Leaks Reveal Major Internal Upgrades for Upcoming Apple Watches

2026-09-08 companies

Cupertino, Monday, 7 September 2026.
Internal storage is doubling to 128 GB alongside a new “Readiness” health app, even as Apple maintains existing exterior designs for its September 9, 2026 launch.

Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 Launch Event Scheduled

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is preparing to unveil its next generation of wearable technology at an event scheduled for September 9, 2026 [1][2]. Leaked details surrounding the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 highlight hardware updates alongside watchOS enhancements, occurring as the wearable tech market faces shifting consumer price sensitivities [1][2]. Industry analysts are closely tracking whether hardware iterations and high-tier Ultra pricing can sustain growth in Apple’s Wearables, Home, and Accessories segment [1][2]. The announcement is expected to take place in the future relative to the current date of September 7, 2026, marking a key moment for the company’s product cycle [1][5].

Internal Hardware Upgrades

Code analysis of the T8320 chip for Series 12 and Ultra 4 models indicates an upgrade to 128GB of NAND storage, doubling the 64GB found in previous generations [1][3]. This increase represents a storage capacity growth of 100 percent compared to the Apple Watch Series 11 [3][5]. Both the Series 12 and Ultra 4 are expected to feature faster processors, likely the S11 or S12 chip, to support watchOS 27 and the new Siri AI [2][5]. Despite these internal changes, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that he does not expect the Series 12 or Ultra 4 to have any major design changes compared to the current Series 11 and Ultra 3 models [1][2].

Software and Health Enhancements

Ahead of the announcement, code in the watchOS 27 and iOS 27 betas points to a series of new features for the product line [1][3]. Findings include a new ‘Readiness’ app, referred to in code as distinct from the existing Vitals app [1][3]. The Workout app in watchOS 27 will receive updates to handle increased granularity for strength workouts, tracking sets, durations, repetitions, and equipment used [3][5]. Additionally, watchOS 27 code indicates a transition to an optical-sensing family called ‘Sunstone4p0’ to improve weak pulse signal measurement [3][5].

Market Positioning and Pricing

The Apple Watch Ultra 3, released in 2025, has a starting price of $799, which is double the starting price of the Series 11 [2][6]. Price increases are anticipated for the upcoming models, as Apple has raised prices across its 2026 hardware lineup, and competitors like Google and Samsung have also increased smartwatch pricing this year [2][6]. In the competitive landscape, Garmin announced the Fenix 9 and Fenix 9 Pro flagship sports watches on August 25, 2026, featuring capabilities like integrated flashlights that reviewers suggest Apple could adopt [4][5]. Apple is hosting an event on September 9, 2026, to announce details regarding the new Apple Watch lineup, with shipping expected in the latter half of September 2026 [2][5].

Sources

Apple Watch Wearables Market