Executive Editor, Macworld

Summary created by Smart Answers AI

• Macworld reports that Apple may be planning a major rethink of the Apple Watch, potentially introducing round screens, ceramic cases, screenless bands, and premium luxury models.
• The upcoming Series 12 and Ultra 4 are expected to feature only minor internal upgrades, while more radical design shifts and AI-powered health features appear to be further down the road.
• Buyers may want to hold off on purchasing current models and wait for these significant changes.

In just a few weeks, Apple will unveil its latest family of smartwatches, including the Series 12 and Ultra 4. According to the rumors, the new watches will be relatively minor updates with a new faster chip and a few internal upgrades. But once again, the 2026 Apple Watches will largely be the same as the models they replace.

But according to Mark Gurman’s latest Power On newsletter, Apple’s design team “has been exploring a broader rethink of its smartwatches over the past year or so and is evaluating several different directions.” Among the new models currently being tested are:

• A “fan favorite” ceramic case option, which hasn’t been offered since 2016.
• A screenless Apple Watch band.
• New screen sizes and shapes, including round screens.
• Premium models beyond the Ultra and Hermès options.
• More affordable options besides the current SE model.

None of these models are expected this year, though Gurman leaves the door open to a possible appearance of a ceramic Series 12. He notes that Apple “hasn’t settled on a single direction yet” and some of these models are “unlikely to hit the market.” However, he reports that the “revamp could be as significant as the iPhone’s transformation from a slab design into a foldable device.”

In particular, he points out that Eddy Cue, who is in charge of the Health app overhaul, is “an avid fan of Whoop and Oura Rings,” and wants to adapt to “shifting consumer tastes and the growth of AI-powered health and wellness.”

Apple has been rumored to be creating several AI-centered wearable devices, including a pin and a pendant, and AirPods with cameras for Visual Intelligence. But this report makes it sound like that same strategy could apple to future wrist-worn wearables as well.

You can expect to see a new Apple Watch in mid-September, but based on this report, it might be worth skipping it and waiting to see what arrives next year.