The Apple Watch Series 12 is expected in September 2026 with a new chip, improved health sensors, and enhanced software integration. Full review of all available leaks as of May 29, 2026.
Ten days before WWDC 2026, where Apple will present watchOS 27 at its keynote on June 8, the portrait of the next generation of smartwatches is becoming clearer. Leaks, internal code analysis, and reports from specialized journalists paint a consistent picture: Series 12 promises to be a consolidation generation, focusing more on performance and health than Series 11, but reserving major visual evolutions for 2027.
A new processor after two generations without an update
The best-documented element concerns the chip. Apple made an unusual decision with the lineup launched in the fall of 2025: Series 11, Ultra 3, and SE 3 all featured the same S10 as their predecessors from the previous year. This freeze over two consecutive cycles is unprecedented in recent Apple Watch history.
Internal code analyzed by MacRumors indicates that Series 12 and Ultra 4 will receive a new chip, ending this stagnation. The exact branding, S11 or S12, has not yet been specified in the files consulted. Internal model numbers, N237, N238, and N240, have also been identified in development versions, confirming that preparations for the next generation are well underway.
The performance gain will not necessarily translate into perceptible raw speed in daily use. Most of the watch’s common tasks do not heavily utilize the current processor. The main challenge for the S12 chip is rather energy efficiency, which is essential to power more advanced Apple Intelligence features directly on the wrist.
Blood pressure measurement, the big unknown for Series 12
Connected health remains the central strategic focus of the Apple Watch lineup, and Series 12 will not deviate from this rule. The question is one of technological maturity available in 2026.
Real-time blood pressure measurement is the most anticipated feature for several years. Series 11 only alerts the user to indications of high pressure by analyzing their heart rate data over thirty days. According to analysts including Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, Series 12 could take the next step and offer direct readings on the wrist. However, significant doubts remain about the maturity of the technology for a 2026 launch.
Sources close to the matter also report that Apple is testing a new arrangement of sensors on the underside of the casing, organized in a ring to improve measurement reliability regardless of the watch’s exact position, similar to the Oura Ring 4. The exact nature of the data collected by these sensors remains unconfirmed.
Non-invasive glucose monitoring is expected at the earliest in 2028. Apple has been working on this feature for years, but the precision required for a consumer product has not yet been achieved. According to recent reports, Apple has also paused its internal project codenamed « Project Mulberry » for this year, which was a revamp of the Health app integrating an AI assistant to consolidate medical and sports data into a unified interface.
Touch ID: hope confirmed in code, then abandoned
In the summer of 2025, developers identified references in internal code to « AppleMesa, » the codename Apple uses internally for a fingerprint reader intended for the Apple Watch. The idea was to integrate this biometric sensor into the side button. The feature would have allowed unlocking without entering a code and validating Apple Pay payments, following the model of the iPad Air.
The presence of this code in development builds did not guarantee that Apple would proceed. Furthermore, neither Mark Gurman at Bloomberg nor analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had confirmed the arrival of Touch ID on the Apple Watch this year.
In May 2026, leaker Instant Digital published on Weibo that Apple had ultimately abandoned this feature for Series 12. Two main reasons reportedly were decisive, according to their information: an additional biometric sensor would weigh too heavily on already constrained energy consumption, and its integration would occupy precious space that could accommodate a larger battery or new health sensors. The feature could return in a later generation.
watchOS 27: the software half of the equation
Software is as important as hardware in defining the Apple Watch experience. In ten days, WWDC 2026 on June 8 will unveil watchOS 27 in detail, with a developer beta likely available that evening, a public version expected in July, and the general release in September with Series 12.
Mark Gurman reported in his Power On newsletter that Apple is testing several new watch faces for watchOS 27, including a simplified version of the « Modular Ultra » face, which was previously exclusive to the Apple Watch Ultra. This expansion would allow users of Series models to access a more information-rich display without upgrading to the $799 Ultra line.
watchOS 27 is also expected to refine the Liquid Glass visual language introduced with watchOS 26 in the fall of 2025, with a stated focus on stability and improved battery life. Additional Apple Intelligence features are also expected, notably a more autonomous Siri directly on the watch. Expanded satellite tools, including Apple Maps navigation and photo sharing without cellular connection, are also among the anticipated features. Compatibility would extend to Series 4 models and later, with Series 3 and earlier being excluded from the update.
Design and lineup: no upheaval before 2027
Aesthetically, several consistent sources confirm that the rounded square case is maintained. Expected dimensions remain close to 42 mm and 46 mm, with aluminum and titanium finishes. Visual novelties are focused on new colors and software watch faces rather than a structural redesign of the case. Apple is reportedly saving its major design evolution for 2027.
No Apple Watch SE is planned for 2026: the lineup will be limited to Series 12 and Ultra 4. This configuration concentrates attention and marketing investment on the two most ambitious models in the range.
Apple Watch Series 12 Price and Availability: September 2026
The smartwatch will be unveiled at Apple’s fall event, likely alongside the iPhone 18 Pro. If Apple again splits its iPhone launches between Pro and standard models, the Series 12 would accompany the Pro models.
No firm leaks concern the exact price. The most likely starting point remains around $399 for the GPS version, continuing the trend of recent generations. Some analysts predict rather $449 for the GPS version and around $569 for the Cellular version. Nothing suggests at this stage that Apple plans a major price change, barring supply chain constraints.
WWDC on June 8 will provide the first concrete answers about watchOS 27 in ten days, and the fall will confirm the hardware. For users equipped with a Series 9 or earlier model, the combination of a new chip after two years of stagnation, potentially enhanced sensors, and watchOS 27 should make the upgrade particularly compelling in fall 2026.