Apple offered an early look at watchOS 27 at WWDC 2026 earlier this month, giving developers and Apple Watch owners a preview of the software that will power the next generation of the wearable. The hardware itself — the Apple Watch Series 12 — is expected to follow in September.

watchOS 27 expands health monitoring capabilities and deepens Apple Intelligence integration, the company’s AI system first introduced in 2024. New features previewed at WWDC include improvements to the sleep tracking algorithm and an updated mental health check-in system. Apple has also updated the Smart Stack widget for faster access to frequently used data on the watch face.

The Apple Watch Series 12 hardware is expected to arrive alongside the iPhone 18 lineup in September, following Apple’s established fall release cadence. Pre-release leaks suggest the Series 12 will introduce a new chip with improved energy efficiency, enabling longer battery life without increasing the watch’s physical size — a common request from existing Apple Watch users.

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is also expected at the same event, with rumoured improvements to GPS accuracy and environmental sensors expanding its appeal for endurance athletes and outdoor professionals. The titanium casing and rugged design are expected to remain, with updates focused on performance and sensor precision.

Garmin’s Fenix 9 is also expected later in 2026, suggesting the premium outdoor smartwatch segment will see multiple major updates before the year ends. The competition at the high end of the wearables market is intensifying.

Apple has not confirmed any hardware for September. Everything about the Series 12 is based on pre-release leaks and analyst reporting. For users on Apple Watch Series 9 or Ultra 2, the upgrade decision will depend on how significant the chip improvement turns out to be — particularly since watchOS 27 software updates are available on supported older models.