The 2026 Apple Watch refresh is speculated to ship with two premium ceramic options, assuming affordability. Mark Gurman of Bloomberg's 'Power On' newsletter confirms Apple has tested Series 12 with white and dark gray ceramic cases, internally called 'iceman.' Gurman states there will be no major redesign this year, but health updates may arrive, including continuous heart rate monitoring and expanded wellness metrics similar to Whoop and Oura. Preorders are rumored to open Saturday at 12:01 am PT, ahead of the September 9 'Surprise and shine' event featuring the iPhone 18 Pro and folding iPhone. The ceramic version's hype has grown throughout August, though no release date is confirmed. Key details remain unconfirmed, with potential delays into 2027 or 2028.

The rumor mill has repeatedly noted minimal changes to the lineup, with material updates being the primary focus. While band colors and configurations will increase for other variants, the ceramic case style remains the central speculation. Health features like a band-integrated sensor are possible but not confirmed. The event timing and preorder shift to Saturday add uncertainty to the launch timeline, though the core material rumor persists as the most concrete detail.

AppleInsider reports the ceramic case rumors continue with new color claims, specifically white and dark gray options. The 'iceman' internal designation is cited by Gurman as evidence of testing. No official release date exists, but the September 9 event will clarify plans. The wearable's design is expected to remain largely unchanged this year, with potential 2027-2028 redesigns mentioned. Continuous heart rate tracking represents the most significant anticipated feature update.

Key entities extracted:

companies: ["Apple", "Bloomberg", "AppleInsider"]

people: ["Mark Gurman"]

locations: ["Bloomberg"]