Apple Watch Series 12: Three new features coming next week

Apple Watch Series 12 is coming next week, launching at the September event alongside Apple Watch Ultra 4. Here are three new features rumored for Apple Watch Series 12.

#1: New S-class chip

Apple’s S-class chips don’t get meaningful updates very often. Even though Apple does change the number most years, actual CPU improvements are rare. And last year, the company skipped offering an S11 altogether and kept the S10 around.

But this year, rumors indicate an upgraded S-class chip is coming to Apple Watch Series 12. Likely named S12 or S11, it will be more powerful, faster, and also the first new Watch chip of the AI era.

Siri AI is a tentpole addition to watchOS 27, and it’s expected to run best on the new chip. But other everyday features should benefit from the new chip too.

#2: Always-on heart rate sensor and more health improvements

Apple Watch Series 12 has long been rumored to add new health features. For example, the FDA reportedly reviewed an upgrade to hypertension notifications that’s expected to debut next week.

One other specific rumor is that the heart rate sensor will get always-on support. This would match functionality offered by competing products like WHOOP.

Per Mark Gurman, the new Series 12 sensor can “continuously collect data throughout the day — not just when it senses you’re doing intense activity or at other random intervals.”

#3: Ceramic case option, likely in white and dark gray

Joining the usual new watch bands and case options, Apple is expected to debut a Ceramic case for the first time since 2019’s Series 5 model.

Apple will reportedly offer Series 12 in two Ceramic colors: white and dark gray. <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2026-08-30/john-ternus-management-team-apple-watch-series-12-foldable-iphone-apple-pencil-mtfvmdyu?utm_campaign=power-on&utm_source=newsletter-management-page&utm_term=20260830″ rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank”>Per Bloomberg: “Apple has tested both white and dark gray configurations for the Series 12 ceramic cases.”

It’s unclear how much of a premium Ceramic will add to the Series 12 price, but the last time it was offered, it started at $1,299—far more than Apple Watch Ultra costs today.

What’s on your feature wish list for Apple Watch Series 12? Let us know in the comments.

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