Apple is gearing up to unveil the next major version of its wearable operating system — watchOS 12 — alongside iOS 19 at WWDC 2025, scheduled for June 9 to June 13. The update is expected to introduce advanced health monitoring features, AI-powered insights, and enhanced fitness tools.
But the big question remains: Will your Apple Watch support watchOS 12? We’ve got you covered.
Apple Watch models that won’t support watchOS 12
Apple generally provides five years of watchOS updates for its wearables. In 2024, the company dropped support for the Apple Watch Series 4 and Series 5 with the release of watchOS 11.
If Apple maintains this update cycle, the Apple Watch Series 6, launched in 2020, may not be eligible for watchOS 12. This means watchOS 11 will likely be the final major software update for that model.
List of Apple Watch models compatible with watchOS 12
Based on current trends and product cycles, here’s a list of Apple Watch models expected to support watchOS 12:
- Apple Watch Ultra (1st and 2nd generation)
- Apple Watch Series 10
- Apple Watch Series 9
- Apple Watch Series 8
- Apple Watch Series 7
- Apple Watch SE (2nd generation)
Additionally, the Apple Watch Series 11, expected to launch in September 2025, will ship with watchOS 12 pre-installed.
watchOS 12 release timeline: Developer beta, Public beta & stable rollout
Here’s when you can expect to try watchOS 12:
- June 9, 2025: watchOS 12 developer beta will launch immediately after the WWDC keynote.
- July 2025: The public beta of watchOS 12 will be available. (Note: You’ll need the iOS 19 beta installed on your iPhone to install the watchOS 12 beta.)
- September–October 2025: The stable watchOS 12 release will roll out to all compatible devices, alongside the official launch of iOS 19.
watchOS 12 features: What’s new?
While Apple hasn’t confirmed the full feature list yet, rumors suggest that watchOS 12 will focus heavily on health tracking and AI integration. Expected features include:
- Blood pressure monitoring
- Hypertension alerts
- A new daily energy score (similar to Samsung or Garmin smartwatches)
These upgrades could make watchOS 12 the most health-focused Apple Watch update yet.
Signing off…
If you own an Apple Watch Series 7 or newer, you’re in the clear and will get to enjoy everything watchOS 12 has to offer. Otherwise, it might be time to consider an upgrade to take advantage of all the new features coming in 2025.
Did your Apple Watch make the cut? Drop a comment below and let us know!
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