Apple Watch Ultra 4 Expected Later This Year

[MacRumors]

Apple will unveil the Apple Watch Ultra 4 alongside an Apple Watch Series 12 later this year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman plotted out Apple's product roadmap for the rest of the year, including the Phone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and the company's first foldable iPhone. "That flurry of devices should also include an Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4," said Gurman.

Apple hasn't released a new Apple Watch Ultra model every year. The Ultra launched in 2022, followed by an Ultra 2 in 2023. In 2024, the only update was a black color option, but the underlying hardware remained unchanged. The Ultra 3 arrived in 2025, so it sounds like Apple isn't skipping a year this time around.

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 could include a "full redesign," according to a May 2026 DigiTimes report, but it's not clear what that would include. The device is also rumored to be getting a "significant upgrade to sensing functions." But again, we don't know what that might refer to.

In terms of new watch features, Apple is developing noninvasive blood glucose monitoring technology, but it is still believed to be a few years away while Apple works on further miniaturization.

Leaked Apple code has suggested the company is experimenting with biometric authentication in the form of Touch ID for 2026's Apple Watch lineup, but it's not clear how this could be implemented. Touch ID could go under the display, or it could be integrated into the side button. The feature would reduce reliance on numerical passcodes for unlocking, but the Apple Watch already has a wrist authentication feature for making purchases.

Looking further ahead, Apple is considering using LG Display's high-mobility oxide (HMO) thin-film transistor technology for the next Apple Watch OLED display in 2027. Compared to the current LTPO display technology, HMO increases electron mobility for lower power consumption.

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Apple Watch Series 12 are expected to arrive in September alongside the new iPhone models. watchOS 27 will add new watch faces to the new devices, including a variant of the Modular Ultra face.

Article Link: Apple Watch Ultra 4 Expected Later This Year

 

[McWetty]

After they did AWU1 dirty with watchOS 27, I’m not putting up $800+ to upgrade. I love my AWU1. And 5 years of updates is the rough benchmark Apple set. It would be no trouble to strip the SiriAI junk out of watchOS 27 for the underspec watches.

 

[svish]

Not sure how much will change especially for Series 12. Also waiting to see the new watch faces.

 

[lauriinc]

No way I'm falling for this trap again, they'll likely cut the watchOS support too soon.

 

[deckard666]

How soon is too soon ? Google is 3 and Samsung 4-5.....although it's not far off the worst software support for any apple hardware and certainly is for a flagship device !

 

[Biro]

It would be no trouble to strip the SiriAI junk out of watchOS 27 for the underspec watches.

They would probably become the most desirable Apple Watches to own.

 

[spazzcat]

After they did AWU1 dirty with watchOS 27, I’m not putting up $800+ to upgrade. I love my AWU1, but 5 years of updates is the rough benchmark Apple set. It would be no trouble to strip the SiriAI junk out of watchOS 27 for the underspec watches.

You strip the Siri AI out and you have WatchOS 26, so you are not losing or gaining anything.

 

[spazzcat]

No way I'm falling for this trap again, they'll likely cut the watchOS support too soon.

So your watch isn't going to work anymore in the Fall?

 

[PsykX]

You strip the Siri AI out and you have WatchOS 26, so you are not losing or gaining anything.

They did refine a few other things though...

I hope it's a big upgrade this year because I'll have to upgrade.
My Series 10 is the first watch I've scratched and it kills me every time I look at it. I want stronger glass, which Ultra and now even Series 11 have.

 

[DBZmusicboy01]

A $20 digital watch will last as long as the battery allows but an Apple Watch Ultra will become useless without constant software support.
Imagine buying a fully loaded Mercedes with only 10,000 miles of powertrain warranty after paying A lot for it 😬
I feel the Apple Watch Ultra 4 will be obsolete in 4 years even tho the specs will be excellent.

 

[CmdrLaForge]

So the news is that there will be an Apple Watch Ultra 4 this year and that is about what is known?

 

[BorisDG]

Not sure how much will change especially for Series 12. Also waiting to see the new watch faces.

I'm pretty certain, that we will get entire new SoC based on A18 or later (3nm). Also it's very likely we are getting improved screen, just like S10.

 

[gmanist1000]

I hope it has an actually new chip that is faster. At least on my Ultra 1, it's dog slow when boot up. Once it boots up, it's even more dog slow to open any sort of app right away without waiting a minute for it to start loading anything.

 

[spazzcat]

A $20 digital watch will last as long as the battery allows but an Apple Watch Ultra will become useless without constant software support.
Imagine buying a fully loaded Mercedes with only 10,000 miles of powertrain warranty after paying A lot for it 😬
I feel the Apple Watch Ultra 4 will be obsolete in 4 years even tho the specs will be excellent.

How so?

 

[chuckles235]

It will last you two years. That’s a $400 annual subscription. Even the economist doesn’t cost that much.

 

[Complex757]

A $20 digital watch will last as long as the battery allows but an Apple Watch Ultra will become useless without constant software support.
Imagine buying a fully loaded Mercedes with only 10,000 miles of powertrain warranty after paying A lot for it 😬
I feel the Apple Watch Ultra 4 will be obsolete in 4 years even tho the specs will be excellent.

How will it become useless?

 

[Rockanrolero]

Just saying… 😏

 

[satchmo]

In terms of new watch features, Apple is developing noninvasive blood glucose monitoring technology, but it is still believed to be a few years away while Apple works on further miniaturization.

I get it's no small feat, but how many years now have we've heard that it's a few years away.

 

[snn5]

I am debating whether I should abandon Apple Watch and get the Garmin Fenix 9 when it comes out. Any thoughts?

 

[MrMacintoshIII]

Hoping for even a marginally louder speaker for playing music/podcasts directly off of the watch.

 

[verniesgarden]

it would be interesting to know how much the dropping of the UW1 will impact sales. I can see a balance of folks upgrading to the new ultra and swatch just being frustrating and not buying one at all.

 

[McWetty]

I am debating whether I should abandon Apple Watch and get the Garmin Fenix 9 when it comes out. Any thoughts?

I thought about doing this too, but good lord the Fenix line got expensive. I’d have to noodle on that expense before jumping to Garmin.

 

[BigMcGuire]

After they did AWU1 dirty with watchOS 27, I’m not putting up $800+ to upgrade. I love my AWU1. And 5 years of updates is the rough benchmark Apple set. It would be no trouble to strip the SiriAI junk out of watchOS 27 for the underspec watches.

Several other Apple Watch generations only got 3 OS updates before being unsupported. How is Apple doing the AWU1 “dirty” ?

A $20 digital watch will last as long as the battery allows but an Apple Watch Ultra will become useless without constant software support.
Imagine buying a fully loaded Mercedes with only 10,000 miles of powertrain warranty after paying A lot for it 😬
I feel the Apple Watch Ultra 4 will be obsolete in 4 years even tho the specs will be excellent.

Obsolete? Do you realize there are still people using the Apple Watch Series 2 with iOS 27 today on the forums? It does everything it did the day it was purchased - and that was almost 10 years ago… Apple also has a record of sometimes replacing user’s watches despite no AppleCare and giving them newer generation watches as a replacement (based on user’s posts here).

I thought about doing this too, but good lord the Fenix line got expensive. I’d have to noodle on that expense before jumping to Garmin.

Incredibly expensive. Also, it might help if you stay away from reading about the Fenix 7 Pro and Epix Pro Gen 2 (only supported for 1.5 years). …

 

[terrapinjess]

I am debating whether I should abandon Apple Watch and get the Garmin Fenix 9 when it comes out. Any thoughts?

I’ve switched back and forth between Garmin (Instinct 2X Solar) and Apple Watch (Series 4, 7, 10, Ultra 2 and 3) and even this bare-bones Instinct 2X Solar is leaps and bounds better than than anything Apple Watch. I keep coming back to Apple Watch convincing myself it’s going to be better but it never is and I just always go back to my Garmin. Apple Watch is just doing too much and the battery life is horrendous.
I’m not here to convert anyone or trash on Apple Watch but in terms of battery life and features, the Garmin outperforms Apple Watch on all fronts in my eyes. It will differ for folks depending on what you want out of your device and your use cases: I have basically all smart features turned off on my Garmin Instinct 2X so it functions as just a health and running device, something I don’t have to charge every day or constantly top up, and something that tells me the time consistently/without fail, and syncs all data with my iPhone.
Instinct 2X measures heart rate 24/7 every second, I wear it 24/7 (so sleep tracking, etc.) except in the shower, track my runs (5-10 miles every other day with GPS), etc. Essentially, I’m using it the exact same way I use my Apple Watch Ultra 3 right now and does almost everything the Apple Watch does but the battery lasts me about 20 days or so. Only thing missing for me is onboard music storage, that’s it. Plus I have solar charging on Instinct to bolster it up and stretch it out. I’m going on about 4 years with this Instinct 2X and it’s holding up like day one! I literally just decided to sell my ultra 3 and upgrade my Instinct 2X to an Enduro 3 which is sort of right below the Fenix, which is what you’re asking about.
Reason I’m upgrading: the Enduro 3 lets me add music on board and now I won’t have to carry an extra device (either the Apple Watch or a small mp3 player) on my runs. Plus it has an optional touch screen if I want it, otherwise buttons can be used. Battery on Enduro 3 is even better than the instinct 2x and it still has solar charging. The next upgrade from Enduro 3 is the Fenix 8 (or eventual 9). Since I don’t use my smart watch as a cell phone replacement, I don’t think I need to pay an extra few hundred for speaker and microphone on the Fenix. If you’re wanting a microphone and speaker and ability to trigger and use siri, maybe you’d want the Fenix 8 but otherwise the Enduro is right below that.

I say get the Fenix if you’re a runner, hiker, someone who gets battery anxiety, or someone who wants the use a plethora of watch faces, or someone who wants a better device. I was always scared to leave the tight Apple ecosystem but after taking the leap with this watch, I can safely say Garmins fit right in and frankly just do things better. It’s a whole different class of device frankly. I feel it even has a more accurate sleep scoring system and the HRV reading it gives is actually accurate and lines up with how I’m feeling.
I can’t say a bad thing about Garmin devices personally. Go for the Fenix or at least give it a shot!

 

[spazzcat]

I am debating whether I should abandon Apple Watch and get the Garmin Fenix 9 when it comes out. Any thoughts?

Doing a quick search Garmin only does new feature updates for about two years.