Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 Reportedly Getting Faster Chips, Not a New Look, This Year

Same Look, More Power

Apple's next Apple Watch lineup isn't getting a facelift this year. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, writing in his Power On newsletter, Apple is in "late-stage testing" for refreshed Series 12 and Ultra 4 models. Both are expected to keep their current design language.

What's changing is under the hood. Gurman reported the new watches will get faster chips and improved health and fitness tracking, but he did not specify exact processor names or benchmark numbers. Apple hasn't confirmed any of this publicly. As of today, July 26, 2026, there's no official Apple announcement on Series 12, Ultra 4, or a launch date.

The last real jump in Apple Watch processing power came in 2023, when Apple introduced the S9 chip, according to Gurman. Everything since has been incremental. If this year follows that pattern, buyers get a snappier watch, not a different one.

The SE Gets Skipped

Gurman reported the Apple Watch SE line isn't expected to see a refresh this year. That tracks. Apple released the Apple Watch SE 3 last year, and Apple typically doesn't refresh a line twice in consecutive years without a reason. No source here indicates Apple has said anything official about SE plans either way.

The Redesign Is Still Coming, Just Not Yet

For people hoping for something that actually looks different on their wrist, Gurman says that's real, just not imminent. He described a "bigger rethink to the Apple Watch" as being one to two years out. No specifics were given on what that redesign might involve, whether it's a new case shape, thinner display bezels, or something else. Apple has not confirmed any redesign plans publicly.

Blood Sugar Tracking Still in the Lab

The more interesting long-term item buried in Gurman's report: Apple is still working on non-invasive blood sugar detection. This has been in development for years. Reports going back to 2024 indicated Apple was pairing the hardware effort with related software work.

Non-invasive blood glucose monitoring is one of the hardest problems in consumer health tech. Companies have poured billions into this across the industry for over a decade with no FDA-cleared consumer wearable on the market that does it reliably without a needle or sensor patch. Gurman's report doesn't suggest Apple has cracked it. It suggests Apple is still working on it. Those are very different things, and anyone expecting this feature to show up in a watch anytime soon should treat it as vaporware until Apple demonstrates otherwise.

If you're due for an upgrade and were hoping for a new-look Apple Watch, this is a wait-another-year situation. If you just want better performance and don't care about the design, Series 12 and Ultra 4 will reportedly deliver that, according to Bloomberg's reporting.

No pricing, release date, or event date has been confirmed by Apple. Apple typically unveils new Watch models alongside new iPhones in September. If that pattern holds, expect official confirmation or denial of these details within the next two months. Until Apple's own event happens, everything here remains reporting based on Gurman's sourcing, not confirmed Apple product specs.