Unless there are huge glitches in the universe, I will have good authority and we can expect this September’s Apple Watch series 11 and the rumored iPhone 17. They are all launched at the September annual iPhone event, except for the first generation models.
The release date is unpredictable. Traditionally, new models are on sale anywhere from days to weeks after the keynote (which is what we expect for 2025), although it has been delayed in recent years due to production issues. It is unclear how new watches will affect the launch and price of new watches in 2025.
The Apple Watch Series 11 will follow last year’s Apple Watch Series 10, which won the CNET Editor Award. Apple also sells other models, such as the Apple Watch Ultra 2 that emerged in 2023 and the Apple Watch SE that declined in 2022. While Apple hasn’t made any comments about future products, we’re lucky that all Apple Watch Models have a lot of rumors. This is what Leakers and Apple analysts say, and we can look forward to the next Apple Watch (ES).
How many Apple watches will we get this year?
According to a report by Apple analyst Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, we will definitely get the 11 Series 11, and we’ll likely see updated Ultra and SE models. The Apple Watch Ultra and the cheap SE series don’t follow a predictable upgrade cycle, but the absence of last year may prove that 2025 may be the year we get three again. The 10th Series became the only smartwatch announced that year in 2024.
Apple Watch Design
Since last year’s redesign is still fresh, the Series 11 may look similar to the Series 10 and has the same large edge-to-edge screen (still 42mm and 46mm), which is brighter, lighter and thinner than its predecessor. Any design tweaks can be secondary and are driven by new technology under the hood.
According to Macrumors, the Apple Watch may get a more energy-efficient screen, perhaps an LTPO display with higher resolution and better brightness, which can help improve battery life from paper. This could be retained for the high-end Ultra 3, which might otherwise retain its original design.
But the cuter SE may see a wider design overhaul. It will still have the body of Series 8, and according to Gurman, the series 10’s several upgrades are like the always-confrontational display.
Apple Watch Processor
Apple typically bumps up the processor with every new smartwatch, so we should see an Apple S11 chip this time around for at least the Series 11 and Ultra 3. The Ultra 3 is also rumored to get satellite connectivity and 5G support, but according to Gurman, these features likely won’t make it to the Series 11. Considering last gens’ upgrade cycle, my personal bet would also be on the SE getting a processor bump up to the S9 chip, currently found in the Ultra 2 and Apple Watch Series 9.
The series 10 charges faster than previous Apple watches, but the battery lasts the same time.
Apple Watch Battery
If there is one thing on everyone’s wish list, it’s better battery life. The Series 10 introduces faster charging speeds – 90% to 80% in just 30 minutes, while the previous model’s 90 minutes can increase the space on the battery capacity itself.
While there are no rumors that the new Apple watch will get longer battery life, I really hope Apple will be able to solve the battery because its smartwatch is lagging behind. Some Android models use dual chipsets to divide tasks and optimize battery life. I would like to see Apple adopt a similar strategy and eventually push battery life to two days to a single charge. I hope the current ultra hourly charge will get a full 72 hours of Ultra and limit its battery life to a full four days.
Apple Watch Price
Based on current pricing, the 42mm aluminum version of the Apple Watch Series 11 could cost $399, the 46mm version is $429, and the upgrade costs for cover material and LTE connectivity are additional. Unless the recently enacted tariffs play a role in pricing this year, it remains to be seen. Another question is what is the most expensive version – pure gold, diamond-wrapped Hermes, anyone?
Apple Watch Health and Fitness Upgrade
There is finally a persistent rumor about blood pressure tracking that finally enters the Apple Watch, but it is not clear when it will be ready. According to a March report from Gurman, Apple has tested the feature in its smartwatch, but has encountered problems. Other wearable hygiene companies such as Omron and Med-Watch have shown that blood pressure can be measured on the wrist, but adding this feature may require new sensors and larger designs. It will also be less precise than Omron’s dedicated health equipment and measurement baseline metrics such as the Galaxy Watch 7 and Ultra (not supported on Samsung watches in the United States).
Glucose monitoring has also been thrown in, but according to Gurman, this will be further. Finally, Blood Oxygen (SPO2), which debuted on Series 6, may not make a comeback as Apple is still involved in legal issues related to it.
A hand with an Apple Watch activates the horizontal lock on the wooden door.
Other Apple Watch surprises
There is another rumor around that the Apple Watch can get the camera – not for selfies (this is not 2015 after all), but for AI-based image recognition. With the release of Apple Intelligence, Apple introduced a visual search tool on iPhone that uses cameras to provide relevant information about objects and locations.
According to a report from Gurman, Apple is exploring this option and it may not be entering the Apple Watch even if the company decides to advance the technology until the 2027 model. While this release isn’t expected, it could hint at what kind of AI integration will appear on Watchos 12. By contrast, Watchos 11 lacks any Apple Intelligence features.
WatchOS 12 may also give us clues about the direction Apple Intelligence is taking on watches, and can also hint at new hardware features. The new operating system is expected to be unveiled at Apple’s annual Developers Conference (WWDC 2025), which is scheduled to take place on June 5.
