Technology
Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 rumored to introduce upgraded processors
New chip hardware is expected to deliver speed improvements aligned with incoming Siri AI software features.
The short version
- Apple is reportedly preparing to update the processors in the upcoming Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4.
- The anticipated hardware upgrade follows multiple generations using the S10 processor without major CPU performance gains.
- The new chip is designed to accommodate the processing demands of Siri AI debuting in watchOS 27.
- Apple has not yet officially confirmed the final chip specifications or naming.
Key facts
- Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 will receive updated, faster processors.[9to5Mac]
- The incoming watchOS 27 operating system introduces Siri AI, a feature requiring greater on-device computing power.[9to5Mac]
- The previous Apple Watch chip providing notable CPU improvements was the S9 introduced in 2023.[9to5Mac]
- Support for several older Apple Watch models will be discontinued under watchOS 27.[9to5Mac]
What remains uncertain
- The exact naming, architecture, and performance benchmarks of the upcoming S-series processor remain unconfirmed by Apple.[9to5Mac]