{"slug": "apple-watch-series-12-and-ultra-4-to-get-one-big-upgrade-at-perfect-time", "title": "Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 to get one big upgrade at perfect time", "summary": "Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, launching next month, will debut a new more powerful S-class chip, likely named S11 or S12, marking the first performance upgrade since the S9 in 2023. The chip arrives as watchOS 27 introduces Siri AI, which has been less responsive on older hardware, making the upgrade timely for the AI era.", "body_md": "Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 are [launching next month](https://9to5mac.com/2026/08/14/new-apple-watch-models-launch-next-month-heres-whats-coming/), and rumors indicate they’ll pack a big upgrade—a new, more powerful chip—that will arrive at just the right time.\n\n## New Apple Watch models to have more powerful S-class chip just in time for Siri AI\n\nMost Apple products get more powerful chips all the time—but Apple Watch is the exception.\n\nNew Apple Watch models debut annually, but more often than not, ‘new’ S-class chips don’t actually pack an improved CPU. True performance upgrades only happen every few years.\n\nLast year was even worse: Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Series 11 had the exact same S10 chip as their predecessors.\n\nBut [rumors indicate](https://9to5mac.com/2026/08/14/new-apple-watch-models-launch-next-month-heres-whats-coming/) we’re getting a truly meaningful chip upgrade this year.\n\nApple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 will ** debut a brand new chip**, probably named S11 or S12.\n\nMark Gurman [recently wrote](https://9to5mac.com/2026/07/26/apple-watch-series-12-and-ultra-4-what-to-expect/) that this year’s new models will get a “long-awaited bump in chips and speed.” The last time an Apple Watch chip brought performance gains was the S9 in 2023.\n\nBut watchOS 27 [launches next month](https://9to5mac.com/2026/08/20/watchos-27-adds-three-new-apple-watch-features-ive-been-loving/), and its tentpole addition is Siri AI—a feature that could truly benefit from a more powerful chip.\n\nSiri AI on Apple Watch isn’t a lesser version of the assistant. It’s the same new and improved Siri found on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and more. That’s a big part of why watchOS 27 [cuts off support](https://9to5mac.com/2026/06/19/watchos-27-drops-support-for-five-apple-watch-models-heres-why/) for many older Watch models.\n\nThroughout the watchOS 27 beta, Siri has been a bit less responsive than I’d hope. And I suspect that’s in part due to the older chip, which far predates any AI version of Siri.\n\nApple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 will have the first Watch chip built for the AI era. And it couldn’t come at a better time.\n\nHow is Siri AI running for you in the watchOS 27 beta? Let us know in the comments.\n\n***Buy Apple Watch with 15% discount from Apple refurbished**\n\n### Best Apple Watch and iPhone accessories\n\n[AirPods Pro 3 (](https://amzn.to/3Peq3Ge)**now only $189**, down from $249)[Portable USB-C charger for Apple Watch](https://amzn.to/3T7X0Ws)[MagSafe Car Mount for iPhone](https://amzn.to/4tSJYde)[10-year AirTag battery case 2-pack](https://amzn.to/4t9sYOy)[Retro Mac stand for Apple Watch Nightstand Mode](https://amzn.to/3QY3INH)\n\n*FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.* [More.](https://9to5mac.com/about/#affiliate)\n\n[our homepage](http://9to5mac.com/)for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on\n\n[exclusive stories](https://9to5mac.com/feature/exclusive/),\n\n[reviews](https://9to5mac.com/guides/review/),\n\n[how-tos](https://9to5mac.com/guides/how-to/), and\n\n[subscribe to our YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/9to5mac)", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/apple-watch-series-12-and-ultra-4-to-get-one-big-upgrade-at-perfect-time", "canonical_source": "https://9to5mac.com/2026/08/21/apple-watch-series-12-and-ultra-4-to-get-one-big-upgrade-at-perfect-time/", "published_at": "2026-08-21 20:53:21+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-08-21 21:13:55.399022+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["artificial-intelligence", "ai-products"], "entities": ["Apple", "Apple Watch Series 12", "Apple Watch Ultra 4", "Mark Gurman", "Siri AI", "watchOS 27"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/apple-watch-series-12-and-ultra-4-to-get-one-big-upgrade-at-perfect-time", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/apple-watch-series-12-and-ultra-4-to-get-one-big-upgrade-at-perfect-time.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/apple-watch-series-12-and-ultra-4-to-get-one-big-upgrade-at-perfect-time.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/apple-watch-series-12-and-ultra-4-to-get-one-big-upgrade-at-perfect-time.jsonld"}}