Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 to get one big upgrade at perfect time

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.

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. New Apple Watch models to have more powerful S-class chip just in time for Siri AI Most Apple products get more powerful chips all the time—but Apple Watch is the exception. New 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. Last year was even worse: Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Series 11 had the exact same S10 chip as their predecessors. But 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. Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 will debut a brand new chip , probably named S11 or S12. Mark 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. But 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. Siri 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. Throughout 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. Apple 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. How is Siri AI running for you in the watchOS 27 beta? Let us know in the comments. Buy Apple Watch with 15% discount from Apple refurbished Best Apple Watch and iPhone accessories 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 FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More. https://9to5mac.com/about/ affiliate our homepage http://9to5mac.com/ for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on exclusive stories https://9to5mac.com/feature/exclusive/ , reviews https://9to5mac.com/guides/review/ , how-tos https://9to5mac.com/guides/how-to/ , and subscribe to our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/9to5mac