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Ceramic Case Could Return With Apple Watch Series 12

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Apple is planning to reintroduce its striking ceramic Apple Watch casing as soon as this year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports.

Apple-Watch-series-2-ceramic.jpg
The Apple Watch Series 2's white ceramic case option.​

Writing in his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained that the ceramic case option is expected to return either this year or in 2027. Apple first introduced a ceramic Apple Watch Edition with the Series 2 in September 2016, replacing the original gold Edition model and bringing the line's price down from thousands of dollars to a comparatively modest $1,249.

The white ceramic finish, made from a compressed zirconia and alumina powder polished with a diamond slurry, was marketed as being four times as hard as stainless steel. Apple expanded the material a year later with a gray ceramic option alongside the Series 3, but the Edition line disappeared entirely for the Series 4 in 2018, with Apple dropping ceramic and offering no high-end case option at all that year.

The white ceramic finish returned for the Series 5 in 2019 alongside an all-new titanium option, before Apple discontinued it for good when the Series 6 launched in 2020. The material has been absent from the Apple Watch lineup for six years since. It has since become one of the more sought after finishes among collectors on the resale market.

Beyond the reintroduction of the ceramic casing option, the upcoming Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 will apparently continue "the trend of modest upgrades," with "under-the-hood improvements" including a meaningful increase in performance. This likely refers to the introduction of a new chip. The previous two Apple Watch generations have featured the same S10 chip, which is effectively unchanged from the previous S9 chip introduced in 2023.

Gurman added that this year's new Apple Watch models will also offer new color and band options, alongside a number of new health and fitness-related upgrades. The Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 are expected to be introduced alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and first foldable iPhone next month.

Article Link: Ceramic Case Could Return With Apple Watch Series 12
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/09/ceramic-could-return-with-apple-watch-series-12/
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even though never owned one, I didnt like the option going away. they look neat.

would be cool if we also saw the return of apple leather cases, and a new MagSafe battery for iPhones beyond the Air.
 
Always wanted a ceramic model. If I didn’t already have a brand new 10 titanium that I got for dirt cheap a few months ago, I’d be very interested in a new one.
 
Great, but as a few others have said, this feels a 2077 new design thing.

And if Apple has the Watch head alone costing $1000+, it really needs to twin this with a powerful processor, so that people get 5+ years of OS updates.
 
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bluecoast said:
Great, but as a few others have said, this feels a 2077 new design thing.

And if Apple has the Watch head alone costing $1000+, it really needs to twin this with a powerful processor, so that people get 5+ years of OS updates.
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I sure hope this is a typo and you mean 2027 😉
I don't remember the price for the ceramic back then, but in today's current pricing I'd expect it to be 999, next year? Who knows?
 
The ceramic Apple Watch Edition was $1250 10 years ago, so it will be at least $1500 now.

I loved the ceramic case 10 years ago, but couldn't afford it back then. Now, if the screen is big enough and it has two atmosphere water proofing, the I will definitely consider it instead of an Ultra 4.
 
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I like my Ultra 3 Titanium, but the other finish I have always liked was the ceramic one. lots of manufacturers have played with different materials for watch cases over the years. The all sapphire crystal glass ones are very impressive, and expensive!!
 
jz0309 said:
Why would they re-introduce ceramic on a 2 year old case design? Not happening this year, next year, we shall see
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Well, the S5 ceramic Watch was also done for an „old“ design that was introduced a year earlier with the S4. Would be a nice way to make the „old“ S10/11 design look fresh/different, actually.
 
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the future said:
Well, the S5 ceramic Watch was also done for an „old“ design that was introduced a year earlier with the S4. Would be a nice way to make the „old“ S10/11 design look fresh/different, actually.
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I suppose we'll find out in 5 weeks or so...

But I was wrong in my earlier post, the S5 ceramic in 44 was 1349, so, it'll only go up from that
 
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BeatsByTim said:
The only Apple Watches that look bad are the ultra ones. Invicta level garbage
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Hey... 😤

Anyway, I think those of us who got an Ultra weren't buying it as a status symbol or for its good looks. I got an Ultra because it would survive hiking in the Highlands of Scotland... and it has a large display.
 
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Its funny because the S5 is actually quite subtle. Not many people notice that it is white until they look really close up. I hope they do bring this material back, its so cool and unique!
 
Honestly I have no dislike about the Apple watch, it's great bit of tech and the best smartwatch out there from a functionality standpoint. And I work with a few people who wear them.
My issue is I look at these people who could have something amazing and personal on their wrist like a piece of fine jewellery for a man's write to express himself, and I come away feeling like that just sad with zero imagination and are wearing this bland thing that looks the same as everyone else's 🙁

It's such a shame Apple could not licence the tech and the guts of the device and let others around the world create lovely unique items for people to pick from.
 
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