Apple Watch Ultra 4 release date expectations, price estimates and upgrades
Apple Watch Ultra for illustrative purposes. | Image by PhoneArena
Apple Watch Ultra 4: what to expect
What’s expected to change vs Apple Watch Ultra 3:
Expected release timeline:
- New S-series chip, expected to improve efficiency and responsiveness
- Slightly thinner chassis, making the Ultra more comfortable to wear daily
- Potential Touch ID for authentication
- Marginally larger display, without changing the overall rugged identity
- Revised sensor layout, possibly preparing for future health features
- No confirmed breakthrough health sensors, including glucose monitoring
- watchOS upgrades
Expected release timeline:
- Expected announcement in September 2026, alongside the iPhone 18 lineup.
- The timepiece should become available within the same month.
- No rumors of a price hike for the Apple Watch Ultra so far.
- Apple has held the Ultra line steady at $799 for three generations in a row, and Ultra 4 will possibly keep the same price.
Jump to:
Apple Watch Ultra 4 release date
Based on Apple’s release schedule in previous years, the Apple Watch Ultra 4 is expected to be announced in September 2026, alongside the iPhone 18 lineup and Apple's first foldable iPhone (potentially).
| Device family | Announcement | Market release |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch Ultra | September 7, 2022 | September 23, 2022 |
| Apple Watch Ultra 2 | September 12, 2023 | September 22, 2023 |
| Apple Watch Ultra 3 | September 9, 2025 | September 19, 2025 |
| Apple Watch Ultra 4 | September 2026* | September 2026* |
* - probable dates
Some reports from outlets like MacRumors and Macworld claim that Apple has internally referenced a future Apple Watch model under the codename “N240,” which is believed to correspond to a 2026-generation Apple Watch.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 price
Currently, there are no leaks saying there will be a price increase for the Apple Watch Ultra 4. Likely, Apple will sell the Ultra at the same price as its predecessor.
| Apple Watch model | 49mm GPS + Cellular |
|---|---|
| Apple Watch Ultra | $799 |
| Apple Watch Ultra 2 | $799 |
| Apple Watch Ultra 3 | $799 |
| Apple Watch Ultra 4 | $799 |
*- anticipated price
However, we should still consider the rising costs for components across the industry. This may or may not affect the flagship timepiece.
Meanwhile, Apple is still keeping its lead as the world's top smartwatch vendor in terms of shipments.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 design
Design is one of the areas where we have some leaks to give us an idea of what to expect from the Apple Watch Ultra 4.
Multiple reports suggest Apple might finally refresh the design after three generations that look almost identical. The new Apple Watch Ultra 4 is said to have a slightly thinner chassis, which should make it more comfortable to wear, and a slightly larger display.
Meanwhile, it's believed that the 2026 Apple Watches may finally get Touch ID for authentication and security. Rumor has it that the Apple Watch Ultra 4 may integrate the Touch ID into the side button. Other places where it's possible for Apple to put the Touch ID sensor could be on the Action button. Currently, it's not known where Touch ID will be placed on the watch.
There have also been rumors discussing a new sensor layout on the underside of the watch. These rumors have been going around for quite a while now, and it's not confirmed whether they're about the Apple Watch Ultra 4 or another Apple Watch further down the line.
These sensors could be linked to new health capabilities, but presently, we don't know much about them, so take it with a grain of salt.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 display
The Apple Watch Ultra 4's potential display has not leaked just yet. However, it is expected that the panel will most likely be similar to the previous generation. We might see some improvements to the display's brightness, although the last two generations came with displays that are already very bright anyway.
Expect a similar OLED display with gorgeous colors and good viewing angles. The Ultra 3 brought an upgrade with the use of LTPO3 for its display, which allowed the smartwatch to refresh the display at just 1 Hz, helping the Always-on feature to consume even less power.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 battery
Longer battery life is one of the main reasons buyers pick the Ultra over the regular Apple Watches. We don't expect any increases to the battery capacity with the Apple Watch Ultra 4, but we could see some improvements if the new chip provides better efficiency.
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 already delivers around 42 hours in standard use and up to 72 hours in Low-Power Mode. As for charging, the Ultra 4's predecessor got fairly fast charging. You get around 80% of battery in just 45 minutes, which is definitely faster than previous Apple Watch models. It is unclear if Apple will bring an upgrade in the battery department.
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 already delivers around 42 hours in standard use and up to 72 hours in Low-Power Mode. As for charging, the Ultra 4's predecessor got fairly fast charging. You get around 80% of battery in just 45 minutes, which is definitely faster than previous Apple Watch models. It is unclear if Apple will bring an upgrade in the battery department.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 features and software
- Advanced workout tracking
- Emergency SOS and satellite connectivity
- Dive and outdoor navigation tools
- Sleep tracking, ECG, blood oxygen, wrist temperature
- Hypertension notifications (if expanded)
So far, though, we haven't heard about new features that would debut with the Apple Watch Ultra 4.
Health sensors
Reports of eight sensors on the underside suggest Apple is continuing to invest in health monitoring, but no source confirms new medical-grade capabilities.
Apart from new features, the Ultra 4 is expected to bring the Ultra 3's workout and health features as well. This includes watchOS 26's Apple Intelligence-powered workout buddy, the huge array of workouts, and sleep tracking with Sleep Score.
The health features that the Ultra 3 sported are also likely to be kept, including heart rate monitoring, ECG, irregular rhythm notifications, high and low rate, respiratory rate, and hypertension alerts.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 hardware and specs
We expect a new chip to power the Series 12 and the Ultra 4 smartwatches, as per tradition. This year, the processor should be the S11 chip.
Apple Watch Ultra 4's expected specs:
- CPU: S11 chip
- Connectivity: Cellular, 5G, satellite SOS
- Battery life: Up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode or slightly more
- Materials: Titanium
- Sizes: One Ultra size
- Storage: 64GB
- Sensors: Expanded sensor array
As is the trend in the last few years, this new processor may get serious optimization for AI tasks. In our case, it's Apple Intelligence. It's also expected to be more power efficient, which should technically help prolong the rugged timepiece's battery life.
Should I wait for the Apple Watch Ultra 4?
- You should wait for the Apple Watch Ultra 4 if you want to upgrade to a slimmer version of Apple's ultimate smartwatch. Otherwise, there is not much else that would elicit an upgrade based on the leaks we've seen so far, unless Apple introduces a new feature or an improvement to an old one, or somehow improves the battery life even more.
- You should not wait for the Apple Watch Ultra 4if the slimmer design is not essential to you. While the rumors say the new model will be thinner, we don't know by how much. There is quite a bit of time until September, so if you need a rugged smartwatch for any specific plans, then it is best to get one right now. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is already pretty great, and it doesn't seem like it will be too different from its successor.
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