Apple Watch Series 12 is expected to make its debut at Apple’s September 9 event, and one of the biggest surprises could be the return of a material Apple has not used on the standard lineup for years.
Recent reports suggest Apple is preparing new ceramic case options for Series 12, potentially bringing back the premium finish in both white and dark gray.
As reported by MacRumors, Apple has tested both ceramic colors as part of this year’s lineup. Ceramic Apple Watch models were previously positioned above the standard aluminum and stainless steel versions before disappearing after Apple Watch Series 5.
The material is only one part of the expected update. Apple Watch Series 12 is also rumored to gain a faster S-series processor, marking a more meaningful performance step after multiple generations that reused closely related chip designs.
That extra performance could become increasingly important as watchOS 27 expands Siri and Apple Intelligence features across the Watch.
Health and fitness tracking are expected to receive attention too. Reports suggest Apple has been testing more continuous heart-rate monitoring throughout the day, potentially giving the Health and Fitness apps more persistent wellness data.
As reported by 9to5Mac, the new sensor behavior could make Apple Watch more competitive with devices and services focused on continuous recovery and wellness metrics.
Major external design changes are not expected this year. Instead, Series 12 appears set to focus on internal upgrades, health features and new material choices while retaining the current general shape and display design.
Apple Watch Series 12 is expected to launch alongside Apple Watch Ultra 4, iPhone 18 Pro and Apple’s first foldable iPhone during Wednesday’s keynote.