Apple Watch 2026: No new SE, no redesign for the Ultra 4

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The Apple Watch fall lineup appears to be finalized – and it's smaller than expected. Three models are slated for release in September, none of them with a visibly redesigned case. The Ultra 4, which was recently rumored to be undergoing a complete redesign, will remain externally unchanged.

For months, the picture has been growing that 2026 will not be a big year for the Apple Watch. A Bloomberg report now not only confirms this trend but extends it to the entire product line – including a gap that wasn't present in the previous rumors surrounding the Apple Watch Series 12. A new Apple Watch SE is not expected to be released in September at all.

Three models in late-stage testing

According to the report, three devices are currently being tested: the Apple Watch Series 12 in both Wi-Fi and cellular versions, and the Apple Watch Ultra 4. Internally, they are identified by the codenames N237, N238, and N240. All three are said to be in a late testing phase, which fits the usual timeline for a September launch.

As things stand, the fall lineup will not include a new version of the Apple Watch SE. The report doesn't specify when a successor to the entry-level model might be released. The identifiers themselves appeared in an early system version at the end of 2025 – without any indication of a fourth model.

The Ultra 4 loses its expected redesign

For the Series 12, this statement aligns with recent reports from various sources: the models are likely to receive only a minor update. However, the report regarding the Ultra 4 contradicts an earlier report.

In May, DigiTimes, citing suppliers, reported that the Ultra 4 would receive a complete redesign and a significant upgrade in sensors – reportedly doubling the number of sensors. Bloomberg contradicts this on both points and expects neither visible design changes nor new sensors. While improvements to health and fitness features are expected, earlier reports indicate these will occur without new hardware – meaning they will be implemented at the software level.

This doesn't resolve the contradiction. Supplier reports are available earlier but are more often inaccurate because they conflate prototypes and production models; Bloomberg's information usually comes from the company itself and is closer to the final configuration. The overview of the Apple Watch Ultra 4 continuously compiles information on how these two sources relate to each other.

New processor after three years on the same platform

The real change lies within. Both models are expected to receive a new chip and will be internally assigned to the "Watch8" family of devices. 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 processor appears in code finds as the T8320.

A larger battery and efficiency improvements should also ensure longer runtimes. Together, these create a picture that looks more like preparation than completion: performance and endurance are increased, the casing remains the same.

Why the performance leap in Europe is coming to nothing

The reason for the computational effort is obvious. With watchOS 27, Siri AI arrived on the Apple Watch, and AI functions directly on the wrist require processing power.

This reasoning doesn't hold water in the European Union for the time being. Siri AI on the watch requires a paired iPhone with Siri AI, and Apple has canceled the release of iOS 27 in the EU due to the Digital Markets Act. The Apple Watch is thus excluded without being directly affected – the regulatory background of this chain of events lies entirely with the iPhone. Buyers in Germany and Austria will therefore be paying for a chip this fall whose primary purpose remains unused for them. In Switzerland, which is neither in the EU nor the EEA, this question doesn't arise.

What owners of older models should consider now

For some users, the decision isn't entirely free. watchOS 27 leaves five Apple Watch models behind, leaving their owners without a new system version. Until now, the Apple Watch SE was the obvious, affordable alternative – and this is precisely the model that will be missing this fall.

Price-wise, there's little reason to rush: The Apple Watch was excluded from the European price update at the end of June, unlike Macs, iPads, and Vision Pro. Anyone already using a Series 11 or Ultra 3 will find little incentive to upgrade if the update doesn't include a case change or new sensors.

The major renovation is being postponed further

According to the report, a fundamentally redesigned model is in development, but is still at least several years away. This is behind the timeframe that earlier reports had set for the redesign, including a new conveyor belt system, at 2027.

Caution is advised regarding the band system itself. A new attachment mechanism for the 2026 models is circulating again – the same claim has surfaced in every pre-release cycle for several years without ever materializing. As long as Apple doesn't want to abandon compatibility with the existing band inventory, a change remains unlikely, and a model year without a case redesign would be the worst possible time for it. (Image: Shutterstock / Hadrian)