 2026* | September 2026* |
* - probable dates
After the announcement, the Ultra 4 will likely have a 10-day or so pre-order period and then hit the shelves officially. The timepiece will then likely be available at all major retailers and carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 price and deals
Leaks and rumors have not detailed the Watch Ultra 4's pricing just yet. Currently, it is expected the timepiece may keep the same price as its predecessor: $799. A price hike is not entirely impossible, though.
| Apple Watch model | 49mm GPS + Cellular |
|---|---|
| Apple Watch Ultra | $799 |
| Apple Watch Ultra 2 | $799 |
| Apple Watch Ultra 3 | $799 |
| Apple Watch Ultra 4 | $799 |
*- anticipated price
Apple Watch Ultra 4 deals to expect
- Apple: Expect a trade-in credit ranging from $30 to $295 toward your new watch. If you use Apple Card, you can also expect 3% Daily Cash back.
- AT&T: The carrier traditionally offers a "Buy two, save $300" deal, which requires adding at least one new line and using a 36-month installment plan. You can expect a similar deal for the Ultra 4 as well.
- Verizon: You can look for trade-in deals offering up to $300 off with an eligible trade-in device. Occasionally, Verizon also offers BOGO deals when adding a new line.
- T-Mobile: Typically, T-Mobile offers $300 off a second watch when you buy two. Also, the carrier sometimes offers roughly $200 off a single device when activating a qualifying line.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 design
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 may finally come with a noticeably thinner body (its exact size is yet to leak), which would make it more comfortable to wear all day long and less awkward to keep on for sleep tracking.
There is also talk about Apple making the screen bigger, but for now, take this rumor with a grain of salt.
Despite the slimming down of its profile, the Ultra 4 is otherwise expected to retain its tough, rugged identity with a sturdy titanium case and flat glass. The Digital Crown and Action button are also expected to be featured on the model, sporting the same positions as last year (Digital Crown on the right, Action button on the left).
Touch ID may come to the Apple Watch for authentication. Leakers are not certain just yet where the fingerprint scanner may be integrated on the watch (whether in the side button or the Action button)
Potentially, a brand-new sensor layout on the back is coming to the Ultra 4. The exact sensors it may feature are unknown currently, but they may be related to new health tracking abilities.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 display
The Ultra 4's display has not been specified in leaks just yet. Some leaks hint at a slightly larger screen, but the details are still a mystery.
The Ultra 3 features an Always-on Retina display sporting LTPO 3 tech (with a refresh rate able to drop to a 1 Hz). Its maximum brightness is up to 3,000 nits and it features sapphire crystal for durability.
We expect similar specs on the Ultra 4.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 battery
Currently, no huge battery size upgrade has been rumored for the Apple Watch Ultra 4.
Apple will likely lean on a more efficient next-gen chip to offer better battery life optimizations, but presently, it is not known what those will be.
To give you some perspective, the current Ultra already boasts an impressive 42 hours of battery life under normal use. Turn on Low Power Mode, and that number stretches to 72 hours, which is a stellar figure for any Apple wearable.
Charging speeds are already quite fast on the current generation: you can get 80% charge in just 45 minutes. It is still anyone's guess whether Apple will push these charging speeds even further for the Ultra 4, though, but don't expect anything slower.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 features and software
New grid layout for the Apple Watch. | Image by Apple
There's also a new dynamic grid layout for the Apple Watch, which would show your most used apps. The new Siri app is seen in this image in the center, and it would allow you to enter past conversations. You would also be able to continue with a conversation on your other Apple devices as well.
Apple Intelligence would be integrated with most apps now. Health is getting perimenopause and menopause tracking for women's health as well.
The existing Apple Watch Ultra features would also be present on the Ultra 4:
Reports of a new eight-sensor array suggest Apple may be going all-in on health. This new hardware could make the watch much more accurate.
- Advanced workout tracking
- Emergency SOS and satellite connectivity
- Dive and outdoor navigation tools
- Sleep tracking, ECG, blood oxygen, wrist temperature
- Hypertension notifications (if expanded)
Health sensors
However, we haven't seen any confirmation of brand-new medical features just yet.
One thing is almost certain: don't expect blood sugar monitoring this year. Analysts say Apple has the tech ready, but it isn't accurate enough for a release. Because of this, the feature likely won't make it to the Ultra 4.
Apple Watch Ultra 4's expected specs:
Should I wait for the Apple Watch Ultra 4?
Apple Watch Ultra 4 hardware and specs
We expect the S11 chip to power the Series 12 and the Ultra 4 smartwatches. Details about it are scarce currently.
Apple Watch Ultra 4's expected specs:
- CPU: S11 chip
- Connectivity: Cellular, 5G, satellite SOS
- Battery life: Up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode or slightly more
- Materials: Titanium
- Sizes: One Ultra size
- Storage: 64GB
- Sensors: Expanded sensor array
Should I wait for the Apple Watch Ultra 4?
- You should wait for the Apple Watch Ultra 4 if you find the current lineup uncomfortably bulky or are looking for a breakthrough leap in predictive health. This generation is heavily rumored to introduce the first "full redesign" in the lineup's history for a significantly thinner, lighter titanium chassis that will make all-day wear and sleep tracking far more practical. Furthermore, if you want cutting-edge medical tracking, holding out is the right choice; the Ultra 4 is expected to debut an entirely revamped 8-sensor ring array on the back designed to increase tracking accuracy.
- You should not wait for the Apple Watch Ultra 4 if you just want a premium, highly durable sports watch for the upcoming season and prefer to save money. The current Ultra 3 already boasts the line's modern, power-efficient LTPO3 wide-angle OLED screen and delivers an exceptional 42 hours of standard battery life. Because major retailers like Amazon and Best Buy are already heavily discounting the Ultra 3 by $100 or more down to a $699 floor, buying the current model right now gets you 90% of the flagship experience without forcing you to wait until September or pay the full $799 premium.
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