An Apple Watch Ultra 4 Could Outshine the Series 12 This Year, but at What Price?

Apple 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

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

Battery life is another area where a more efficient processor could help. The Ultra 3 is already Apple’s longest-lasting watch, giving me about two days of consistent day-and-night use in my real-world testing. That’s still well behind traditional sports-watch brands like Garmin and Coros, which can measure battery life in weeks rather than days, with some models even going beyond the 30-day threshold with solar power. 

Apple is unlikely to close that gap in a single generation, but any gain will help. Battery life remains one of the biggest pain points for Apple Watch owners and people considering making the jump. Even without a larger battery, efficiency gains from a new processor could help the Ultra stretch its runtime even further.

No design changes expected for the Ultra 4

Gurman has said no major design changes are expected for this year’s Apple Watch lineup, beyond the materials and accessories, which would leave the Ultra 4 with the same general look as last year’s model. The Series 12 is expected to bring back the ceramic cases, but it’s less likely that Apple will swap ceramic for titanium on the Ultra. 

New health features 

Some of the Ultra 4’s new tricks won’t require new hardware at all. WatchOS 27 brings expanded one-handed gesture controls, workout updates and new perimenopause insights to the Apple Watch. Workout Buddy, Apple’s hype-person in your ear, will also work in Spanish and without an iPhone nearby.

The new watches may also bring expanded blood pressure features. Apple’s current hypertension notifications can flag patterns associated with high blood pressure, but they stop short of giving you an on-the-spot blood pressure reading. According to Gurman, Apple has tested blood pressure measurement internally but encountered accuracy problems, so there’s no guarantee the feature will be ready this year.

Wild card: TouchID on an Apple Watch

Another potential new addition (albeit using old technology) is Touch ID. MacWorld recently spotted internal Apple code suggesting the company has experimented with biometric authentication on the Apple Watch for either 2026 or 2027. It’s unclear whether Apple would put a fingerprint sensor beneath the display, in the Digital Crown or somewhere else entirely, but the Ultra could be a logical model to debut the new functionality, given its larger case and additional physical Action button.

Of course, all of this remains speculation until Apple makes it official. Check back for our coverage of Apple’s Sept. 9 event for all the details on the new Apple Watch(es).

Vanessa Hand Orellana

Principal Writer

Vanessa is a lead writer at CNET, reviewing and writing about the latest smartwatches and fitness trackers. She joined the brand first as an on-camera reporter for CNET’s Spanish-language site, then moved on to the English side to host and produce some of CNET’s videos and YouTube series. When she’s not testing out the latest health tech, you can catch her on a hike or trail run with her family.

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