Following last year's triple-header of new Apple Watches (Series 11, Ultra 3 and SE 3), 2026 is looking a lot less crowded. Early rumors point to the Apple Watch Series 12 carrying the lineup on its own this fall, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be a boring one.

We're not expecting a dramatic new look (based on rumors and Apple Watch history), but that doesn't mean there's nothing to get excited about. Rumors point to at least one major shakeup under the surface, including hints of a long-removed iPhone feature finally making its way to the wrist.

As always, nothing is confirmed until Apple says so, but here's everything we know, think we know and are crossing our fingers for. 

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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 newest flagship iPhones and Apple Watch models.

Apple typically holds this event on the second Tuesday of September (usually the week after Labor Day). By that logic, Sept. 15 seems like the most likely candidate for Apple's 2026 fall event. Because it lands a bit later in the month than in previous years, there's also a slim chance Apple moves it up to Sept. 9 (Labor Day week), as it has before.

As in previous years, preorders would likely open on the Friday after the event, with availability following a week or so later (assuming no production delays).

Pricing and availability

Expect pricing for the new watches to stay roughly in line with the current Series 11 lineup, which starts at about $400 (42mm Wi-Fi model). Though price hikes aren't completely off the table, with lingering tariff increases and the potential for supply chain issues.

How many Apple Watch models will we get?  

A Series 12 is all but guaranteed -- we've had a new Apple Watch model arrive 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 the SE 3 and Ultra 3 were refreshed in 2025, it's less likely that Apple will update both again this year.

If Apple does add another model alongside the Series 12, the Ultra would be the more plausible candidate. Apple isn't one to hold out on new features for its high-end models when warranted. Or if it follows the pattern set with the Ultra 2, the company might just roll out a new color model for the Ultra 3.

Familiar design on the Apple Watch Series 12

Don't hold your breath for a circular Apple Watch, or a major makeover (at least not for this year). Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said during a live Q&A on March 26 that no major design changes are expected for this year's Apple Watch lineup, according to MacRumors. That aligns with how sparse the redesign chatter has been overall, so expect the same silhouette with similar colors and materials.

What could change: screen technology. A more energy-efficient display -- potentially an improved LTPO panel with better brightness, as seen on the Series 10 -- could help claw back some battery life without adding bulk.

Battery life and processor

The Series 11 and Ultra 3 got a significant battery bump over their predecessors: at least 6 hours more by Apple's numbers and roughly an extra half day (or more) in my real-world testing. And the Ultra 3 also got charging speed worthy of its name, like its newer siblings. But there's still a lot of room for improvement on both battery life and charging speed. 

With no major clues hinting at bigger batteries yet, I'd bet we see more incremental gains (if any) on the Series 12. Improvements could come from better screen technology, software optimizations, and more efficient processors. 

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

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New health features on the horizon

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

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

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple has been testing the feature internally but has encountered accuracy issues. And even if Apple pulls it off for this year, it might measure only baseline 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-running rumor that's on the table, but according to Gurman, it's even further from a finished product than blood pressure and realistically wouldn't appear before 2027.

Biometric authentication: Touch ID or Face ID?

Rumors of a camera on the Apple Watch have been around for a few years -- not for selfies, but potentially for Face ID or AI-based image recognition. 

Apple Intelligence on the iPhone introduced a visual search tool that uses the camera to identify objects and places in real time, and it might be a matter of time before this feature eventually makes its way to the wrist. Meanwhile, wearable-focused processors like Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips already support cameras and even livestreaming. Apple is known to use its proprietary chips, so it's unlikely this would impact Apple's timeline, but it shows the technology is there, and we may see it down the line on the Apple Watch. Just not this year, according to Bloomberg.

A more feasible near-term option could be Touch ID. Macworld recently spotted lines of internal code suggesting Apple has been experimenting with biometric authentication for the 2026 Apple Watch lineup. According to the report, the code references "AppleMesa," which is Apple's internal code name for a watch-based Touch ID. It's still unclear whether the sensor would be integrated under the display, like we see on Android phones, or built into the side button or the Digital Crown. 

Watch OS 27 wishlist 

Now that Apple has standardized its operating system names to match the year ahead, you don't need to be a rocket scientist to figure out that the next big update for the Apple Watch will be WatchOS 27. 

With a major redesign already in the books (5 New Apple Watch Features Coming With WatchOS 26), we're not expecting a dramatic visual change this time around, but there's plenty on the wishlist, including better battery management tools and more customizable gesture controls. Apple could also expand Workout Buddy from metric-driven encouragement into more concrete training territory. This could bring it closer to what Samsung is trying with its AI-powered Running Coach.

Lastly, I'd welcome a more robust symptom tracker tied into the Vitals app similar to Oura Ring's Symptom Radar that can flag early signs of illness. 

Other Health app updates 

The next version of WatchOS 27 could also bring changes to the Health app. According to a report from Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, Apple has been working on a top-secret initiative code-named Project Mulberry, aimed at revamping the Health app with an AI-powered health concierge that could unify your health, fitness, and medical data in one place.

However, the project has recently run into some obstacles. Bloomberg's latest report suggests Apple has put the effort on hold (at least for this year). That still leaves room for improvement on the Health app front with a potential redesign to the main dashboard that would make spotting trends easier. 

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