Skip to main contentLonger battery life and a more capable chipset (that enables a host of new features) are the main reasons to upgrade.Longer battery life and a more capable chipset (that enables a host of new features) are the main reasons to upgrade.by Cameron FaulknerSep 10, 2026, 3:00 PM UTCPhoto: Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The VergeCameron Faulkner is an editor covering deals and gaming hardware. He joined in 2018, and after a two-year stint at Polygon, he rejoined The Verge in May 2025.The iPhone Duo was the unequivocal star of Apple’s “Surprise and shine” event, but not for people who were mostly paying attention for news on wearables. Thankfully, Apple had a lot to share about its new Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4. There’s no update to the SE model for 2026, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing (the SE 3 rules). Also, no price changes either, which can’t be said for the entire iPhone lineup.While both new watches look similar to their predecessors, there are a number of updates under the hood that might intrigue some people enough to warrant a preorder. My colleague Victoria Song got hands-on with both smartwatches, and runs down the biggest changes, from the Audio Intelligence features made possible by the S11 chip (included in the Series 12 and Ultra 4), plus the possible impact of its improved sensors and tracking capabilities.If you don’t want to wait for reviews to hit before you make the purchase, the Series 12 starts at $399 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Apple itself for the 42mm size ($50 more for the 46mm). High rollers can configure one with a ceramic case (the first time ceramic has been on the menu since the Series 5) starting at $899. Like usual, the Apple Watch Ultra 4 starts at $799 from Amazon and Best Buy and comes in one size, which features GPS and 5G support. Launches will occur on September 18th, the same day as the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max.$399$799Verge ShoppingSign up to get the best deals on products we’ve found and tested sent to your inbox.Email (required)Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Cameron FaulknerThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)