Apple Watch Series 12 expected to launch with new chip and longer battery life
Apple is likely to unveil the Series 12 smartwatch at next month's iPhone event, featuring a new processor, improved battery endurance and potential health-sensor upgrades.
Apple is expected to introduce the Watch Series 12 at its annual iPhone event next month, continuing a pattern of incremental updates for the wearable. The device is projected to retain the current case design that debuted with the Series 10 in 2024, marking the third generation of the same housing.
Analyst Mark Gurman of Bloomberg says the Series 12 will focus on internal improvements rather than exterior redesigns. The most notable change is anticipated to be a new processor, likely designated the S11, replacing the S10 chip that has been used for three generations. Internal Apple code references support the introduction of a fresh chipset.
A leaker on the Chinese platform Weibo reported that Apple is prioritising battery performance, aiming for a larger battery and efficiency gains that could extend usage beyond the Series 11’s 24-hour claim (up to 38 hours in Low Power Mode).
Potential health-related enhancements include a blood-pressure notification feature pending FDA clearance and a possible upgrade to the sensor array in a premium model, according to DigiTimes. Gurman also noted that a ceramic case, absent from the lineup for six years, may return with the Series 12, offering an additional premium material alongside titanium.
New case finishes and band options are also expected, though rumors of an under-display Touch ID sensor or band-mounted health sensor have been dismissed by sources citing cost and space constraints.
The Series 12 is likely to be announced alongside the Watch Ultra 4, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and a foldable iPhone model, with no new Apple Watch SE slated for this year.