Apple Watch Series 12: All the rumors at a glance

The Apple Watch Series 12 is expected in September 2026 – alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone Fold. After a rather understated Series 11, this year's model could be more exciting with new sensors, Touch ID, and an improved chip. However, a major redesign will likely be reserved for its successor in 2027.

Since 2015, Apple has released a new Apple Watch every September. The Series 11 in fall 2025 was a moderate update with 5G connectivity, longer battery life, and high blood pressure warnings—but little to cause a stir. In our Apple Watch buying guide: Ultra 3 vs. Series 11 vs. SE 3, we've already thoroughly compared the current lineup.

Rumors suggest a more significant update for the Series 12 – especially under the hood. New sensors, potential Touch ID integration, and an improved chip are all being discussed. Whether that will be enough to entice Series 10 or 11 owners to upgrade depends on the final features. This article summarizes all the known rumors.

Apple Watch Series 12: The most important points at a glance

Detail	Expectation
Release	September 2026, along with iPhone 18 Pro
Chip	New S11 or S12 chip (successor to the S10)
Design	No major changes, redesign not until 2027/2028
Sensors	New 8-sensor array, improved health measurement
Touch ID	Possibly integrated into the side button
Blood pressure	Improved detection possible, full measurement uncertain
Starting price	Expected to start at €449 (like Series 11)

Design: Familiar form, redesign coming later

According to Mark Gurman, the Apple Watch Series 12 will largely resemble the Series 11 externally. This means: same case shape, same rounded square design, buttons on the right, speaker on the left. A major redesign – possibly with a thinner case, new band mechanisms, or a glass case – is not expected until 2027 or 2028 at the earliest.

Leaker Instant Digital also confirmed on Weibo that the 2026 Apple Watch will not receive any radical design changes. However, new watch bands and possibly new colors are likely.

As we reported in our article Apple Watch 2026: No major redesign planned, Apple is taking a conservative approach to the casing – the real innovation takes place under the surface.

Chip: S12 with AI focus

As every year, a new chip is expected – likely the S11 or S12. The Series 11 uses the S10 chip with a 64-bit dual-core processor and a quad-core Neural Engine. Details about its successor are not yet known, but the general trend with Apple Silicon suggests improvements in three areas: higher energy efficiency for longer battery life, faster processing of health data, and better performance for local AI tasks.

It's unclear whether the S12 chip will also enable Apple's intelligence features directly on the Watch. The Neural Engine in the Watch chips has so far been significantly more limited than in the iPhone or iPad. However, Apple is working on making Siri on the Watch considerably more intelligent – which could arrive with watchOS 27 this fall.

Sensors: New 8-sensor array

One of the most exciting rumors comes from DigiTimes: The Apple Watch Series 12 is said to feature a new sensor array with eight sensors arranged in a ring on the underside. What exactly these sensors measure is unconfirmed.

Possible areas of application:

Improved heart rate measurement during exercise and sports
More precise SpO2 values (blood oxygen)
Improved temperature measurement for cycle tracking
More reliable sleep monitoring
Basis for future blood pressure or blood sugar measurements

The principle is similar to Oura's approach with the Ring 4: More sensors with a better arrangement deliver more reliable data – even if the watch doesn't fit perfectly.

Blood pressure and blood sugar: Not quite there yet

Blood pressure

The Series 11 already introduced high blood pressure warnings based on the analysis of heart rate data over 30 days. According to Mark Gurman, Apple is working on true wrist-based blood pressure measurement – but there are significant doubts as to whether the technology will be mature enough by 2026.

Blood sugar

Non-invasive blood glucose monitoring has been rumored for years. Apple is demonstrably researching it, but the accuracy is not yet sufficient for a consumer product. This feature is not expected for the Series 12.

Touch ID: Comeback on the wrist?

Several sources – including Gurman – report that Apple is testing Touch ID for the Apple Watch. The most likely solution would be integration into the side button (similar to the iPad Air). This would allow users to unlock the Watch, authorize Apple Pay, and protect sensitive apps.

Whether Touch ID will actually be included in the Series 12 or only in a later model is still uncertain. Apple internally tests many features that don't always make it into the final product.

Release and price

The Apple Watch Series 12 is expected to be unveiled in mid-September 2026, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro. Pre-orders are likely to begin a few days after the keynote, with sales starting in the following weeks.

An Apple Watch Ultra 4 will likely be released alongside the new model. An update to the Apple Watch SE in 2026 is rather unlikely – the SE 3 was only released in September 2025.

No major price change is expected. The Series 11 starts at €449 (GPS) in Germany. If Apple were to include Touch ID or new sensors, a slight price increase of €20–50 would be conceivable.

Apple Watch Series 12: Who should wait?

Those who wear an Apple Watch Series 10 or 11 will probably not find a compelling reason to upgrade to the Series 12 – unless Touch ID or the new health features meet a personal need.

However, those still using a Series 8 or older will get several generations of improvements with the Series 12: larger display, thinner casing, 5G, high blood pressure warnings, sleep apnea detection and the new S12 chip.

Our recommendation: If you're planning an upgrade anyway, wait until September. The Series 12 will be at least a solid update – and could pleasantly surprise you with the right features. The best products for you: Our Amazon storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including those for HomeKit. (Image: Shutterstock / Wongsakorn 2468)