The next Apple Watch Series 12 could finally bring back the classic iPhone feature

Apple already had a busy launch season in March with seven new products, including iPhone 17eupdated MacBook pros And colorful MacBook Neo This is about to rattle Chromebook market. While we set our sights on the next big device launches, Apple watch Series 12 is already on the horizon.

Although there haven’t been any concrete leaks yet, there’s a lot we can infer based on Apple’s previous launches and typical release patterns. There are also some lingering rumors that could finally arrive this year, including a possible reference to a long-ago but not-forgotten takedown. iPhone feature.

Apple Watch Series 12 launch date

If there’s one thing Apple tends to keep consistent, it’s the timing of its fall hardware event, where it typically unveils its latest flagship iPhone and Apple Watch models.

Apple typically holds this event on the second Tuesday in September (usually the week after Labor Day). By that logic, September 15 seems like the most likely candidate for Apple’s fall 2026 event. Since it will arrive a little later in the month than in previous years, there’s also a slim chance that Apple will move it to September 9 (Labor Day week), as it has done before.

As in previous years, pre-orders will likely open on the Friday after the event, with availability a week or so later (assuming there are no production delays).

Pricing and availability

Expect prices for the new watches to remain roughly in line with the current Series 11 lineup, which starts at around $400 (42mm Wi-Fi model). Although a rise in prices is not completely unlikely, as long as it continues Customs tariff Increases and potential for supply chain issues.

How many Apple Watch models will we get?

Series 12 is absolutely foolproof – we got it New Apple Watch The model arrives every year since its launch. What’s less certain is whether Apple will refresh the entire lineup again this year. The Apple Watch SE and Ultra models don’t follow the same annual update cycle, and because both models C3 and Ultra 3 Since they were updated in 2025, Apple is unlikely to update them again this year.

If Apple adds another model alongside the 12 Series, the Ultra would be the most plausible candidate. Apple isn’t one to cling to new features for its high-end models when necessary. Or if it follows The pattern is set with Ultra 2The company may be launching a new color model for the Ultra 3.

Design upgrades to Apple Watch Series 12

There are rumblings about a redesign in the works, but given how sparse the chatter is, I think we won’t see a major design overhaul this year. Expect the same silhouette, similar colors and materials. What could change: Screen technology. A more power-efficient display — likely an improved LTPO panel with better brightness, as seen on the 10 Series — could help reclaim some battery life without adding bulk.

Battery and processor life

The Series 11 and Ultra 3 get a significant battery boost over their predecessors: at least 6 extra hours according to Apple’s numbers and roughly an extra half day (or more) in my real-world tests. The Ultra 3 has also got a charging speed worthy of its name, like its newer siblings. But there is still a lot of room for improvement in terms of battery life and charging speed.

With no major evidence pointing to larger batteries yet, I’d bet we see more incremental gains (if any) in the 12 Series. Improvements could come from better screen technology, software improvements, and more efficient processors.

In theory, the processor name usually matches the clock number, suggesting this year’s S12 chip. But since the Series 11 and Ultra 3 are still running on the previous year’s S10 chip, the next upgrade could technically be the S11, which makes naming this year a bit awkward.

New health features on the horizon

Apple has already dipped its toes into blood pressure monitoring with High blood pressure notifications On Apple Watch (Series 10, Series 11, and Ultra 3). This feature alerts owners when it detects signs of abnormally high blood pressure, but stops short of providing an instant reading. This could be on the table for the fall of 2026.

Other health wearable companies like Omron and Med-Watch have proven that measuring blood pressure on the wrist is possible, though it’s not as reliable as a traditional cuff and may require new (larger) hardware to bring to the Apple Watch.

according to Mark Gurman of BloombergApple tested the feature internally but ran into accuracy issues. Even if Apple decides to implement it for this year, it may only measure basic trends similar to Samsung’s blood pressure feature on the Galaxy Watch 7 and Ultra (not supported in the US).

Glucose monitoring is another long-standing rumor on the table, however According to GormanIt’s closer to the final product than Blood Pressure and realistically won’t appear before 2027.

Biometric authentication: Touch ID or Face ID?

Rumors A Camera on Apple Watch They’ve been around for a few years, not for selfies, but likely for Face ID or AI-based image recognition.

Apple Intelligence has introduced a visual search tool on the iPhone that uses the camera to identify objects and places in real time, and it may only be a matter of time before this feature finally reaches the wrist. Meanwhile, wearables-focused processors like Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chipset support cameras and even live streaming. Apple is known to use its own chips, so this is unlikely to impact Apple’s timeline, but it does show that the technology exists, and we may see it on the Apple Watch. Not only this year, According to Bloomberg.

A more feasible option in the near term may be Touch ID. Macworld Lines of internal code were recently spotted indicating that Apple is experimenting with biometric authentication for the 2026 Apple Watch lineup. According to the report, the code stands for “AppleMesa,” which is Apple’s internal codename for the Watch-based Touch ID. It is still unclear whether the sensor will be integrated under the display, as we see in the image Android phones, or built-in side button or digital crown.

See the OS 27 wishlist

Now that Apple has standardized the names of its operating systems to match next year, you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to know that the next big update for the Apple Watch will be WatchOS 27.

With a major redesign already on the books (5 new Apple Watch features coming with WatchOS 26), we’re not expecting a radical visual change this time around, but there’s a lot on the wish list, including better battery management tools and more customizable gesture controls. Apple could also expand Workout Buddy from metrics-based encouragement into a more realistic training area. This might make it closer to what Samsung is trying to do AI powered running coach.

Finally, I would welcome a more robust symptom tracker linked to the Vitals app similar to the Oura Ring’s symptom radar that can flag early signs of illness.

Other updates to the Health app

The next version of WatchOS 27 could also make changes to the Health app. According to A Report by Mark Gorman Per Bloomberg, Apple is working on a top-secret initiative codenamed Project Mulberry, which aims to revamp the Health app with an AI-powered health concierge service that can unify your health, fitness and medical data in one place.

However, the project has recently faced some obstacles. Bloomberg’s latest report It is suggested that Apple has halted these efforts (at least for this year). This still leaves room for improvement on the Health app interface with the possibility of a redesign of the main dashboard making spotting trends easier.