Where to preorder the new Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4

At Apple’s "Surprise and shine" event the company confirmed two new wearable models: the Apple Watch Series 12 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4. Visually both watches resemble their predecessors, but Apple emphasized several under-the-hood upgrades rather than a dramatic redesign. The headline improvements are a more capable S11 system-in-package and longer battery life. Apple says the new chipset enables a suite of features referred to as Audio Intelligence and supports enhanced sensor processing and tracking — capabilities highlighted in hands-on coverage by Verge reporter Victoria Song. These changes are positioned as the main reasons for existing users to consider upgrading. On pricing and availability, the Series 12 starts at $399 for the 42mm model and costs $50 more for the 46mm. A ceramic-case option returns for the first time since the Series 5, with configurations starting at $899. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 begins at $799, comes in a single size, and includes GPS and 5G connectivity. Both models will be sold through Apple, Amazon, and Best Buy and launch on September 18, the same day the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max arrive. Apple did not refresh the SE model for 2026, leaving the SE 3 as the current budget option. For buyers who don’t want to wait for full reviews, the new watches are already available to preorder from major retailers at the prices listed above.