Apple Considers Apple Watch Redesign to Respond to Oura Ring; Series 12 and Ultra 4 Due Fall 2026
Apple is weighing a major redesign of its Apple Watch lineup in response to the shift toward screenless wearables and rising smart ring adoption, including Oura. The company has explored multiple shapes and sizes over the past year, such as watches with round displays and fully screenless fitness accessories, but has yet to release a smart ring despite holding patents. In fall 2026, Apple will launch the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, focused on performance with new processors, additional color options and enhanced fitness features, keeping the current design largely unchanged.
Apple is considering a major redesign of its Apple Watch product line in response to the trend of wearable devices moving toward screenless forms. Over the past year, the company has studied a range of product shapes and sizes, including watches equipped with circular displays and fully screenless fitness accessories. The move is regarded as a significant turning point for the Apple Watch, as all previous models have largely been built around the same fundamental design concept.
Adoption of smart rings has continued to rise, and Apple has filed multiple patents in the category over time, though it has not yet released such a product.
In fall 2026, Apple will release new iterations of its smartwatch lineup, including the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4. Both watches will focus on performance upgrades, featuring new processors, additional color options and enhanced fitness capabilities, with no major changes to their exterior design.