GoKawiilApple appears to be bracing for a double-Apple Watch debut at its Sept. 9 event, with rumors pointing to a new Ultra 4 launching alongside the flagship Series 12. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is preparing both watches with faster chips along with new health and fitness features.
The original Ultra arrived in 2022 with a more rugged titanium build, sapphire crystal display and features aimed at outdoor adventurers and athletes. Since then, it’s added support for recreational scuba diving and emergency satellite connectivity, but it hasn’t followed the predictable yearly release cycle of the flagship Series. There was a two-year gap between the Ultra 2 and last year’s Ultra 3.
A major processor upgrade this year could make a back-to-back refresh easier to justify. All three Apple Watches released last year still run on the S10 chip, and it’s unlikely Apple would leave its most expensive watch behind with an aging processor while upgrading the flagship model. Gurman reports Apple is preparing a faster S11 or possibly an S12 to match the flagship’s naming for both the Series 12 and Ultra 4.
But a bump in processing power could also come with a bump in price. The Ultra 3 already starts at $799, twice the Series 11’s starting price, and while there’s no solid price rumor yet for its successor, Apple has raised prices across parts of its hardware lineup this year. Google and Samsung have also raised prices on their flagship smartwatches in 2026, and I wouldn’t count on Apple holding the line at $799.
More processing power for the new Siri AI
The Apple Watch with Siri AI floats your top five apps to the top of your grid. Apple
One place that extra processing power could come in handy is WatchOS 27, which brings the new Siri AI to the Apple Watch. I’ve already been testing Siri AI in beta on the Ultra 3, and it’s miles ahead of traditional Siri. It can answer more complex and contextual questions, reference information in Apple’s native apps and generally avoid the frustrating “Here’s what I found on the web” response that made traditional Siri feel especially frustrating on the wrist.
I’ve been impressed by what it can do, but I’ve also noticed some lag. Part of that could be because the software is still in beta, but a faster processor could help speed up those interactions.
Battery gains welcome
The Apple Watch’s battery life is short compared to competitors. Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNET
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