Official Series 12 aluminum render in dark bronze with Olive Sport Band; the image caption does not identify case size or GPS/cellular connectivity. Image: Apple ↗
Apple · Smartwatches
Apple Watch Series 12 (42 mm GPS aluminum)
42 mm aluminum GPS · S11 · Ceramic Shield 2
US launch / reference price: $399 · Released 2026-09-18
US launch starting price for 42 mm aluminum GPS with a standard band; larger cases, cellular, materials and other bands can cost more. Apple announced US preorders for September 9 and retail availability for September 18, 2026. This is a manufacturer-announced date, not a retailer stock check.
Editorial overview
The smaller aluminum Series 12 configuration pairs an always-on display with new heart sensors; it connects through a paired iPhone or Wi-Fi rather than cellular.
This is a sourced product profile with editorial judgments. Specdex has not tested this device in an in-house lab.
Reasons to consider it
- Compact 42 mm aluminum configuration
- Always-on display with 2,000-nit specified peak brightness
- Fast charging support
Tradeoffs to check
- GPS configuration has no independent cellular connection
- Requires a compatible iPhone
- Some announced intelligence features arrive later in 2026
Specifications
Configurations and regional models can differ. A dated source beside a field identifies a specific cross-check; other fields remain catalog reference information.
Display
- Display
- LTPO3 always-on OLED; 374 × 446; 326 ppi; peak 2,000 nitsManufacturer source · checked 2026-09-13 ↗
Camera & video
- Sensors
- Optical/electrical heart sensors; temperature sensor; 6 m depth gauge; altimeterManufacturer source · checked 2026-09-13 ↗
Battery & charging
- Battery
- Apple claims up to 24 hours normal use, or 38 hours Low Power ModeManufacturer source · checked 2026-09-13 ↗
- Charging
- Apple claims 0–80% in about 30 minutes with compatible fast-charging equipmentManufacturer source · checked 2026-09-13 ↗
Storage
- Storage
- 64 GBManufacturer source · checked 2026-09-13 ↗
Connectivity
- Connectivity
- Wi-Fi 4, 2.4/5 GHz; Bluetooth 5.3Manufacturer source · checked 2026-09-13 ↗
- Cellular
- Not included on this GPS configurationManufacturer source · checked 2026-09-13 ↗
Build & design
- Dimensions
- 42 × 37 × 9.7 mm (height × width × depth)Manufacturer source · checked 2026-09-13 ↗
- Weight
- 32.2 g (aluminum GPS)Manufacturer source · checked 2026-09-13 ↗
Software & support
- Positioning
- L1 GPS; second-generation Ultra Wideband chipManufacturer source · checked 2026-09-13 ↗
Other
- Configuration
- 42 mm GPS; dark bronze aluminum case; Olive Sport BandManufacturer source · checked 2026-09-13 ↗
- Front cover
- Ceramic Shield 2Manufacturer source · checked 2026-09-13 ↗
- Chip
- S11; 64-bit dual-core CPU; 4-core Neural EngineManufacturer source · checked 2026-09-13 ↗
- Resistance
- 50 m water resistance, ISO 22810:2010; IP6X dust resistanceManufacturer source · checked 2026-09-13 ↗
- Compatibility
- iPhone 11 or later, or iPhone SE (2nd generation or later); iOS 27+Manufacturer source · checked 2026-09-13 ↗
Prices & availability
US launch / reference: $399. This is not a current retailer offer.
Checking current offers…
Price history
Prices apply to the listed configuration and condition. Tax and shipping are not included unless the retailer states otherwise.
Sources & confidence
Manufacturer source: www.apple.com ↗
Catalog source check recorded 2026-09-13. A reference link is not proof that every field has been independently checked. Consult the linked source for model, region and test conditions.
This device has not received an editorial rating yet. Editorial scores use rubric editorial-2026-09; they are not manufacturer ratings or measured benchmark results. Missing information is not scored as zero.
Documented box contents
- Apple Watch Series 12
- Sport Band
- 1 m Apple Watch Magnetic Fast Charger to USB-C Cable
