Apple Watch Series 12 Leak: All-Day Heart Rate, Ceramic Case, No Touch ID
Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 will track heart rate continuously throughout the day instead of only during workouts and periodic checks, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The devices are expected to arrive alongside a rebuilt Fitness app when Apple holds its previously confirmed September 9 event.
The report, published August 30, lines up with separate reporting on the same devices, giving a consistent picture of what is landing in just over a week.
What's actually changing
The headline update is background heart-rate sensing. Today's Apple Watch samples heart rate during workouts and at intervals the rest of the day; Series 12 and Ultra 4 are expected to log it continuously, feeding a redesigned Health and Fitness app that surfaces wellness metrics in a format closer to what Whoop and Oura already offer. Apple has leaned on activity rings as its primary daily metric since the first Apple Watch — this would be the biggest shift in how the software presents your data in years.
Both watches are also expected to carry Apple's S11 chip, the first processor change in the lineup for multiple generations — Series 11 and Ultra 3 both reused the older S10.
Ceramic returns, but the design stays put
Ceramic case options are coming back in white and dark gray finishes, alongside new band colors. Apple last offered ceramic Apple Watch models years ago before dropping them from the lineup.
What is not changing: the case shape and overall design carry over from the current generation, which first appeared in 2024. Touch ID is not expected either — Gurman was explicit that reports suggesting a fingerprint sensor for this cycle are unreliable. He also does not expect a new Apple Watch SE this year, so SE 3 owners have another cycle to wait.
What's still further out
A larger Apple Watch redesign — one report has pointed to a round-screen option and a screenless fitness tracker — is expected roughly one to two years from now, not with this year's models. Blood sugar detection, a feature Apple has been developing for years, is reportedly still being targeted for around 2030.
- Series 12 and Ultra 4: continuous heart-rate tracking, new S11 chip, redesigned Fitness app, ceramic case options, no Touch ID, same case design as the current models.
- Not this year: Apple Watch SE update, Touch ID, major redesign.
- Confirmed: Apple's event is set for September 9, where these models are expected to be unveiled alongside the rest of the fall lineup.
Why this counts as a strong leak, not a guess
None of this is official — Apple has not confirmed a single spec. But it comes from a reporter with a long, verified track record on Apple's roadmap, publishing on a fixed timeline just over a week before Apple's own confirmed event. That is different from a supply-chain rumor with no named source. Treat the chip, the ceramic case, and the always-on heart-rate sensing as likely; treat anything not mentioned here as still unconfirmed.
Apple's September 9 event is also expected to bring new iPhones, so the Watch reveal will share the stage. For a look at where Apple's smartwatch design is actually headed beyond this cycle, see our earlier report on the round-screen and ceramic redesign concepts Apple has reportedly explored. And if you're on a current model, the latest watchOS update already changed how workouts start.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the Apple Watch Series 12 be announced?
Apple has confirmed an event for September 9, 2026, where the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 are expected to be unveiled alongside the rest of the fall lineup, including new iPhones.
Will the Apple Watch Series 12 have Touch ID?
No. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, reports of a fingerprint sensor arriving this cycle are unreliable, and Touch ID is not expected on the Series 12 or Ultra 4.
What is the new heart-rate feature on the Apple Watch Series 12?
Instead of sampling heart rate mainly during workouts and periodic checks, the Series 12 and Ultra 4 are reportedly set to track heart rate continuously throughout the day, feeding a redesigned Health and Fitness app with expanded wellness metrics.
Is there an Apple Watch SE 4 coming this year?
No. Reporting indicates Apple does not plan a new Apple Watch SE model in this cycle, so current SE owners will need to wait another generation for an update.
Is the Apple Watch getting a redesign this year?
Not this year. The Series 12 and Ultra 4 are expected to keep the same case design introduced in 2024. A larger redesign, potentially including a round-screen option, has been reported for roughly one to two years out.
