Following final yr’s triple-header of recent Apple Watches (Collection 11, Extremely 3 and SE 3), 2026 is trying lots much less crowded. Early rumors level to the Apple Watch Collection 12 carrying the lineup by itself this fall, however that does not essentially imply it may be a boring one.
We’re not anticipating a dramatic new look (based mostly on rumors and Apple Watch historical past), however that does not imply there’s nothing to get enthusiastic about. Rumors level to at the least one main shakeup underneath the floor, together with hints of a long-removed iPhone characteristic lastly making its technique to the wrist.
As at all times, nothing is confirmed till Apple says so, however here is the whole lot we all know, suppose we all know and are crossing our fingers for.
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Apple Watch Collection 12 launch date
If there’s one factor Apple tends to maintain constant, it is the timing of its fall {hardware} occasion, the place it usually unveils its latest flagship iPhones and Apple Watch fashions.
Apple usually holds this occasion on the second Tuesday of September (often the week after Labor Day). By that logic, Sept. 15 looks as if the almost certainly candidate for Apple’s 2026 fall occasion. As a result of it lands a bit later within the month than in earlier years, there’s additionally a slim likelihood Apple strikes it as much as Sept. 9 (Labor Day week), because it has earlier than.
As in earlier years, preorders would possible open on the Friday after the occasion, with availability following every week or so later (assuming no manufacturing delays).
Pricing and availability
Count on pricing for the brand new watches to remain roughly according to the present Collection 11 lineup, which begins at about $400 (42mm Wi-Fi mannequin). Although value hikes aren’t utterly off the desk, with lingering tariff will increase and the potential for provide chain points.
The Apple Watch Extremely 3, SE 3 and Collection 11 on launch day.
What number of Apple Watch fashions will we get?
A Collection 12 is all however assured — we have had a new Apple Watch mannequin arrive yearly since its launch. What’s much less sure is whether or not Apple will refresh the complete lineup once more this yr. The Apple Watch SE and Extremely fashions do not observe the identical annual replace cycle, and since each the SE 3 and Ultra 3 have been refreshed in 2025, it is much less possible that Apple will replace each once more this yr.
If Apple does add one other mannequin alongside the Collection 12, the Extremely can be the extra believable candidate. Apple is not one to carry out on new options for its high-end fashions when warranted. Or if it follows the pattern set with the Ultra 2, the corporate would possibly simply roll out a brand new shade mannequin for the Extremely 3.
Acquainted design on the Apple Watch Collection 12
Do not maintain your breath for a round Apple Watch, or a serious makeover (at the least not for this yr). Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman mentioned during a live Q&A on March 26 that no main design adjustments are anticipated for this yr’s Apple Watch lineup, in line with MacRumors. That aligns with how sparse the redesign chatter has been general, so anticipate the identical silhouette with comparable colours and supplies.
What might change: display screen expertise. A extra energy-efficient show — probably an improved LTPO panel with higher brightness, as seen on the Collection 10 — might assist claw again some battery life with out including bulk.
Higher battery life tops the Apple Watch want record yr after yr.
Battery life and processor
The Collection 11 and Extremely 3 acquired a big battery bump over their predecessors: at the least 6 hours extra by Apple’s numbers and roughly an additional half day (or extra) in my real-world testing. And the Extremely 3 additionally acquired charging velocity worthy of its title, like its newer siblings. However there’s nonetheless numerous room for enchancment on each battery life and charging velocity.
With no main clues hinting at larger batteries but, I might guess we see extra incremental features (if any) on the Collection 12. Enhancements might come from higher display screen expertise, software program optimizations, and extra environment friendly processors.
In idea, the processor title often matches the watch quantity, suggesting an S12 chip this yr. However for the reason that Collection 11 and Extremely 3 are nonetheless working on the earlier yr’s S10 chip, the following improve might technically be an S11, making this yr’s naming a bit awkward.
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New well being options on the horizon
Apple has already dipped its toes into blood strain monitoring with hypertension notifications on the Apple Watch (Collection 10, Collection 11 and Extremely 3). The characteristic alerts homeowners when it detects indicators of abnormally hypertension, nevertheless it stops in need of offering an on-the-spot learn. This might be on the desk for the autumn of 2026.
Different wearable well being corporations like Omron and Med-Watch have confirmed that wrist-based blood strain measurement is feasible, although it is not as dependable as a standard cuff and will require new (bulkier) {hardware} to carry to the Apple Watch.
In line with Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple has been testing the characteristic internally however has encountered accuracy points. And even when Apple pulls it off for this yr, it would measure solely baseline developments much like Samsung’s blood strain characteristic on the Galaxy Watch 7 and Extremely (not supported within the US).
Glucose monitoring is one other long-running rumor that is on the desk, however according to Gurman, it is even farther from a completed product than blood strain and realistically would not seem earlier than 2027.
The following Apple Watch Collection 12 might carry again TouchID.
Biometric authentication: Contact ID or Face ID?
Rumors of a camera on the Apple Watch have been round for a couple of years — not for selfies, however probably for Face ID or AI-based picture recognition.
Apple Intelligence on the iPhone launched a visible search device that makes use of the digital camera to establish objects and locations in actual time, and it could be a matter of time earlier than this characteristic finally makes its technique to the wrist. In the meantime, wearable-focused processors like Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips already assist cameras and even livestreaming. Apple is thought to make use of its proprietary chips, so it is unlikely this could impression Apple’s timeline, nevertheless it reveals the expertise is there, and we might even see it down the road on the Apple Watch. Simply not this yr, according to Bloomberg.
A extra possible near-term choice might be Contact ID. Macworld lately noticed strains of inner code suggesting Apple has been experimenting with biometric authentication for the 2026 Apple Watch lineup. In line with the report, the code references “AppleMesa,” which is Apple’s inner code title for a watch-based Contact ID. It is nonetheless unclear whether or not the sensor can be built-in underneath the show, like we see on Android telephones, or constructed into the facet button or the Digital Crown.
Watch OS 27 wishlist
Now that Apple has standardized its working system names to match the yr forward, you do not have to be a rocket scientist to determine that the following large replace for the Apple Watch might be WatchOS 27.
With a serious redesign already within the books (5 New Apple Watch Features Coming With WatchOS 26), we’re not anticipating a dramatic visible change this time round, however there’s loads on the wishlist, together with higher battery administration instruments and extra customizable gesture controls. Apple might additionally develop Exercise Buddy from metric-driven encouragement into extra concrete coaching territory. This might carry it nearer to what Samsung is making an attempt with its AI-powered Running Coach.
Lastly, I might welcome a extra strong symptom tracker tied into the Vitals app much like Oura Ring’s Symptom Radar that may flag early indicators of sickness.
A future Apple Watch might carry superior well being sensors for on-the-spot blood strain reads.
Different Well being app updates
The following model of WatchOS 27 might additionally carry adjustments to the Well being app. In line with a report from Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, Apple has been engaged on a top-secret initiative code-named Mission Mulberry, aimed toward revamping the Well being app with an AI-powered well being concierge that might unify your well being, health, and medical information in a single place.
Nevertheless, the mission has lately run into some obstacles. Bloomberg’s latest report suggests Apple has put the hassle on maintain (at the least for this yr). That also leaves room for enchancment on the Well being app entrance with a possible redesign to the principle dashboard that will make recognizing developments simpler.
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