Apple Watch Ultra 4 & Series 12: Touch ID and New Chip Leaks

If you are deciding whether to upgrade your watch or wait, rumors about the Apple Watch 2026 Ultra 4 and 12 matter a lot.

Apple just refreshed the whole lineup in 2025, and now all eyes are on what is coming next year with the next Apple Watch.

This guide walks through the current lineup, the most credible leaks about series 12, the rumored Apple Watch Ultra 4, and what is likely to remain unchanged for now.  

Quick Look Back: 2025 Apple Watch Updates

Before talking about the next Apple Watch, it helps to see where we are now. In 2025, every major Apple Watch lineup got an update.

That means most people looking to buy an Apple Watch today are choosing between very recent models.

The focus in 2025 was simple: new chips, a key Sensor upgrade for health, and better connectivity, not a complete, significant redesign.

Apple Watch SE (3rd Gen)

Apple updated the budget model with the Apple Watch se 3, which kept the same case design but got a faster chip and modern features.

After more than two years without changes, it was a needed upgrade.

Key upgrades included:

• Improved performance from a newer chip
• Modern core features from the main Apple Watch series line
• A price that still makes sense if you want a watch for your kids or a basic starter watch

Apple did not change the look or the bands, so there is no change to the bands here.

Apple Watch Series 11

The Apple Watch Series 11 was the true mainstream update. Apple added more health tech and modern radio features while leaving the outside untouched.

Main additions:

• Extra health new sensors, including blood pressure tracking
• Support for 5 G in some models, so that carriers can offer 5 G service to your wrist
• Built‑in SOS calling so you can answer phone calls, reach help, and send and receive text messages even when your iPhone is not nearby

The design remained unchanged, so there is no major redesign yet, and every GPS model and cellular Apple Watch model still feels familiar on the wrist.

Check out the 2026 smartwatch predictions for all competitors (including Garmin and Google) to see how the Watch 12 compares.

Apple Watch Ultra 3

The rugged watch also saw a refresh as the Apple Watch Ultra 3. The design remained chunky and rugged, but Apple matched many of the Series 11 upgrades.

Highlights:

• The same new health sensor is used for advanced tracking
• 5G support, so the cellular model allows better coverage in more places
• SOS calling, which many people said they wished had SOS from the start

All of this sets the stage for what the new watch that comes out in 2026 might do differently.

Apple Watch Series 12: What Leaks Say

The star of the Apple Watch 2026 lineup is the Apple Watch Series 12. Based on current leaks, it will focus on features and internals, not shape. The significant visual change is still a few years away.

Some reports say the Apple Watch 12 could be the model that finally brings Touch ID to your wrist, while still looking a lot like Series 11.

Design expectations

If you are hoping for a complete redesign in 2026, the latest rumors suggest you may need to be patient. Several leaks suggest the big redesign could land closer to 2028.

Apple already treated the Apple Watch Series 10 as a major reset. That Series 10 generation updated the look, and Apple then began iterating on sensors and chips.

The idea is similar to the iPhone and Mac, where a shell can last several years.

Product family	Likely design span
Apple Watch Series 10 and later	Around 4 years of a similar look
iPhone line	Multiple years between significant changes
MacBook and Mac (computer)	Often keep chassis across chip cycles

Reports from outlets such as Macworld, social posts on Weibo, and supply chain notes from outlets like Digitimes generally agree on this pattern, even if exact timing varies. A truly significant redesign seems further out than 2026.

Touch ID finally coming?

The most exciting rumor is the arrival of Touch ID on Watch 12. Code references have appeared in internal software that hint at fingerprint technology tied to the watch.

The most realistic option is a glass cover over the fingerprint reader in the side button, rather than a complete under‑display solution.

That button already opens your app grid and recent apps, so adding a reader there makes sense.

If this happens, features like these become much smoother:

1. Unlock your watch with a quick tap instead of a passcode
2. Approve Apple Pay and NFC payments in stores faster
3. Sign in to apps that support biometrics without touching your iphone

With a fingerprint system in place, the following year’s Apple Watch could also integrate with Apple’s intelligence and security features in iOS or watchOS in more innovative ways as AI becomes more common.

Glucose monitoring update

Everyone keeps asking about blood glucose monitoring and whether it will be included in the new Series 12 sensors.

Reports over the last few years say Apple has had a proof‑of‑concept Sensor system in labs for non‑invasive glucose tracking.

Right now, leaks suggest this tech is not ready for consumer use yet. Apple wants accuracy that is near-medical-grade before putting something like this on a mass-market product.

There are significant reasons for the wait:

• Health tools that touch the Heart, Heart rate, and the Blood sugar system need to be right
• Health benefit demands perfection, not estimates that might be off by 15 percent
• If you rely on readings for Sleep apnea detection or Sleep apnea risk, you need consistent results

Some reports mention eight sensors, either arranged under a Glass back or in a ring pattern.

These are often described as a ring pattern of optical parts. At this stage, they are still rumors, not confirmed plans.

For now, blood glucose monitoring and tools that track Apnea and deep Sleep apnea metrics seem more likely for a future device than for the 2026 watch.

No New Apple Watch SE in 2026

The SE line has its own rhythm. Apple typically refreshes it every 2 or 3 years, rather than every year like the flagship.

Since the Apple Watch Se 3 arrived in 2025, another SE in 2026 would break that pattern. The budget watch already runs modern WatchOS, handles receive notifications, and covers all the basics for fitness, calls, and texts.

That is why a new SE is more likely in 2027 or even 2028, not coming next year.

If you want a simple Apple Watch that is reimbursable through your insurer, or a starter Apple Watch for your kids, the current SE will remain relevant for a while.

Dream watch: could an “Apple Watch Air” launch?

There is also a lot of talk about a skinny new Apple Watch that people are calling an “Apple Watch Air“.

This is not confirmed, but the idea aligns with how Apple positions products like the MacBook Air and iPhone SE.

The concept is a lighter watch that trades some battery life for style.

Key design and features

Rumors say this thin watch could be around 30 percent slimmer than the current Apple Watch Ultra and mainstream models like Series 7 or Series 9.

It would likely feature a larger screen, similar to the Apple Watch Series 11, with slim bezels.

Inside, it could include efficiency chips such as N‑series or C‑series silicon. That is why some people mention labels such as C1 or N1 in early talk.

The goal is simple: match the SE’s full‑day endurance. Many people already charge at night, so a thin watch that feels great on the wrist and lasts one day remains useful.

Pricing and appeal

If Apple ever ships an “Air” watch, pricing will matter. Many observers estimate a range near the larger Series 11 size, around the same price range as 429 to 450 dollars.

At that point, you might pick between:

• A thicker model with slightly better battery life
• Or a super thin model that looks more like jewelry

For many buyers, looks win, especially when the difference in charging hours is slight.

Timeline guess

Nothing in the current leak cycle says an Apple Watch Air is expected to arrive in 2026. Most expect Apple to announce it later, once it balances other projects, such as the iPhone “Air” concept and future iPhones.

Apple Watch Ultra 4: Time for a refresh

The rugged line is in a similar spot. The current Ultra has retained the same shell for three generations, beginning with the first Apple Watch Ultra.

That is why a significant change to the Apple Watch Ultra 4 is likely, even if Apple keeps the watch’s core identity.

Possible new design

Leaks suggest Apple could reduce the thickness of the next Ultra by about 10 to 15 percent, while keeping it a chunky outdoor tool. Details such as the display glass cover and side guards should still feel durable.

Paired with a modern chip, the Ultra could still deliver the long battery life people expect. Even with a thinner body, careful tuning and new silicon can provide faster performance without increasing power consumption.

This update would not be a complete, significant redesign, but it would make the big watch more comfortable for small wrists.

Feature upgrades

On the feature side, the Ultra line usually mirrors the flagship series with a few extras. For the Apple Watch Ultra 4, the most likely upgrades look like this:

• Touch ID in the side button, matching the series 12 rumor
• Extra performance from a new chip for workouts, GPS, and safety features
• Tight 5G integration so carriers can offer 5 G service directly

At the same time, the Ultra would still:

• Track Heart rate and advanced Computer hardware level metrics
• Log hikes when your iPhone for distance is miles away
• Send and receive text messages, receive notifications, and control Apple TV from your wrist

Despite its rugged design, you can already answer phone calls, control music, and manage features such as AirTag and AirPods Pro from an Ultra.

Why a bigger change now?

After three years of light tweaks, many people feel a significant change is overdue on the rugged side. The Ultra has retained the same bands, and little has changed in how they operate since launch.

With the health focus growing, more powerful chips on the way, and software like WatchOS and iOS 26 evolving together, it makes sense for Apple to revisit this case.

A slimmer body, stronger Glass, and new health tools for Sleep apnea detection or endurance sports would help the Ultra stay ahead of rivals.

Connectivity, software, and the broader Apple ecosystem

When reviewing the 2026 lineup, you also need to consider how it fits across Apple devices and software.

Every modern Apple Watch model is tightly compatible with iPhone. If you don’t have yet, you will need one to set up a watch in the first place.

After that, even a non‑cellular GPS model can still send and receive text messages, track workouts, and mirror notification alerts from your phone.

If you want to leave your phone behind, the cellular model allows:

• Calls and texts on the run
• Streaming music, podcasts, and controlling Apple TV
• Rich receives notifications from apps while you are out

Carriers that offer 5G support will expand G service, making that connection even faster as 5G adoption spreads to more devices.

On the software side, iOS 26 and iOS 26 will likely land around the same time as the 2026 watches, based on Apple’s typical software release cycle. 

That means new features in WatchOS tied to Apple intelligence, health alerts, and ways to manage your AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods all from your wrist.

You will also be able to control things like an iPad, a Mac (computer), and even features on Apple TV, which makes the watch feel like the remote for your digital life.

Upgrade timing, trade‑in, and value

If you already own a recent watch, the main question is whether to wait. Apple’s trade‑in deals and carrier offers also play a role.

Apple retail and carrier promos sometimes say things like “Get up to $335 off a new Apple Watch” or “Get up to 3 when you trade,” when you trade in an Apple Watch.

Those numbers move around each season, but they are worth checking around launch.

If you still use a much older watch, such as a Series 7 or earlier, you will notice faster performance on newer models. 

You may also see faster charging, deeper health metrics, such as early Apnea or Sleep apnea warnings, and features that help you send and receive text messages from more locations.

For many people, it makes sense to wait for the new watch to come out in 2026, then compare:

• The Apple Watch Ultra 4 versus the existing Ultra
• The Apple Watch Series 12 versus the Apple Watch Series 11
• Whether you want a GPS model or a full cellular

Health savings accounts and wellness programs sometimes cover Apple Watch expenses. In those cases, pairing a new watch with a fresh iPhone or other Computer hardware, such as a Mac, can be a smart yearly move.

Where rumors get their details

Much of what we know about Ultra 4 and Watch 12 comes from supply chain leaks, analyst notes, and references in software testing.

Outlets like Macworld supply reports like Digitimes, and leakers on Weibo often share early hints.

Some of those reports mention things like:

• Sensors arranged in a ring under a sapphire glass cover
• Eight sensors arranged to help with Sleep apnea detection and deeper cardio tracking
• Components arranged in a ring pattern that might one day track blood glucose monitoring or Heart rate in fresh ways

Right now, these phrases describe experiments, not retail products. The hardware and software must complete the full Software release life cycle before anything reaches store shelves.

Stay updated on 2026 leaks.

The next batch of watches is widely expected to arrive around September, when Apple usually unveils new hardware and each new watch comes to stores.

As each Apple Watch ships, expect software such as iOS 26 and watchOS to arrive simultaneously, along with support for AirTag, fitness tools, and more.

Conclusion

The short version is simple: the following year’s Apple Watch will likely look similar on the outside while changing significantly on the inside.

The Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 are poised to refine health tracking, add features like Touch ID, deepen 5G, and keep you more independent from your iPhone.

If you have Apple Watch Series 9 or Apple Watch Series 11, you can safely wait and compare what comes next year.

 If you rely on features like SOS, 5 G support, or the ability to send and receive text messages on your wrist, the 2025 lineup is already strong.

Either way, monitoring these leaks helps you decide when to upgrade, how to pair your watch with AirPods, AirPods Pro, and other gear, and whether to time your purchase to trade in or take advantage of a launch promo.

Features such as health tracking, more innovative notification tools, and tight integration with iOS 26 and Apple Intelligence mean the watch will only become more central to your daily routine.

Compare Apple’s 2026 strategy with Garmin, Google, and others in our full predictions guide.