The Apple Watch Ultra has established itself as the most robust and powerful Apple Watch since 2022. After three generations with a nearly identical design, the Ultra 4 could see its first noticeable external changes in September 2026: thinner, lighter, and with twice as many sensors. It will also feature a new S-series chip and a surprising twist on the long-awaited Touch ID sensor.
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 arrived in September 2025, bringing with it 5G (RedCap), a battery life of up to 42 hours, and blood pressure alerts. The design has remained virtually unchanged since the first Ultra in 2022: same titanium case, same action button, same Digital Crown. Those undecided between the current models can find the differences in the comparison of the Ultra 3, Series 11, and SE 3.
For the Ultra 4, rumors are now pointing to changes that might be visible externally. This article summarizes everything that is currently known.
Apple Watch Ultra 4: The most important points in brief
| Detail | Expectation |
|---|---|
| Release | September 2026, along with iPhone 18 Pro |
| Design | Thinner casing (approx. 10–15 percent slimmer) |
| Chip | New S-Chip (successor to the S10) |
| Sensors | Doubled number of sensors according to DigiTimes |
| Touch ID | According to Instant Digital, scrapped for 2026 – Apple focuses on battery and sensors |
| Blood pressure | Advanced detection possible |
| Blood sugar | Not in 2026 |
| Software | watchOS 27 out of the box, Siri AI via iPhone |
| Starting price | Expected price: €899–949, possibly unchanged |
Design: Finally thinner
For three generations, the Apple Watch Ultra has measured 49 × 44 × 12 mm – and weighs around 61–62 grams, depending on the variant. For many, that's too bulky for everyday use.
According to several reports, the Ultra 4 will be 10 to 15 percent thinner. This would reduce the case thickness from 12 mm to approximately 10–10.5 mm – a noticeable difference on the wrist. Originally, a more significant redesign was planned for 2026, which was to be linked to a switch to MicroLED displays. However, Apple has postponed MicroLED, which has also put the more drastic design plans on hold.
The result: The Ultra 4 will likely be noticeably slimmer, but not a completely new product. The titanium casing (Class 5), the action button, and the basic shape will remain. New colors are possible, but not confirmed.
A new report from Asia, however, suggests a more extensive redesign than previously expected. Taiwanese industry publication Digitimes, in a supply chain analysis from May 2026, speaks of a "complete redesign" of the Apple Watch Ultra 4, coupled with a significant sensor upgrade. The report does not provide specific design details - dimensions, materials, display technology. Digitimes is typically well-informed regarding supply chain observations, but often less precise than Bloomberg or Ming-Chi Kuo when it comes to detailed specifications. Whether "complete redesign" actually refers to a new case or rather the announced slimmer profile remains unclear. Experience shows that the picture will only become clearer in the last two to three months before launch, when dummy units and cases leak from the supply chain.
Chip: More efficiency, more performance
The Ultra 3 uses the same S10 chip as the Series 11 – a 64-bit dual-core processor with a 4-core Neural Engine and 64 GB of memory. The successor (whether S11 or S12) for the Ultra 4 is virtually guaranteed.
Expected improvements:
- Higher energy efficiency for longer battery life
- Faster app launches and smoother animations
- Improved local AI processing for Siri and health features
Some reports also mention the chip codename "T8320" as a possible candidate for the Ultra 4. Official details are not yet available.
Sensors: Double the number
One of the most significant rumors comes from DigiTimes, based on supplier sources: The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is expected to double the number of sensor components. The Ultra 3 already measures heart rate (optical and electrical), blood oxygen, temperature, depth, and water temperature.
A recent Digitimes report from May 2026 further supports this claim: Apple's exclusive sensor supplier, Taiwan-Asia Semiconductor (TASC), is reportedly among the main beneficiaries of the new model, with large-volume orders starting in July – roughly two months before the expected market launch. This procurement cycle is typical for Apple products and a reliable indicator that production is entering its final phase. Which specific sensors will be added remains unclear. However, a first concrete clue comes from the US: Apple simultaneously submitted a new blood pressure monitoring feature for the Apple Watch to the FDA for review – an indication that the expanded sensors are also aiming towards medically certified functions.
More sensors don't necessarily mean new health metrics – the main goal, according to reports, is greater measurement accuracy. Less reliance on algorithms, more reliable data on movement, exercise, and sleep. Similar to Oura with the Ring 4, Apple is focusing on better sensor placement rather than new headline-grabbing features.
This focus aligns perfectly with Apple's apparent decision against Touch ID. According to Instant Digital, attention is currently focused in two clear directions: larger batteries and more sophisticated health sensors. An additional biometric sensor would be more of a hindrance here – the Ultra 4's space, power, and cost are clearly being invested in measurement accuracy and battery life. Features like more reliable hypertension detection, optimized SpO2 measurement, or new activity and sleep metrics would be far more consistent with this strategy than a convenience authentication feature.
Blood pressure and blood sugar
Blood pressure
The Ultra 3 already offers high blood pressure alerts based on 30-day heart rate trend analysis. Apple is working on direct wrist-based blood pressure measurement – whether the technology will be ready by 2026 remains uncertain. However, the doubled sensor capacity could lay the foundation for it, even if the feature initially appears only as enhanced trend data.
Blood sugar
Non-invasive blood glucose monitoring has been linked to the Apple Watch for years. All current reports agree: this feature will not be coming in 2026. The technology is not yet accurate enough for a consumer product.
Touch ID: Biometric authentication
Touch ID was long considered a strong contender for the Ultra 4. Macworld reporter Filipe Espósito found references to "AppleMesa" – Apple's internal codename for Touch ID – in leaked Apple code in the summer of 2025, specifically linked to Apple Watch models from 2026. Touch ID integrated into the side button, Digital Crown, or Action button would have significantly simplified unlocking the Watch without an iPhone, authorizing Apple Pay, and protecting sensitive apps.
In May 2026, however, the Chinese leaker Instant Digital reported that Apple had abandoned the project for 2026. Two specific reasons were said to be decisive: First, an additional biometric sensor would strain the already tight energy efficiency of the Apple Watch. Second, a fingerprint sensor would increase the cost of the components without significantly expanding its usefulness from Apple's perspective. Apple is reportedly continuing its strategy of unlocking the smartwatch via iPhone pairing.
Important to understand: Code hints like "AppleMesa" don't automatically mean a final product decision. Apple regularly tests software features that don't make it into final devices – and while Instant Digital's predictions are often accurate, they aren't always. Touch ID on the wrist isn't completely off the table, however. If Apple finds a technical solution in the coming years that doesn't significantly impact battery life or unit costs, the issue could quickly resurface.
Battery and runtime
The Ultra 3 currently offers up to 42 hours of battery life with normal use and up to 72 hours in power-saving mode. Thanks to its new chip and improved sensor efficiency, the Ultra 4 is expected to maintain at least these figures – despite its thinner design and potentially smaller battery. A slight improvement in battery life is possible, but not confirmed.
Software: watchOS 27 out of the box
The Ultra 4's software foundation is watchOS 27, which Apple unveiled at WWDC in June. Besides minor improvements, it brings new watch faces – including a simplified version of the previously Ultra-exclusive Modular Ultra watch face, which now also runs on the standard models. The biggest new addition is Siri AI: The enhanced assistant arrives on the Apple Watch for the first time, but it doesn't run on the watch itself; instead, it uses a paired iPhone with Apple Intelligence. This feature will not be available at launch and will be released later this year, initially in English.
Release and price
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is expected in September 2026, alongside the Apple Watch Series 12, the iPhone 18 Pro, and the iPhone Ultra. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman recently confirmed that the watch is a key part of Apple's fall release schedule - a sign that Apple is unlikely to skip a year for the Ultra line this time, unlike in 2024, when only a new color variant was released. Pre-orders are expected to begin shortly after the keynote.
Apple has kept the price of its Ultra series stable at €899 (in Germany) for three generations. Whether the Ultra 4 will be more expensive is unclear. Some analysts expect a slight price increase to €949 - €999 if the thinner design and new sensors result in higher production costs.
Apple Watch Ultra 4: Who should wait?
Anyone who owns an Ultra 2 or Ultra 1 will get a noticeably different product with the Ultra 4: thinner, with more sensors and a new chip. For the first Ultra of 2022, there's an additional compelling software argument: it won't receive watchOS 27, as Apple has limited compatibility this year to the Ultra 2 and newer models. Market observers, according to Digitimes, expect the redesign to increase shipments by 20 to 30 percent compared to the previous year – a clear indication that buyers of earlier Ultra generations now see a compelling reason to upgrade. This makes the Ultra 4 the most attractive upgrade in the Ultra lineup to date.
Those who already own an Ultra 3 will find fewer reasons to switch – the S10 chip and current sensors are still powerful. Unless, of course, the thinner design or the improved health sensors meet a personal need.
Our recommendation: If you're planning on getting a new Ultra, you should wait until September. If you already own the Ultra 3 and are happy with it, you can safely skip a generation.
The best products for you: Our Amazon storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including those for HomeKit. (Image: Shutterstock / Hadrian)
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