- Mark Gurman reports that the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 are currently in late-stage testing and are expected to launch in September 2026.
- There will be no major design overhaul for the 2026 models of the Apple Watch, according to Gurman.
- The focus for the upcoming models will be on performance and health tracking improvements, rather than cosmetic changes.
- A redesign of the Apple Watch is expected to take place in another year or two, as noted by Gurman.
- The 2026 Apple Watch lineup is expected to focus on performance and health improvements, with no major design changes reportedly planned.
- The new models are codenamed N237 and N238 for the Wi-Fi and cellular versions of the Apple Watch Series 12, while the Apple Watch Ultra 4 is codenamed N240.
- Gurman believes this year’s watches will receive relatively modest upgrades, including performance improvements for faster operation and enhancements to health and fitness tracking.
Apple's upcoming Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 are set to launch in September 2026, focusing on performance enhancements rather than design changes. According to Mark Gurman, these models are in late-stage testing and will feature improved health and fitness tracking capabilities.1
Gurman noted that Apple is not planning a major design overhaul for this year's models, which will instead see upgrades in processing power and speed due to new chips. The last significant processor update occurred in 2023 with the introduction of the S9 chip.
The new models, codenamed N237 and N238 for the Series 12 and N240 for the Ultra 4, are expected to enhance health tracking but will not include new sensors. Gurman emphasized that while a bigger rethink of the Apple Watch is anticipated, it will not materialize for another year or two.6
Additionally, the Apple Watch SE is not expected to see a refresh this year, as it was just released last year. The 2026 lineup may also feature a new mechanism for attaching watch bands, although this remains uncertain.
In summary, while the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 will deliver performance improvements, users seeking significant design changes will need to wait longer.
“The Series 12 (codenames N237 and N238) and Ultra 4 (N240) are in late-stage testing for a September 2026 launch, with performance boosts from new chips but no design overhaul. Separately, a university study found that no wearable accurately tracked calories, with the best off by 27%.”
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