Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 will be released next month with a new chip designed for artificial intelligence capabilities.

The new models are expected to use a chip likely designated S11 or S12, representing the first major processor upgrade for the Watch line in several years.

Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3 used the same S10 chip as their predecessors, and performance gains have been limited to minor enhancements.

Mark Gurman reported that the upcoming chip marks a long‑awaited increase in speed and processing power, the first significant gain since the S9 upgrade in 2023.

watchOS 27, launching next month, introduces Siri AI as a central feature and ends support for many older Watch models.

Beta testers have noted that Siri on current devices is less responsive, a delay that appears tied to the older processor architecture.

The new chip is intended to handle on‑device AI tasks, which should improve Siri’s speed and reliability.

Apple has not disclosed the exact chip name or detailed specifications, and the impact on battery life and pricing remains unknown.