Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
A significant redesign of the Apple Watch in 2026 is planned by Apple, as revealed by the findings in the internal code. Mentions of biometric authentication and a brand-new processor indicate the firm is likely to roll out the largest hardware refresh in years. The finding suggests prototypes that may embrace Touch ID, which will bring a fresh tier of security to the Apple wearable products.
The code leak first discovered by Macworld and later verified by MacRumors specifically refers to AppleMesa, or the codename Touch ID by Apple. This is a strong indication that prototype variants of the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 will have the feature. Although the 2025 lineup may not include Touch ID, its inclusion in the testing stage is indicative that Apple is treating the idea of adding fingerprint authentication to the watch with the seriousness it deserves.
Touch ID may be incorporated into the side button or behind the display. When enforced, it will result in faster and secure Apple Watch logins, eliminating the use of short passcodes. It would also be able to support Apple Pay transactions by offering direct biometric verification, further locking down the security. But Apple can also scrap the feature prior to launch in case it decides not to go into mass production.
The code also indicates a new CPU with the name T8320, which is a replacement for the long-serving T8310 chip on the S9, S10 and the soon-to-be-released S11 processors. This implies that the 2026 models may, at last, bring significant performance boosts that have not been seen in years of repeated model-year refreshes. Internally, the Series 12 and Ultra 4 are known as Watch8 to break the tradition of Series 9 onwards using the naming scheme of Watch7, indicating wider design and feature revisions.
DigiTimes reports are consistent with those findings, stating that Apple has plans to make big design adjustments to the Apple Watch in 2026. New chips, potentially Touch ID and a new design would leave the Series 12 and Ultra 4 as a potential new beginning for Apple wearables.
