Apple’s already had a busy March launch season with seven new merchandise, together with an iPhone 17E, up to date MacBook Execs and a colourful MacBook Neo that is about to rattle the Chromebook market. As we set our sights on the subsequent huge {hardware} launch, the Apple Watch Sequence 12 is already on the horizon.
Whereas there have not been any concrete leaks but, there’s loads we will infer primarily based on Apple’s previous launches and typical launch patterns. There are additionally a number of lingering rumors that might lastly land this yr, together with a doable nod to a long-removed however not forgotten iPhone function.
Apple Watch Sequence 12 launch date
If there’s one factor Apple tends to maintain constant, it is the timing of its fall {hardware} occasion, the place it usually unveils its latest flagship iPhones and Apple Watch fashions.
Apple usually holds this occasion on the second Tuesday of September (normally the week after Labor Day). By that logic, Sept. 15 looks like the most definitely candidate for Apple’s 2026 fall occasion. As a result of it lands a bit later within the month than in earlier years, there’s additionally a slim probability Apple strikes it as much as Sept. 9 (Labor Day week), because it has earlier than.
As in earlier years, preorders would seemingly open on the Friday after the occasion, with availability following every week or so later (assuming no manufacturing delays).
Pricing and availability
Count on pricing for the brand new watches to remain roughly in keeping with the present Sequence 11 lineup, which begins at about $400 (42mm Wi-Fi mannequin). Although worth hikes aren’t fully off the desk, with lingering tariff will increase and the potential for provide chain points.
The Apple Watch Extremely 3, SE 3 and Sequence 11 on launch day.
What number of Apple Watch fashions will we get?
A Sequence 12 is all however assured — we have had a new Apple Watch mannequin arrive yearly since its launch. What’s much less sure is whether or not Apple will refresh the complete lineup once more this yr. The Apple Watch SE and Extremely fashions do not observe the identical annual replace cycle, and since each the SE 3 and Extremely 3 had been refreshed in 2025, it is much less seemingly that Apple will replace each once more this yr.
If Apple does add one other mannequin alongside the Sequence 12, the Extremely can be the extra believable candidate. Apple is not one to carry out on new options for its high-end fashions when warranted. Or if it follows the sample set with the Extremely 2, the corporate would possibly simply roll out a brand new shade mannequin for the Extremely 3.
Design upgrades on the Apple Watch Sequence 12
There are rumblings of a redesign within the works, however given how sparse the chatter has been, my guess is we can’t see a significant design overhaul this yr. Count on the identical silhouette, comparable colours and supplies. What might change: display expertise. A extra energy-efficient show — doubtlessly an improved LTPO panel with higher brightness, as seen on the Sequence 10 — might assist claw again some battery life with out including bulk.
Higher battery life tops the Apple Watch want record yr after yr.
Battery life and processor
The Sequence 11 and Extremely 3 acquired a major battery bump over their predecessors: not less than 6 hours extra by Apple’s numbers and roughly an additional half day (or extra) in my real-world testing. And the Extremely 3 additionally acquired charging velocity worthy of its title, like its newer siblings. However there’s nonetheless a variety of room for enchancment on each battery life and charging velocity.
With no main clues hinting at greater batteries but, I would guess we see extra incremental positive aspects (if any) on the Sequence 12. Enhancements might come from higher display expertise, software program optimizations, and extra environment friendly processors.
In principle, the processor title normally matches the watch quantity, suggesting an S12 chip this yr. However for the reason that Sequence 11 and Extremely 3 are nonetheless working on the earlier yr’s S10 chip, the subsequent improve might technically be an S11, making this yr’s naming a bit awkward.
New well being options on the horizon
Apple has already dipped its toes into blood strain monitoring with hypertension notifications on the Apple Watch (Sequence 10, Sequence 11 and Extremely 3). The function alerts homeowners when it detects indicators of abnormally hypertension, however it stops in need of offering an on-the-spot learn. This might be on the desk for the autumn of 2026.
Different wearable well being firms like Omron and Med-Watch have confirmed that wrist-based blood strain measurement is feasible, although it is not as dependable as a standard cuff and will require new (bulkier) {hardware} to convey to the Apple Watch.
Based on Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple has been testing the function internally however has encountered accuracy points. And even when Apple pulls it off for this yr, it would measure solely baseline traits much like Samsung’s blood strain function on the Galaxy Watch 7 and Extremely (not supported within the US).
Glucose monitoring is one other long-running rumor that is on the desk, however in line with Gurman, it is even farther from a completed product than blood strain and realistically would not seem earlier than 2027.
The subsequent Apple Watch Sequence 12 could convey again TouchID.
Biometric authentication: Contact ID or Face ID?
Rumors of a digital camera on the Apple Watch have been round for a number of years — not for selfies, however doubtlessly for Face ID or AI-based picture recognition.
Apple Intelligence on the iPhone launched a visible search device that makes use of the digital camera to determine objects and locations in actual time, and it is likely to be a matter of time earlier than this function ultimately makes its method to the wrist. In the meantime, wearable-focused processors like Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips already help cameras and even livestreaming. Apple is thought to make use of its proprietary chips, so it is unlikely this could impression Apple’s timeline, however it reveals the expertise is there, and we might even see it down the road on the Apple Watch. Simply not this yr, in line with Bloomberg.
A extra possible near-term possibility might be Contact ID. Macworld just lately noticed traces of inner code suggesting Apple has been experimenting with biometric authentication for the 2026 Apple Watch lineup. Based on the report, the code references “AppleMesa,” which is Apple’s inner code title for a watch-based Contact ID. It is nonetheless unclear whether or not the sensor can be built-in underneath the show, like we see on Android telephones, or constructed into the facet button or the Digital Crown.
Watch OS 27 wishlist
Now that Apple has standardized its working system names to match the yr forward, you do not must be a rocket scientist to determine that the subsequent huge replace for the Apple Watch can be WatchOS 27.
With a significant redesign already within the books (5 New Apple Watch Options Coming With WatchOS 26), we’re not anticipating a dramatic visible change this time round, however there’s loads on the wishlist, together with higher battery administration instruments and extra customizable gesture controls. Apple might additionally broaden Exercise Buddy from metric-driven encouragement into extra concrete coaching territory. This might convey it nearer to what Samsung is making an attempt with its AI-powered Operating Coach.
Lastly, I would welcome a extra strong symptom tracker tied into the Vitals app much like Oura Ring’s Symptom Radar that may flag early indicators of sickness.
A future Apple Watch might convey superior well being sensors for on-the-spot blood strain reads.
Different Well being app updates
The subsequent model of WatchOS 27 might additionally convey modifications to the Well being app. Based on a report from Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, Apple has been engaged on a top-secret initiative code-named Venture Mulberry, geared toward revamping the Well being app with an AI-powered well being concierge that might unify your well being, health, and medical knowledge in a single place.
Nevertheless, the mission has just lately run into some obstacles. Bloomberg’s newest report suggests Apple has put the trouble on maintain (not less than for this yr). That also leaves room for enchancment on the Well being app entrance with a possible redesign to the principle dashboard that will make recognizing traits simpler.
Watch this: Apple Watch Sequence 11 Assessment: Is It Well worth the Improve?
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