Apple Watch Series 12 May Bring Back Ceramic After a Six-Year Absence

By Shikhar Mehrotra • Updated On 21 Aug 2026

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TL; DR

Leaker Kosutami claims ceramic casing is returning with the Apple Watch Series 12.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman previously reported that Apple was considering this for 2026 or 2027.
The Series 12 is also expected to get a brighter display, an S12 chip, and watchOS 27 with smarter Siri.

Apple’s Watch Series 12, expected to debut at September’s product event, may bring back a case material the company hasn’t touched since 2019. This time, the reason has more to do with what’s happening inside the watch’s chassis than creating nostalgia among buyers and charging them more (though the company will most likely do that).

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Why Ceramic Is Suddenly Back In The Conversation

Leaker Kosutami, a known prototype collector, posted on X that ceramic casing “is back” for the Series 12. The claim corroborates an earlier report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who also stated Apple was weighing a ceramic return for either this year or 2027.

The Cupertino giant first introduced ceramic with the Series 2 Edition in 2016, marketed as four times harder than stainless steel. However, it dropped the material entirely with the Series 6 in 2020. If this leak holds, it ends a six-year absence.

Also Read: Huawei Just Made a Foldable-Shaped Phone Without the Fold

The Bigger Story Is What’s Happening Under The Hood

Beyond the case material, Series 12 leaks point to a brighter always-on display (up to 2,000 nits, dimming to 1 nit), a new S12 chip for improved on-device processing and efficiency, and watchOS 27 bringing Siri AI to the wrist.

Detail	Apple Watch Series 12 (Rumored)
Case Sizes	42mm, 46mm (unchanged)
New Material	Ceramic (returning after Series 6)
Peak Brightness	2,000 nits
Minimum Brightness	1 nit
Chip	S12
Battery Life	~24 hours
Software	watchOS 27
Expected Reveal	September 2026, alongside iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max

Also Read: iQOO Z11 Review: A Solid All-Rounder With a Few Rough Edges

I’d read this as Apple treating ceramic as a differentiator for buyers who already own recent Apple Watches and have little reason to upgrade otherwise.

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Shikhar Mehrotra

Shikhar Mehrotra is a seasoned technology writer and reviewer with over five years of experience covering consumer tech across India and global markets. At Smartprix, he has authored more than 1,700 articles, including news stories, features, comparisons, and product reviews spanning automobiles, smartphones, chipsets, wearables, laptops, home appliances, and operating systems. Shikhar has reviewed flagship devices such as the iPhone 16, Galaxy S25+, and Sennheiser HD 505 Open-Ear headphones. He also contributes regularly to Smartprix’s growing automotive section.

With a deep understanding of both iOS and Android ecosystems, Shikhar specializes in daily tech news, how-to explainers, product comparisons, and in-depth reviews. His DSLR photography in product reviews is recognized as among the best on the team.

Before joining Smartprix, Shikhar wrote for leading publications including Forbes Advisor India, Republic World, and ScreenRant. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication from Amity University, Lucknow.

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