Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4

It is expected to be announced on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at Apple's "Surprise and shine" keynote, streaming from 10:00 a.m. Pacific / 1:00 p.m. Eastern / 6:00 p.m. UK. If Apple keeps its usual rhythm, pre-orders follow within days and retail availability lands around September 18. Apple has confirmed the event date but not the products. Sources: Apple, MacRumors.

Less than usual, by every account. Reporting describes no significant design change against the Series 11: same broad case and display. What is expected to change is inside, with a faster chip (an S11-class processor or newer) and new health and fitness sensing, including reworked heart-rate measurement feeding extra metrics. The one visible change reported is a returning ceramic case option. Sources: MacRumors, iLounge, Android Headlines.

Yes, it is expected at the same September 9 keynote, alongside the Series 12. As with the standard model, reporting points to no major redesign against the Ultra 3, with the improvements concentrated in the chip and the sensors rather than the case. Sources: MacRumors, Android Headlines.

No, not this year. A fingerprint sensor in the side button has been rumored for several generations and is again not expected in 2026. If you have seen this claimed as confirmed, it is not. Source: MacRumors.

That is the most interesting cosmetic rumor of the cycle. Apple is reported to have tested white and dark gray ceramic cases for the Series 12, reviving a premium finish it discontinued years ago. Ceramic is scratch-resistant and heavier than aluminium, and it historically carried a significant price premium. Tested does not mean confirmed. Source: MacRumors.

Not expected in 2026. The entry-level SE line is not on the reported roster for this keynote, which points to a September lineup of just the Series 12 and the Ultra 4. If you want the cheapest new Apple Watch, the current SE is likely to stay the option for now. Source: MacRumors.

On what is reported so far, probably not. When the case, screen and battery are broadly unchanged and the gains sit in chip speed and sensor accuracy, the year-over-year difference is small in daily use. The upgrade makes more sense from a Series 9 or older, where you also pick up several generations of display and battery improvements at once. Wait for the real specifications on September 9.

No price has leaked reliably. For reference, Apple has held the Series line around $399 at launch for several generations and the Ultra around $799, and a year without a redesign gives Apple little reason to move either. A ceramic model, if it ships, would sit above the standard finishes as it did historically. Treat all of this as context, not a price list.

It is expected to ship with watchOS 27, previewed at WWDC in June 2026 and released publicly in the days after the keynote, typically in the September 14 to 16 window. Recent Apple Watch models generally receive the new version as a free update at the same time. Sources: Apple, MacRumors.

Free, on apple.com, in the Apple TV app, and on Apple's YouTube channel, live from 10:00 a.m. Pacific on September 9, 2026. The watches usually appear in the back half of the keynote, after the iPhones. Apple's product pages update with real specifications and prices the moment the presentation ends. Source: Apple.