Apple is expected to show Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 at its September 9 event. MacRumors says code in the watchOS 27 and iOS 27 betas, spotted by forum member pdfu, points to four changes worth watching: a Readiness app, richer strength logging, a new optical sensor family, and 128GB of storage.
Readiness app
MacRumors says watchOS 27 names a separate Watch app called Readiness, distinct from Vitals. The launcher puts it on the default Home Screen right after Workout, and the iOS 27 Watch companion app uses the same placement when it arranges apps. MacRumors reads the name and that spot as a more substantial readiness or recovery view, not a renamed vitals screen.
Richer strength workouts
The betas add health-store fields for individual sets, repetition counts, weight, equipment, body side, and duration. That is logging infrastructure. It does not, by itself, describe a finished Strength workout UI.
New optical-sensing system
Code refers to a sensor family named Sunstone4p0, with lower noise coefficients and wrist- and orientation-based channel selection. MacRumors says that could mean revised heart-sensing hardware that holds up better when the reflected pulse is weak and that can pick channels based on how the watch sits on the wrist.
128GB storage
A NAND storage profile tied to the T8320 chip for Series 12 and Ultra 4 suggests 128GB, up from 64GB on the current models. MacRumors presents that as a possibility from the profile, not a shipping confirmation.
Gurman, as reported by MacRumors on August 30, also expected faster performance (the current Series 11 and Ultra 3 still use the S10 chip), more ordinary health and fitness work, and a possible return of ceramic cases. He did not expect Touch ID or a major redesign this year. An Apple Watch SE 4 is not expected in this cycle.
