Apple Watch will reportedly get a big redesign, but not this year
The Apple Watch will reportedly get a big redesign, but not this year: Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says the Series 12 and Ultra 4 arriving around September 9 will bring only minor upgrades, while Apple is pushing major hardware and design changes to next year. For buyers expecting a dramatic new look, the timing of this report — days before Apple's event — makes a quiet 2026 cycle look all but certain.
That pattern may feel familiar to anyone who tracks Apple's wearables closely. Gurman had already tempered expectations earlier in August, and his Sunday update largely repeats the same message with a few fresh details. The full breakdown was reported by Mashable, citing Gurman's Bloomberg newsletter.
Key Takeaways
- Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 will receive only minor upgrades in 2026.
- The biggest visible change may be new white and gray ceramic case options for the Series 12, plus many new band colors.
- Apple is reportedly testing continuous heart-rate data collection and expanded wellness metrics in its fitness apps.
- The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is expected to look mostly the same as the Ultra 3, according to the report.
- A major Apple Watch redesign is reportedly planned for next year, not the September 9 launch window.
What upgrades are coming to the Apple Watch Series 12?
Gurman characterizes this year's Apple Watch lineup as receiving "fairly minor upgrades." The most eye-catching hardware rumor involves materials, not shape: Apple has reportedly tested white and gray configurations of a ceramic case for the Series 12.
If those options ship, they would stand out in a year otherwise defined by incremental changes. Mashable's related coverage also notes that a ceramic version is probably coming back, giving longtime owners a sense of déjà vu rather than a clean break from the past. Apple is also expected to launch many new band colors and configurations alongside the new watches.
On the health side, Apple is reportedly testing a heart-rate sensor that continuously collects data rather than sampling at random intervals or mainly during workouts. Gurman also points to possible software updates that surface more wellness-related metrics inside Apple's fitness and health apps.
None of these rumored features rewrite what an Apple Watch looks like on your wrist. They extend capabilities and refresh the accessory lineup — useful, but not the kind of reset some owners wait multiple upgrade cycles to buy into.
Why is Apple saving its big Apple Watch redesign for next year?
According to Gurman, Apple is "pushing for a bigger upgrade" to both the standard Apple Watch and the Apple Watch Ultra next year. That split timeline helps explain why so many of this year's leaks sound like polish rather than reinvention.
The report's timing matters too. With the Series 12 and Ultra 4 likely debuting on September 9, there is little room left for surprises. Mashable notes that surprises are unlikely this late in the game, so massive changes for this year's Apple Watch devices should not be expected.
Deferring a major overhaul gives Apple a clearer hardware story for a future cycle while keeping this September focused on bands, health features, and material options. For shoppers comparing this year's model against last year's, the then-and-now difference may be subtle on the surface even if the sensors and software grow smarter underneath.
How does the Ultra 4 compare to the Ultra 3?
Gurman's report suggests the Apple Watch Ultra 4 will look mostly the same as the Apple Watch Ultra 3. That visual continuity is one of the clearest signals that 2026 is not the year Apple reinvents its rugged watch tier.
If the standard Series 12 is getting minor tweaks and the Ultra 4 is visually familiar, both products appear to be holding their current form while Apple prepares something more substantial for the following year. The contrast between a static exterior and rumored health-tracking improvements underneath is exactly the kind of incremental step Gurman's report describes ahead of a bigger leap.
For Ultra owners who upgraded recently, the message is straightforward: this cycle may not demand a new purchase unless the rumored continuous heart-rate monitoring and wellness metrics matter deeply to your routine. For those hoping Apple would reshape the case or display this fall, the report points to waiting.
Where does this fit in the Apple Watch's then-and-now story?
The Apple Watch has moved through cycles of visible redesigns and quieter refinement years. Gurman's latest outline places 2026 squarely in the latter camp — a familiar silhouette with new colors, bands, and health tools rather than a ground-up rethink.
Viewed through that lens, the rumored return of ceramic finishes is a small nod to the past, while continuous heart-rate monitoring and richer wellness metrics push the watch further toward an all-day health companion. Our Nostalgia: Then & Now coverage often tracks these cycles — when a device keeps its shape but changes what it can do between generations.
The gap between this year's minor upgrades and next year's reported redesign also mirrors a pattern tech buyers know well: the model on your wrist may look nearly identical to last year's, even as the company prepares a more dramatic chapter just one release away.
What should you expect at Apple's September event?
Based on Gurman's reporting, expect the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 to appear at Apple's September 9 event without shocking redesigns. New ceramic color options, expanded band choices, and health software improvements are the most concrete rumors on the table.
Anyone waiting for a visibly new Apple Watch may want to treat 2026 as a holding year. The report is clear that the apple watch will reportedly see its bigger transformation later, not at this year's keynote. For the latest official product details, Apple's Apple Watch page remains the authoritative reference once new models are announced.
As always, rumors are not release notes. Apple could still surprise viewers with unannounced features. But this late in the cycle, the safest read from Gurman's reporting is a familiar watch on the outside, smarter tracking on the inside — and a larger redesign still to come.