Apple is preparing modest updates to its Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, but a significant redesign of the wearable is still at least a year or two away. The devices, currently in "late-stage testing," will focus on internal improvements such as faster chips and enhanced health and fitness tracking rather than a change in appearance, meaning this year's buyers will be choosing based on performance rather than looks.

Gurman reports that both Wi-Fi and cellular versions of the Series 12 are being tested alongside the Ultra 4, while the Apple Watch SE will not be refreshed this year, having only received an update with the SE 3 last year. The last major processor overhaul came in 2023 with the S9 chip, though it remains unclear exactly what new capabilities the upcoming chips will bring. Looking further ahead, Apple is reportedly planning a bigger design rethink alongside continued work on non-invasive blood sugar detection, a feature said to have been in development since 2024.