Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 launching tonight with iPhone 18 Pro, 5 upgrades expected

Apple is expected to unveil the Apple Watch Series 12 and Watch Ultra 4 at its upcoming event. Here are five major upgrades and changes that could arrive with the new Apple Watch models.

In Short

• Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 could debut tonight
• Apple may introduce more continuous heart-rate tracking
• A redesigned Health and Fitness app could offer richer wellness insights

A few more hours left for Apple’s “Surprise and shine” event, when the company is set to lift the veil from its next-generation products. This event could see the new Apple Watch 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup. The centrepiece of the event is highly anticipated to be the company’s first foldable, aka iPhone Duo. On the new Apple Watch series, Apple hasn't officially confirmed the watches will show up, but the timing lines up too well to ignore. Because the Cupertino-based tech giant has launched the Watch generation every September since 2016.

What we know from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman is that – don’t expect a major makeover, “but there will be some significant updates.” Here's what's reportedly coming.

1. Heart-rate tracking

Right now, the Apple Watch checks your heart rate at intervals or when it senses activity. Apple could bring a mode that keeps the sensor running continuously through the day instead, building a fuller, all-day picture of how your heart rate actually moves rather than just snapshots of it.

2. A Health app

Apple is also said to be reworking its Health and Fitness app to surface richer wellness metrics – nudging into territory currently owned by the likes of Whoop and Oura – so the app tells you more about your overall wellbeing, not just your last workout.

3. Ceramic Apple Watch

On the hardware side, Apple has reportedly tested white and dark grey ceramic case options for the Series 12 – a finish last seen on the high-end Series 3 back in 2017 – alongside a fresh batch of band colours. Don't expect it to come with a new silhouette, though; the overall shape should stay familiar.

4. A performance hike

The Series 11 and Ultra 3 are still running the S10 chip, but the next generation is tipped to move to an S11 or newer, arguably the first genuinely noticeable speed upgrade in a few years. A bigger visual redesign is said to still be a year or two out, so 2026 is shaping up to be about substance over style.

5. Skip the SE this time

Those who are hoping to purchase a new budget option or Apple Watch SE 4, Apple may have bad news for you. Major reports didn’t include SE4 on their list.

- Ends