The iPhone Duo may have stolen the show at the “Surprise and shine” event, but we saw several other product updates that were worth some attention. One of those was the Apple Watch Series 12 premiere, which has apparently come with a peculiar change.
Apple Watch Series 12 has a bigger body and a smaller display than before
Apple has paired a smaller display with a wider casing for the its new smartwatch, compared to the Apple Watch Series 11. The 46mm Series 12 model is listed to have a 1,196 sq mm display, which is about 2% smaller than the 1,220 sq mm listed on the specs page of the previous model.
The smaller 42mm watch has a similar drop in size, from 989 sq mm to 979 sq mm. However, the two models have the same pixel counts, going 416 x 496 pixels for the larger version, and 374 x 446 pixels for the 42mm one.
This change comes with wider casings for both the 46mm and 42mm Apple Watch Series 12. The larger model now measures 46mm by 40mm by 9.7mm, compared to the Series 11’s 46mm by 39mm by 9.7mm. The same change is present on the 42mm Series 12, which measures 42mm by 37mm by 9.7mm, compared to the Series 11, which is 42mm by 36mm by 9.7mm,
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The ceramic Apple Watch Series 12 has even wider bezels
You can see the thinner bezel on the Series 11, compared to the Series 12. | Image by Apple
The design of the new watch has also changed a little, with the glass now expanding a little further. This inevitably leads to the border around the display looking even larger, compared to the older models.
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Apple also introduced a version of the Apple Watch Series 12 with a ceramic case, which appears to be even larger. Both sizes of the ceramic watch are taller than the aluminum and titanium versions by 1mm, but the 46mm one is also wider, reaching a 41mm width. The ceramic watch is also a bit thicker, reaching 9.85mm, compared to 9.7mm for the non-ceramic models.
Even before Apple published the measurements on the product page of the new watches, users on Reddit had already noticed the thicker bezels. While some redditors expressed their disappointment, others speculated this could be an opportunity to have larger displays on the Series 13 models.
Redditors are already predicting some Apple Watch Series 13 improvements. | Image by Reddit (screenshot
Not the first downgrade for the Apple Watch
Apple went through something similar with the Series 10 models, which came with a slightly larger casing but the same display. That made their aluminum edge smaller, but the bezel around the screen looked noticeably larger.
Naturally, the company hasn’t addressed the change, and most potential customers are probably never going to notice it. Most of Apple’s promotional materials for the Apple Watch show it with dark watch faces, which obscures the bezels.
Not such a big deal
I was never bothered by the bezels of any smartwatch, but I do use dark watch faces to make everything look nicer. Still, I don’t think this downgrade will have enough of a negative impact to overshadow the new sensors and features the Series 12 got.
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Ilia, a tech journalist at PhoneArena, has been covering the mobile industry since 2011, with experience at outlets like Forbes Bulgaria. Passionate about smartphones, tablets, and consumer tech, he blends deep industry knowledge with a personal fascination that began with his first Nokia and Sony Ericsson devices. Originally from Bulgaria and now based in Lima, Peru, Ilia balances his tech obsessions with walking his dog, training at the gym, and slowly mastering Spanish.
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