A recent podcast episode outlined that the Apple Watch may see modest hardware updates this year while a more radical redesign is reportedly planned for 2027 or 2028. The most eye-catching near-term change would be the return of a white ceramic case, with a deeper overhaul — including a new band attachment system and larger battery — expected several years out.
Short-term updates: Series 12 and Ultra 4
Reporting indicates the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 are likely to follow a pattern of “modest upgrades,” with a meaningful performance boost but no major design change. Analyst Mark Gurman expects new color and band options and a number of health and fitness improvements, but the case introduced with the Apple Watch Series 10 in 2024 is anticipated to remain in place for a third year. Gurman also does not expect an Apple Watch SE 4 this year.
The Series 11, Ultra 3 and SE 3 all reused the S10 chip, which itself was only lightly revised from the S9 introduced in 2023; the new models are expected to deliver a more noticeable chip-level performance increase. Separately, a Weibo leaker has claimed Apple is prioritizing longer battery life for the Series 12. Apple currently rates the Series 11 for up to 24 hours on a charge, or up to 38 hours in Low Power Mode.
Both new Apple Watch models are expected next month alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and Apple’s first foldable iPhone.
Ceramic’s comeback and its history
One prominent rumor for this year is the return of a white ceramic casing. Ceramic first arrived with the Apple Watch Series 2 in September 2016, replacing the gold “Edition” model and bringing the top-tier finish down to $1,249. Apple marketed ceramic as four times as hard as stainless steel. A gray ceramic option appeared with the Series 3, but the Edition line vanished with the Series 4 in 2018. White ceramic returned for the Series 5 in 2019 alongside titanium but was discontinued when the Series 6 launched in 2020. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says white ceramic could reappear either this year or in 2027, a detail that has made ceramic models sought-after on the resale market.
Major overhaul expected in 2027 or 2028
A separate leaker known as “Instant Digital” claims a substantial redesign is planned for 2027 or 2028. That revamp reportedly centers on a new band attachment system that would free internal space for a larger battery and would break compatibility with the current bands; the leaker advised consumers considering 2027 purchases to avoid buying extra bands in the meantime.
If accurate, those changes would echo a previously reported concept known internally in 2023 as an “Apple Watch X” plan, which featured a magnetic band system, a thinner case and a microLED display for the device’s tenth anniversary — features that did not arrive. The timeline would also match Apple’s rough three-year design cadence (original through Series 3; Series 4 through Series 6; Series 7 through Series 9).
Apple has reportedly been evaluating next-generation OLED backplane technology for the 2027 model, and a supply-chain report claimed at least one high-end model could receive a significant redesign including eight sensors arranged in a ring on the underside.
Broader product strategy and R&D
Sources say Apple’s industrial design team is exploring a wider rethink of its wearables lineup in response to growing competition. Concepts under consideration reportedly include screenless fitness-band-style devices or smart-ring-style products with no display, new screen types and case sizes, round displays (though such a device is considered unlikely to ship), premium variants above the Ultra and Hermès models, and cheaper options below the SE.
The company is said to be aiming to make its wearables more AI-focused and pursuing an ambitious long-term revamp of the Health app. Apple also continues development of non-invasive blood sugar detection, with a stated goal of shipping that capability by 2030.
Where to hear the discussion
The discussion summarizing these developments was presented on a podcast episode and is also available in audio form on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast and other podcast platforms.
