Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 to prioritize performance

Apple is preparing to launch its next-generation smartwatches this fall, but the upcoming Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 are expected to forgo major design changes in favor of internal performance and health-tracking improvements. According to industry reports, the company is in late-stage testing of three models: Wi-Fi and cellular versions of the Series 12 and the Ultra 4. An official announcement is anticipated for September.

The new models will not receive a significant cosmetic overhaul compared to the current Series 11 and Ultra 3. Instead, the focus will be on delivering faster performance through a new, more powerful processor. This marks the first genuine chip upgrade for the Apple Watch since the S9 chip was introduced with the Series 9 and Ultra 2 in 2023. The updated models are also expected to feature improvements in health and fitness tracking capabilities, though specific new sensors have not been confirmed.

Reports indicate that a new Apple Watch SE model is not planned for release this year, following the update to the SE 3 last year. This year's launch will be limited to the Series 12 and Ultra 4.

Several previously rumored features are not...