The New Apple Watch Series 12 Is Almost Here, and It Might Not Come Alone

The Apple Watch may bring TouchID to the wrist. Vanessa Hand Orellana/Jeffrey Hazelwood/CNET

The Apple Watch is due for an upgrade, and if the company continues its tradition of September launches, we should be getting two new watches in the coming weeks. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is preparing both an Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 for this fall, with faster chips and new health and fitness features, but no major design overhaul. Other wild-card rumors point to the return of a few throwback features, including a ceramic case, while leaked Apple code has fueled speculation that a fingerprint sensor (Touch ID) could finally make its way to the wrist.

As always, nothing is confirmed until Apple says so, but here’s everything we know, think we know and are crossing our fingers for.

Apple Watch Series 12 launch date

If there’s one thing Apple tends to keep consistent, it’s the timing of its fall hardware event, where it typically unveils its newest flagship iPhones and Apple Watch models.

Apple typically holds this event on the second Tuesday of September (usually the week after Labor Day). By that logic, Sept. 15 seems like the most likely candidate for Apple’s 2026 fall event. Because it lands a bit later in the month than in previous years, there’s also a chance Apple moves it up to Wednesday Sept. 9 (Labor Day week), as it has before.

As in previous years, preorders would typically open on the Friday after the event, with availability following a week or so later (assuming no production delays).

Pricing and availability

There are no solid rumors yet suggesting Apple will raise the price of its flagship Apple Watch, but the familiar $400 starting price (for the 42mm Wi-Fi model) isn’t guaranteed. Apple has raised prices across its hardware lineup this year, and Gurman expects some of this fall’s iPhones to get pricier too. Google and Samsung already raised prices on their 2026 flagship smartwatches, so a more expensive Apple Watch might not be out of the question.

The Apple Watch Ultra 3, SE 3 and Series 11 on launch day. Celso Bulgatti/CNET

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