The Apple Watch Ultra has been considered the most robust and powerful Apple Watch since 2022 – and has used the same casing ever since. For the Ultra 4 in September 2026, supplier reports in the spring predicted a complete redesign including twice the number of sensors. Now, the tone from Cupertino itself is considerably more subdued.
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 arrived in September 2025, bringing with it 5G (RedCap), a battery life of up to 42 hours, and blood pressure alerts. The design has remained virtually unchanged since the first Ultra in 2022: same titanium case, same action button, same Digital Crown. Expectations for the 2026 Ultra 4 are now running in two opposing directions – similar to its sibling model, whose status is summarized in the Apple Watch Series 12 overview. This article summarizes what is currently known and where the sources contradict each other.
Apple Watch Ultra 4: The most important points in brief
| Detail | Expectation |
|---|---|
| Release | September 2026, along with iPhone 18 Pro |
| Internal identifier | N240, late test phase |
| Design | Controversial: suppliers claim a thinner casing, but reports from within the company indicate no visible changes. |
| bracelets | Numerous new colors and configurations are expected. |
| positioning | Models above the Ultra are under review, without a date or decision. |
| Chip | New device family „Watch8”, processor found in code as T8320 |
| Sensors | Controversial: DigiTimes reports a doubling, Bloomberg reports no new sensors. |
| Health | Continuous heart rate monitoring under trial; revised health and fitness apps |
| Battery | Larger cell plus efficiency gains, longer lifespan expected |
| Touch ID | Rejected for 2026 |
| Blood pressure | Advanced detection is possible, primarily through software. |
| Blood sugar | Not in 2026 |
| Software | watchOS 27 out of the box, Siri AI only via paired iPhone |
| Starting price | Expected price €899; the Apple Watch was excluded from the June price round. |
| Apple Watch SE | No new model in the autumn lineup |
Two reports, two completely different Ultra 4s
In May, the Taiwanese industry publication DigiTimes, citing suppliers, reported that the Ultra 4 would receive a complete redesign and a significant sensor upgrade. The report mentioned a doubling of sensor components, Apple's exclusive sensor supplier Taiwan-Asia Semiconductor (TASC), and large orders starting in July – a procurement pace that aligns with a September market launch.
At the end of July, the picture was quite different. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman reported that neither a new Apple Watch SE nor a redesign of the Ultra 4 was expected in the fall. He didn't anticipate any visible design changes, nor any new sensors. Improvements to health and fitness features were expected – but according to earlier reports, these would be without new hardware, meaning they would be software-based.
The discrepancy remains unresolved to this day. Supplier reports are released earlier, but are more frequently inaccurate because they conflate prototypes and production models. Bloomberg's information typically comes from the company itself and is closer in time to the final configuration. For the Ultra 4, this timing argues against a major redesign: anyone reporting on the testing status of three devices in July is describing hardware that is already finalized for the fall.
At the end of August, the same reporter reaffirmed this position: He did not expect any significant design changes for either the Series 12 or the Ultra 4 compared to the Series 11 and Ultra 3, and he still considered Touch ID to be out of the question. This is not independent confirmation – the information comes from the same source as the July report. However, it shows that the company's position has remained unchanged since the summer.
Design: What remains of the thinner plans
For three generations, the Apple Watch Ultra has measured 49 × 44 × 12 mm and weighed around 61 to 62 grams, depending on the variant. For many, this is too bulky for everyday use – a criticism that Apple could have addressed with a 10 to 15 percent slimmer case. This would have reduced the case depth to approximately 10 to 10.5 mm.
Originally, a major redesign was planned for 2026, which was to be linked to a switch to MicroLED displays. Apple postponed MicroLED, which also put the more drastic design plans on hold. As things stand, even the slimmed-down version is off the table: The titanium case (Class 5), the Action Button, and the basic shape are likely to remain unchanged. New colors are possible, but not confirmed.
A fundamentally redesigned model is in the works, but the timing remains fluid. At the end of August, it was stated that Apple aimed to have the redesign completed next year, but it could be delayed until the following year. This brings the timeframe closer to earlier reports that placed a redesign, including a new band system, in 2027. Regarding the band system itself, caution is advised: the same claim has surfaced in every pre-release cycle for several years without ever materializing.
A report from early August explains why the deadline keeps getting pushed back. According to the report, Apple's design department is reviewing the matter. round displays, devices without any screen at all, and additional case sizes for the entire series. No direction has been determined, and the source itself considers a circular model unlikely. As long as the fundamental question remains open, a redesign cannot be scheduled – this explains the range between 2027 and "a few more years" better than either of the two individual dates.
A level above the Ultra is being discussed
More interesting for this series than the question of form is another point in the same report: Apple is considering models above the Ultra and Hermès. The Ultra would then no longer be the top of the line, but the penultimate level.
The report doesn't specify what would distinguish such a model – a more exclusive case material or features reserved for the Ultra are conceivable. A second clue points in the same direction: ceramic is returning as a case material. Two versions, white and dark gray, were tested, as was the case with the most expensive variant of the Series 3 from 2017. However, this information refers to the Series 12; ceramic is not mentioned for the Ultra series, which has so far only been available in titanium.
This changes nothing for the Ultra 4. Both projects are scheduled beyond autumn, and neither has been decided.
Chip: First real architecture change since 2023
The real change lies within. The Ultra 4 is expected to receive a new processor and will be internally assigned to the "Watch8" family of devices for the first time. The Series 9, Series 10, and Series 11 all belonged to the previous family – an indication of how little the basic architecture has changed since 2023. The corresponding chip appears in code finds as the T8320.
Expected improvements:
- Higher energy efficiency for longer battery life
- Faster app launches and smoother animations
- More local computing power for AI and healthcare functions
Sensors: Accuracy instead of new measurements
Specifically, the software side will be improved: The heart rate sensor will measure throughout the day instead of only during workouts and at intervals. This feature is currently being tested and applies to both the Series 12 and Ultra 4. In addition, the health and fitness apps will be redesigned to display more wellness metrics – based on the data analysis provided by specialized providers. For the Ultra 4, this is the most tangible improvement in health features, and it requires no new sensors.
The Ultra 3 already records heart rate (optical and electrical), blood oxygen, temperature, depth, and water temperature. Should the doubling of sensor components reported by DigiTimes actually occur, it wouldn't necessarily mean new health metrics, but rather greater measurement accuracy: less reliance on algorithms, more reliable data on movement, exercise, and sleep.
A development in the US also points in this direction: Apple has submitted a new blood pressure monitoring feature for the Apple Watch to the FDA for review – an indication that the health features are moving towards medically certified applications. For the Ultra 4, this doesn't necessarily mean new hardware; current reports indicate that the advancements will primarily be software-based.
Blood pressure and blood sugar
Blood pressure: The Ultra 3 already offers high blood pressure warnings based on heart rate trend analysis over 30 days. Apple is working on direct wrist-based blood pressure measurement – whether the technology will be ready by 2026 remains uncertain. An expanded trend analysis based on existing sensors is more likely initially.
Blood sugar: Non-invasive blood glucose monitoring has been linked to the Apple Watch for years. All current reports agree: this feature will not be coming in 2026. The project recently got a new lead, and the technology is still not accurate enough for a consumer product.
Touch ID: Off the table for 2026
Touch ID was long considered a strong candidate for the Ultra 4. Leaked Apple code from the summer of 2025 contained references to "AppleMesa"—Apple's internal code name for Touch ID—linked to Apple Watch models from 2026. Touch ID integrated into the side button, Digital Crown, or Action button would have facilitated unlocking without an iPhone, authorizing Apple Pay, and protecting sensitive apps.
In May 2026, the Chinese leaker Instant Digital dampened these expectations: Apple had abandoned the project for 2026. Two reasons were said to be decisive. First, an additional biometric sensor would strain the already tight energy efficiency. Second, a fingerprint sensor increases the cost of the components without significantly expanding the benefits from Apple's perspective. Unlocking via iPhone pairing remains the intended method.
Code hints like "AppleMesa" don't necessarily signify a final product decision. Apple regularly tests software features that don't make it into final devices. Touch ID on the wrist isn't completely off the table, however – if Apple finds a solution that doesn't impact battery life or unit costs, the idea could resurface.
Battery: The most tangible progress
The Ultra 3 offers up to 42 hours of battery life under normal use and up to 72 hours in power-saving mode. The Ultra 4 is expected to benefit from a larger battery cell and the efficiency gains of the new chip. Without a thinner casing, the trade-off that previously limited battery life is eliminated: With the height remaining at 12 mm, the additional space is entirely dedicated to the battery.
Software: watchOS 27 out of the box
The software foundation is watchOS 27, which Apple unveiled at WWDC in June. Besides minor improvements, it brings new watch faces – including a simplified version of the previously Ultra-exclusive Modular Ultra watch face, which now also runs on the standard models.
The biggest new addition is Siri AI: The upgraded assistant reaches the Apple Watch for the first time with watchOS 27, but does not run on the watch itself, but via a paired iPhone with Apple Intelligence.
Why the performance leap in Germany is currently coming to nothing
The practical value of the new chip hinges precisely on this coupling – and in the European Union, this justification doesn't hold water for now. Siri AI on the watch requires an iPhone running Siri AI. This isn't the case in the EU at present: Apple isn't delivering the feature to iPhones and iPads there for the time being, citing the Digital Markets Act. The system itself is available as normal; only this specific function is missing. The Apple Watch is thus excluded without being directly affected; the regulatory background to this chain of events lies entirely with the iPhone.
Buyers in Germany and Austria will therefore be paying for computing power this fall that will initially remain unused for their primary purpose. In Switzerland, which is neither in the EU nor the EEA, this issue does not arise – the restriction does not apply there.
Release and price
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is expected in September 2026, alongside the Apple Watch Series 12, the iPhone 18 Pro, and the iPhone Ultra. Three devices are currently undergoing late-stage testing: the Series 12 in Wi-Fi and cellular variants (N237, N238), and the Ultra 4 (N240). A new Apple Watch SE is not included in this list. The Ultra 4's release this year is therefore considered certain – unlike in 2024, when the Ultra series only saw the release of a new color variant. Pre-orders are expected to begin shortly after the keynote.
Apple has kept the price of its Ultra series stable at €899 for three generations. A price increase currently seems less likely than it did in the spring: without a new casing and without additional sensors, the cost driver is missing, and the Apple Watch was exempt from the European price update at the end of June, while Macs, iPads, and the Vision Pro became more expensive.
Who is the Apple Watch Ultra 4 intended for?
For owners of the first 2022 Ultra, the decision is clearest, and for a software reason: watchOS 27 leaves five Apple Watch models behind, including the first-generation Ultra. Anyone who values new system versions has no choice but to upgrade – and since there's no new Apple Watch SE coming this fall, the otherwise obvious, cheaper alternative is unavailable.
Those wearing an Ultra 2 will find the new chip, longer battery life, and features added since 2025, such as 5G and blood pressure warnings, particularly compelling reasons to upgrade. Those wearing an Ultra 3, however, will find little incentive: same casing, no new sensors as of now, and an S10 chip that remains sufficient for everyday use.
Our recommendation: If you're planning on getting a new Ultra anyway, it's worth waiting until September – the chip upgrade and larger battery are the most substantial changes since the series debuted. Those who already own an Ultra 3 can safely skip this generation and wait for the fundamentally new model that Apple is preparing for the coming years.
If you already own an Ultra 3, the decision depends less on the casing and more on the data analysis: Would continuous heart rate monitoring and a new health app be worth the upgrade for you – or are you waiting for the generation with a new casing? Let us know your reasoning in the comments.
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