Apple is planning to reintroduce a ceramic case option for the Apple Watch as soon as this year, or possibly in 2027, Mark Gurman reports in his “Power On” newsletter. The ceramic finish is expected to be offered with the Apple Watch Series 12 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4.
Ceramic case returns and history
Apple first introduced a ceramic Apple Watch Edition with the Series 2 in September 2016, replacing the original gold Edition and pricing the model at $1,249. The white ceramic finish was made from a compressed zirconia and alumina powder and polished with a diamond slurry, and Apple marketed it as being four times as hard as stainless steel. A gray ceramic option was added with the Series 3 a year later. Apple dropped the Edition line for the Series 4 in 2018, removing ceramic and offering no high-end case option that year. The white ceramic finish returned for the Series 5 in 2019 alongside a new titanium option, but Apple discontinued ceramic when the Series 6 launched in 2020; the material has been absent from the lineup for six years and has become sought after by collectors on the resale market.
Gurman says the upcoming Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 will continue a trend of modest upgrades, with “under-the-hood improvements” including a meaningful increase in performance that likely refers to a new chip. The previous two Apple Watch generations have used the same S10 chip, which is effectively unchanged from the S9 chip introduced in 2023.
This year’s models are also expected to offer new color and band options and a number of health- and fitness-related upgrades. The Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 are expected to be announced alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and Apple’s first foldable iPhone next month.
