Roadmap
Apple Watch Ultra 4
Updated June 15, 2026
Apple Watch Ultra 4 is the first genuine Ultra redesign since the line launched in 2022. The case stays titanium and the silhouette stays square — the Action Button, Digital Crown, and flat display all carry over. What changes is everything else: roughly 15% thinner, a larger display via reduced bezels, eight sensors instead of four, and a battery that should crack 72 hours of standard use.
The health sensor story is stronger here than on Series 12. DigiTimes called Ultra 4 a full redesign tied to a significant upgrade to sensing functions in a May 2026 supply chain report. The doubled sensor array is the mechanism — more raw measurement data, less algorithmic guesswork, which is the engineering prerequisite for blood pressure readings precise enough to matter. Whether FDA review completes in time for September is the only remaining uncertainty.
Touch ID is more plausible on Ultra 4 than on Series 12. Firmware references to AppleMesa appeared in 2026 Apple Watch code. The larger Ultra chassis accommodates both a bigger battery and the additional hardware — the battery trade-off that killed Touch ID on Series 12 does not apply here the same way. Still unconfirmed, but the Ultra 4 is where it would make sense if it ships anywhere in 2026.
Expected
September 2026
Confidence
Expected
Est. price
From $799
Latest news
All in Tracker →Quick answers
When will Apple Watch Ultra 4 be released?
September 2026, at the same fall event as iPhone 18 Pro and Apple Watch Series 12. No specific date confirmed. Apple typically holds its fall hardware event in the second week of September.
MacRumorsHow much will Apple Watch Ultra 4 cost?
Apple Watch Ultra 3 launched at $799. Ultra 4 is expected to hold that price, though a modest increase is possible if blood pressure monitoring, Touch ID, or new sensors raise component costs. No price leak has emerged.
Smartwatch InsightIs Ultra 4 getting blood pressure monitoring?
It is the most credible candidate. DigiTimes described Ultra 4 as a full redesign with a significant sensor upgrade, and the doubled 8-sensor array is exactly what blood pressure measurement requires. Still unconfirmed — FDA clearance timing is the unknown.
MacRumorsBuy now or wait?
Ultra 3 owners: hold unless blood pressure or Touch ID confirm — the thinner case and longer battery alone are not enough for an annual replacement. Ultra 1 or Ultra 2 owners: this is the upgrade. First new chip since Ultra 1, first genuine redesign in four years, doubled sensors, 72-hour battery.
For anyone considering the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 instead: Samsung may ship blood glucose monitoring first. If that feature matters to you, the Samsung vs Apple decision in fall 2026 is genuinely open.
Price
From $799
From $799 (est.)
Availability
Available now
September 2026
Chip
S10
S12 (3nm, Watch8)
Battery
Up to 42 hours
72+ hours (est.)
Blood pressure
Hypertension alerts only
Rumored (strongest candidate)
Blood glucose
No
No
AI assistant
iPhone-dependent
On-watch (watchOS 27)
Satellite
Emergency SOS + Find My + Messages
Emergency SOS + Find My + Messages
Display
LTPO OLED, 3,000 nits flat
LTPO OLED, larger via reduced bezels
Ecosystem
iPhone only
iPhone only
Design
49mm titanium, 12mm thick
49mm titanium, ~15% thinner
Connectivity
5G + Wi-Fi
5G + Wi-Fi
Status
Available now
Expected Sep 2026
Reported features
watchOS 27 with Siri AI — same software story as Series 12
Ultra 4 ships with watchOS 27, announced WWDC June 8, 2026. Full Siri AI on-wrist, standalone Workout Buddy, dynamic app grid, women health improvements. Ultra 4 is compatible with all watchOS 27 features.
~15% thinner titanium case — first Ultra redesign since 2022
Three Apple Watch Ultra generations shipped at 49x44x12mm and 61–62g. Ultra 4 is reported to reduce thickness by approximately 15% — from 12mm to around 10–10.5mm. Multiple sources corroborate: Apfelpatient citing Instant Digital, SmartWatchInsight, and DigiTimes May 2026 supply chain report calling it a full redesign. The titanium case, Action Button, and flat display all remain.
New S12 chip — first new Ultra silicon since the original 2022 model
Ultra 1 had new silicon. Ultra 2 and Ultra 3 both reused the Watch7 T8310 chip. Ultra 4 codename N240 appears in the same iOS 26 leak as Series 12, all under Watch8 family with new T8320 processor. First genuinely new Ultra silicon in four years.
72+ hour battery life — up from 42 hours on Ultra 3
Multiple sources report Ultra 4 will push battery life beyond 72 hours of standard use — a meaningful jump from Ultra 3 42 hours. The larger Ultra chassis accommodates a bigger battery cell than Series 12, and S12 chip efficiency gains compound on top.
Larger display via reduced bezels — same 49mm footprint, more screen
Ultra 4 is expected to maintain the 49mm case size while increasing usable display area through thinner bezels. Same footprint on the wrist, more room for health metrics and navigation. Flat sapphire crystal stays. MicroLED was planned for this generation but pushed back; OLED-LTPO carries forward.
Satellite connectivity — inherited from Ultra 3, expected to expand with iOS 27
Ultra 3 ships with built-in satellite for Emergency SOS, Find My, and Messages off-grid. Ultra 4 inherits this. iOS 27 is expected to add satellite features via the Amazon-Globalstar network — some likely extend to watchOS 27 on Ultra 4.
Eight-sensor ring array — doubled sensor count, direct measurement over algorithmic estimation
DigiTimes reported Ultra 4 will feature eight sensors in a ring pattern on the back — double the current four-sensor layout. DigiTimes says this enables minimizing dependence on algorithmic data interpretation — the engineering language for more accurate, clinically meaningful health data.
Blood pressure monitoring — strongest candidate in the 2026 lineup
Gurman has reported Apple is developing wrist-based blood pressure monitoring. Ultra 4 is the more credible vehicle than Series 12 — DigiTimes described it as a full redesign tied to significant sensor upgrades, and the doubled sensor array is the engineering prerequisite for blood pressure readings beyond simple hypertension alerts.
Touch ID — more plausible here than on Series 12
AppleMesa (Touch ID codename) appeared in 2026 Apple Watch firmware. Series 12 dropped it over battery trade-offs. The Ultra chassis has room for both a bigger battery and the additional Touch ID hardware — the constraint that killed it on Series 12 does not apply the same way. Still unconfirmed.
Timeline
Sep 2022
Apple Watch Ultra 1 launches — new titanium category, new silicon
Apple launches the original Ultra at $799: 49mm titanium, Action Button, dual-frequency GPS, flat sapphire crystal. New silicon on launch. The design that runs unchanged through three generations.
AppleSep 2023
Ultra 2 — S9 chip, double-tap gesture, same case
Ultra 2 brings the S9 chip and new double-tap gesture but keeps the identical 49mm case from Ultra 1. First generation repetition signals the design is being held.
AppleSep 2025
Ultra 3 — satellite Emergency SOS, still S10, still same case
Ultra 3 adds built-in satellite for Emergency SOS, Find My, and Messages off-grid. The chip is S10, shared with Series 10 and 11. Case dimensions unchanged after three years.
AppleAug 2025
DigiTimes: 2026 Apple Watch Ultra gets significant external changes and new sensors
DigiTimes reports at least one 2026 Apple Watch model will feature significant external design changes tied to new sensors. Supply chain sources point to new sensor layout on the back. First serious Ultra 4 redesign speculation.
NotebookcheckDec 2025
iOS 26 code leak: Ultra 4 codename N240 confirmed alongside Series 12
The same early iOS 26 leak that surfaces Series 12 codenames N237 and N238 includes N240 identified as Apple Watch Ultra 4 — all under Watch8 family with new T8320 silicon.
Gadgets & WearablesMay 2026
DigiTimes: "full redesign" and "significant upgrade to sensing functions" for Ultra 4
May 2026 DigiTimes supply chain report: a "complete redesign" paired with a "significant upgrade to sensing functions." Eight sensors in a ring pattern described. Market observers forecast 20–30% Apple Watch shipment increase on the strength of the redesign.
MacRumorsJun 8, 2026
WWDC 2026 — watchOS 27 announced with Siri AI
Apple announces watchOS 27. Siri AI comes to Apple Watch. Ultra 4 will ship with watchOS 27 at launch, supporting all features.
AppleSep 2026
Apple Watch Ultra 4 announced
Outlook
What's next
Beyond Ultra 4: MicroLED was planned for this generation and pushed to 2027 or 2028. Blood glucose monitoring: not before 2028. The Ultra line is on a slower redesign cadence than Series — expect Ultra 5 to be an incremental update, with the next major Ultra leap when MicroLED and glucose arrive together.
Smartwatch InsightWhat the codenames mean
N240Apple Watch Ultra 4 hardware codename — appears in the same iOS 26 leak as N237/N238, all under the Watch8 silicon familyWatch8Silicon family shared by Series 12 (N237/N238) and Ultra 4 (N240) — new T8320 chip after three generations on Watch7/T8310AppleMesaInternal Touch ID codename — referenced in leaked 2026 Apple Watch firmware, more credibly attached to Ultra 4 than Series 12