watchOS 12 set to revamp interface and link with Apple Intelligence—but hardware may sit still for now
The Apple Watch is heading for a transformation—but not the kind you strap on your wrist and immediately notice. The changes this year won’t be about shiny new sensors or experimental materials. Instead, Apple’s next move is software-heavy, and it might just be the biggest leap for the Watch in years.
watchOS 12 is on deck. And from what we’re hearing, it’s going to reshape how users experience the Watch without needing to overhaul the hardware. There’ll be some cosmetic updates to the device itself, yes—but the real juice lies in the interface and how it quietly hooks into Apple’s broader AI ecosystem.
No onboard Apple Intelligence—for now
Despite buzz about Apple Intelligence changing the game across iPhones, iPads, and Macs later this year, the Apple Watch won’t be getting the full deal natively. At least, not yet.
A recent Bloomberg report lays it out: Apple Intelligence won’t run directly on the Watch’s current chipsets. That tech is too heavy for the wrist—for now. But watchOS 12 will still tap into it, kind of like borrowing your friend’s Netflix password.
Results generated by Apple Intelligence on your iPhone or iPad? Those can be displayed on your Watch. That might sound like a workaround, but it opens the door to a smarter, more responsive wearable—without needing a silicon overhaul.
So, while the Watch might not do the AI thinking, it’ll still show it.
Software will steal the spotlight in watchOS 12
Apple’s marching toward a visual makeover that ties all its platforms together. Think visionOS—but wrist-sized.
watchOS 12 is expected to mirror the semi-transparent menus and fluid motion of Apple’s latest interface revamp, echoing what we’ll also see in iOS 19 and macOS 16. If you’re bored of your Watch’s current look, good news: things are about to get a bit more sci-fi.
Here’s what might be coming:
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Semi-transparent interface layers
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Refreshed icons and widget layouts
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A redesigned Control Center experience
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Notification summaries powered via iPhone AI
One highlight? A reworked Siri experience. While it won’t be generated on-device, Apple’s overhaul of the assistant is expected to make Watch interactions feel a lot less clunky—and less like yelling into a wrist from 2017.
Hardware updates look minor, but whispers persist
If you’re hoping to snap selfies from your wrist or measure your blood glucose levels anytime soon, temper expectations.
Despite swirling rumors of new health sensors and even cameras, the reality is… Apple’s not quite ready to take that plunge. The 2025 Apple Watch hardware refresh, if you can call it that, looks to be more about material shifts and small design nudges than feature explosions.
Two reports, though, have sparked some curiosity.
One points to an experimental all-glass Apple Watch—yes, glass from top to bottom, like something out of a sci-fi flick. Another hints at a cheaper, potentially plastic Apple Watch SE model that could make the device more accessible globally, particularly in emerging markets.
And if either gets announced in 2025, they’ll reflect two parallel strategies: push the high-end design forward, while expanding reach at the budget level.
Apple Watch: Where it stands right now
It’s not easy keeping track of how each model differs and what’s still supported. Here’s a breakdown of Apple Watch models and their expected compatibility with watchOS 12:
| Apple Watch Model | Launch Year | watchOS 12 Support | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 9 | 2023 | ✅ Yes | Full feature support |
| Apple Watch Ultra 2 | 2023 | ✅ Yes | Likely flagship experience |
| Apple Watch Series 8 | 2022 | ✅ Yes | May lack full AI display sync |
| Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) | 2022 | ✅ Yes | Will support basic updates |
| Apple Watch Series 7 | 2021 | 🔶 Likely | Could have limited feature access |
| Older models (Series 6 ↓) | 2020 ↓ | ❌ No | Unlikely to be supported |
For users of the newer Series 9 and Ultra 2, watchOS 12 might finally make the Watch feel fresh again—without needing to upgrade hardware.
The bigger picture: Apple’s quiet shift
Apple seems more focused on tying the Watch deeper into its ecosystem than pushing new hardware. Think continuity, not reinvention.
Rather than chasing flashy new sensors every year, Apple’s moving towards a more unified user experience. It’s about making all your Apple gear talk to each other better. Your iPhone does the thinking. Your Watch shows you the results. Your Mac picks up where you left off.
And maybe that’s the point: the Watch doesn’t need to be a standalone genius. It just needs to be smart enough to keep up.
