Apple Watch Series 12, Ultra 4 and iPhone 18 Pro launch tonight

Only a few hours remain until Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event, where the company will reveal its next-generation products. The new Apple Watch 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 could make an appearance alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup. The event's main attraction is expected to be the company's first foldable device, known as the iPhone Duo. Regarding the new Apple Watch series, Apple has not officially confirmed its unveiling, but the launch schedule is too consistent to ignore, given that the Cupertino tech giant has released a new generation of the Watch every September since 2016.

According to a famous publication, a radical overhaul shouldn't be expected, "but there will be some significant updates." Here is what is rumoured to be coming:

1. Heart rate tracking

Currently, the Apple Watch measures heart rate at intervals or when it detects activity. Apple could introduce a mode that keeps the sensor active continuously throughout the day, offering a more complete and constant picture of how heart rate actually varies, rather than just providing isolated spot checks.

2. A revamped Health app

Apple is also said to be redesigning its Health and Fitness apps to offer more detailed wellness metrics—venturing into territory currently dominated by brands like Whoop and Oura—so that the app reports on the user's overall well-being, rather than just their latest workout.

3. Ceramic Apple Watch

Regarding hardware, rumours suggest Apple has tested white and dark gray ceramic case options for the Series 12—a finish last seen on the high-end Series 3 model in 2017—alongside a new range of band colours. However, a radical design overhaul is not expected; the overall shape should remain familiar.

4. A leap in performance

The Series 11 and Ultra 3 models still use the S10 chip, but the next generation is expected to make the jump to the S11 chip or a newer version; this would likely mark the first truly noticeable speed improvement in several years. A major visual redesign is reportedly still a year or two away, so 2026 looks set to focus more on functionality than aesthetics.

5. Skip the SE this time

If you were hoping to buy a new budget-friendly option or the Apple Watch SE 4, Apple might have bad news for you: major reports do not include the SE 4 in their lists.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kahekashan

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Kahekashan is a passionate technophile with a keen eye for cutting-edge gadgets, emerging technologies, and everything in the digital realm. Raised in a Defence family with strong values and a background in literature, she has consistently pursued excellence in every endeavour. Her last full-time assignment involved content writing with the Indian School of Business.

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