Apple Watch Series 12 will introduce always-on heart rate tracking and a redesigned fitness app that shows deeper wellness metrics. The always-on capability allows the heart rate sensor to record continuously throughout the day rather than only during workouts and random intervals.
As reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the revamped app will display wellness-related metrics in a format similar to Whoop and Oura offerings, moving beyond the activity rings that have dominated Apple Watch fitness tracking since the device’s launch.
These changes represent Apple’s most direct challenge yet to specialized health platforms, addressing a long-standing criticism of how the Watch presents fitness data compared to dedicated trackers. The shift repositions the Watch as a serious health platform, not just a workout companion.
New Chip and Battery Improvements Drive the Experience
Series 12 and Ultra 4 will receive a new processor, likely named S11 or S12, marking the first meaningfully new chip in years. The S10 powered both Series 10 and Series 11, and was functionally identical to the S9 from 2023, leaving three generations with the same silicon. A fresh CPU, identified by leakers as the T8320, is expected to handle the demands of continuous health monitoring and the incoming watchOS 27, which will bring Siri AI to the wearable for the first time.
Battery life has become a central focus. A known leaker on the Chinese platform Weibo reports Apple is pursuing a physically larger battery alongside efficiency gains elsewhere in the device. The Series 11 currently reaches up to 24 hours on a standard charge, or up to 38 hours in Low Power Mode; longer endurance is essential for always-on health features to remain practical for daily users.
Ceramic Returns with New Color Options and Band Selection
Apple is bringing ceramic back as a case material after discontinuing it several generations ago. Two ceramic color options will be available: traditional white and a new dark gray. Along with the case materials, Apple is preparing “many new band colors and configurations,” expanding customization beyond typical aluminum and stainless steel finishes.
Design Unchanged; No Touch ID, No SE 4
The Apple Watch Series 12 retains the same case design introduced with Series 10 in 2024, marking the third consecutive year without a redesign. Rumors of Touch ID support have been ruled out entirely, as Apple determined that health features and battery capacity took priority over biometric authentication.
There will be no Apple Watch SE 4 this year, continuing the typical two- to three-year refresh cycle for the budget model. The Series 12 and Ultra 4 are expected to debut at Apple’s annual September event next month.
Longer-Term Health Ambitions Beyond Series 12
Non-invasive glucose monitoring remains in development, with Apple targeting a blood-sugar detection feature for release sometime later this decade. That project traces back to initiatives from the Steve Jobs era and shows the company’s multi-year commitment to health as a core differentiator in wearables. Apple Watch Series 12’s always-on heart rate and redesigned metrics app lay the foundation for more sophisticated health capabilities to follow.
