Apple season is upon us! No, I’m not talking cider and hayrides (although that’s coming too). We’re just weeks away from seeing the tech giant’s next batch of products, including the next Apple Watch. According to German phone carrier iPhone Ticker (first flagged by Apple Insider) Apple is gearing up for a launch event on Sept. 9; right on target with its typical fall product cycle.

The Series 11 is the likely candidate, but as the rumor mill picks up speed, there’s growing buzz that Apple could also unveil an Apple Watch Ultra 3 and a next-gen Apple Watch SE alongside it. And this time, it’s not all speculation. Apple CEO Tim Cook just revealed that all Apple Watches and iPhones will be sporting US-made cover glass manufacturing at glass giant Corning’s plant in Kentucky, as part of a broader push to invest in domestic production.

Apple may have also tipped its hand on the Ultra 3, after MacRumors uncovered imagery buried in the iOS 26 public beta showing display details for what’s likely the next-generation rugged watch.

With September fast approaching, the clues are stacking up. Here’s a breakdown of everything we know, suspect and can reasonably expect from Apple’s 2025 smartwatch lineup.

Apple Watch Series 11 launch date

Unless there’s a massive glitch in the universe, we can expect the Apple Watch Series 11 to arrive this September alongside the rumored iPhone 17. Not only does this follow the same launch cycle as previous years (dating back to the first-gen Apple Watch), but we now have even more reason to save the date. According to German phone carrier iPhone Ticker, as first flagged by Apple Insider,  the company is preparing for a launch event on Tuesday, Sept. 9. That timing would align perfectly with last year’s Glowtime event, which also took place on Sept. 9 (a Monday in that case).

What’s less predictable is the exact release date. Traditionally, new models go on sale anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks after the keynote. This year, that could mean preorders opening on Friday, Sept. 12, with availability starting the following Friday, Sept. 19. That said, recent years have seen delays due to production issues, and it’s still unclear how newly imposed tariffs might affect both the launch timing and pricing in 2025.

How many Apple Watches will we get?

Based on the usual update cycle and now the latest clues in iOS 26, we’re at least getting a flagship (Series 11) and an Apple Watch Ultra 3. Also likely, but not confirmed, is the possibility of getting a next-gen SE model, according to a report from Bloomberg’s Apple analyst Mark Gurman. The Apple Watch Ultra and the cheaper SE line haven’t exactly followed a predictable upgrade cycle, but last year’s absence could prove a strong clue that 2025 could be the year we get all three again. The Series 10 took the spotlight in 2024 as the only smartwatch announced that year. The new Ultra and Series 11 are mostly expected to look the same, while the SE could be getting a refreshed exterior, according to Gurman. And the Ultra could get satellite connectivity and 5G RedCap network access that would bring even the most remote adventures «on the grid».

Apple Watch Series 11 design

The Series 11 is expected to keep the slim, flat-edged design introduced on the Series 10 (42mm and 46mm), but Apple’s new Corning partnership means all of the glass protecting the display will be made in the US. Not only does the news make for a great marketing bullet; it could also hint at improved durability, sustainability benefits, and potentially faster repair turnarounds if replacement glass is sourced domestically.

According to MacRumors, the Apple Watch might get a more energy-efficient screen, maybe an LTPO display with higher resolution and better brightness, which, on paper, could help improve the battery life.

This would coincide with what we just learned about the Ultra 3. If the leaked iOS 26 imagery holds true, it will have a slightly larger screen with a 422×514-pixel resolution (up from the Ultra 2’s 410×502 pixels). This could be achieved by slimming down the bezels while keeping the same overall case size, in keeping with Apple’s tradition of maximizing screen real estate without making the already-large Ultra any bulkier.

Processor and performance

Apple is expected to debut its new S11 chip in the Series 11 and Ultra 3, promising more efficiency and potentially better battery life. The SE could see a jump to the S9 chip.

According to MacRumors, the Apple Watch might get a more energy-efficient screen, maybe an LTPO display with higher resolution and better brightness, which, on paper, could help improve the battery life. This could be reserved for the higher-end Ultra 3, which will likely otherwise keep its original design. 

The more adorable SE, however, could see a more extensive design overhaul. It would still have the body of the Series 8 and, according to Gurman, get several upgrades from the Series 10, like an always-on display. 

Apple Watch Series 11 processor

Apple typically bumps up the processor with every new smartwatch, so we should see an Apple S11 chip this time around for at least the Series 11 and Ultra 3. The Ultra 3 is also rumored to get satellite connectivity and 5G support, but according to Gurman, these features likely won’t make it to the Series 11. Considering last gen’s upgrade cycle, my personal bet would also be on the SE getting a processor bump up to the S9 chip, currently found in the Ultra 2 and the Apple Watch Series 9. 

Apple Watch Series 11 battery

If there’s one thing on everyone’s wishlist, it’s better battery life. The Series 10 introduced faster charging — 0% to 80% in just 30 minutes compared with 90 minutes on previous models — but there’s room for improvement in battery capacity itself.

While there aren’t any rumors indicating that new Apple Watches will get a longer battery life, I truly hope Apple addresses the battery because its smartwatches are falling behind. Some Android models use dual chipsets to divide tasks and optimize battery life. I’d like to see Apple adopt a similar strategy and finally push battery life to two full days on a single charge for regular models. I hope the Ultra, which currently gets a full 72 hours on a charge, gets the faster charging and pushes its battery life limits to four full days.

Apple Watch Series 11 price

Based on current pricing, the Apple Watch Series 11 could cost $399 for the 42mm aluminum version and $429 for the 46mm version, with upgrades for cover material and LTE connectivity costing extra. That is, unless recently enacted tariffs play a part in pricing this year, which remains to be seen. The other question is what the most expensive variant will be — solid gold, diamond-encrusted Hermès, anyone?

Apple Watch health and fitness upgrades

There’s been a persistent rumor about blood pressure tracking finally making its way to the Apple Watch, but it’s unclear when it will be ready. According to a March report from Gurman, Apple has already been testing the feature in its smartwatch but has run into problems. Other wearables health companies like Omron and Med-Watch have proven it’s possible to measure blood pressure from the wrist, but adding this feature would likely require new sensors and a bulkier design. It would also be less precise than dedicated health devices like Omron’s and measure baseline metrics like the Galaxy Watch 7 and Ultra (which isn’t supported on Samsung watches in the US).

Blood pressure and glucose monitoring have also been thrown in the mix, but the latter might not be fully baked for this cycle according to Gurman. Lastly, the blood oxygen feature that debuted on the Series 6 likely won’t be making a comeback this year as Apple is still navigating legal issues related to it.

A WatchOS glow-up on the Series 11

Apple also gave us a preview of the new interface for the Apple Watch with WatchOS 26 at its developers conference in June. The new UI update includes a new «Liquid Glass» display with glassy, transparent design language that mimics the one seen in visionOS. 

The redesign features clear overlays for icons and notifications, resulting in a more uniform look and feel across Apple’s ecosystem. Google made a similar move with its redesigned UI, Material 3 Expressive, for Android phones and smartwatches with Wear OS 6.

Want a full breakdown of everything Apple announced, including the new iOS 26 and its eye-catching Liquid Glass design? Here’s everything you missed at WWDC 2025.

Health and fitness coaching

WatchOS 26 also introduced an AI-powered Workout Buddy to the Apple Watch, offering encouragement and real-time feedback during specific workouts. Most of the heavy lifting will happen on the iPhone, meaning the feature requires pairing the watch with a newer Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone. The Series 11 (and Ultra 3) could push this further by leveraging their more powerful chipset.

This could include coaching that goes beyond just the workout app, potentially debuting on the Series 11 and then also rolling out to compatible Apple Watches. According to Gurman, Apple has been working on a major Health app revamp, code-named Project Mulberry, that would bring AI recommendations and actionable health and fitness insights to users. The new «Health Plus» app would likely arrive as part of an iOS 19 update, working in tandem with WatchOS 11 to gather and process data. Though it’s still unclear which devices would support it, we could get a first look as early as June 2025 at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).

Health coaching is something other competitors, like Garmin and Fitbit, offer through their platforms via premium (paid) subscriptions. It’s not clear whether Apple would charge extra for these features, or if they’d be baked into the standard Health app at no additional cost.

Additional future Apple Watch surprises

There’s another rumor floating around that the Apple Watch could get a camera — not for selfies, but for AI-based image recognition. With the release of Apple Intelligence, Apple introduced a visual search tool on the iPhone that uses the camera to provide relevant information about objects and places.

According to a report by Gurman, Apple is exploring this option, and even if the company decides to move forward with the technology, it likely wouldn’t make its way to the Apple Watch until the 2027 models. While it’s not expected for this launch, it could hint what kind of AI integration will arrive with WatchOS 12. By contrast, WatchOS 11 lacks any Apple Intelligence features.

An even further-fetched clue hints at a foldable Apple Watch with two cameras. A recent Apple patent, first uncovered by Patently Apple, and published by the US Patent and Trademark Office in March, details an Apple Watch design featuring a foldable screen and another with a dual-screen display that either folds or slides out. The additional screens could give the Apple Watch more real estate to expand its functionality and make it less reliant on the iPhone. The same patent also points to the possibility of two cameras on this dual-screened watch for either AI processing or video calls. Apple often files patents well before any related technology appears in an actual product, so even if this concept does live to see the light of day, we’re not expecting it to make its public debut anytime soon.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Thanks, today’s Mini Crossword! You were pretty simple again, and I love that. Almost got tripped up on 5-Down, but was able to fill in the other letters and move on. Need answers? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times’ games collection. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue:  Blowout party
Answer: BASH

5A clue: Airline with Sky Club lounges
Answer: DELTA

6A clue: Body part that can be held with one hand, but not both
Answer: ELBOW

7A clue: Get an «F» on
Answer: FLUNK

8A clue: Subdued
Answer: TAME

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Ramsey of «The Last of Us»
Answer: BELLA

2D clue: Collection of Facebook photos
Answer: ALBUM

3D clue: Building material for the Washington Monument
Answer: STONE

4D clue: «Red-tailed» or «red-shouldered» bird
Answer: HAWK

5D clue: Masterful
Answer: DEFT

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Connections: Sports Edition wasn’t terribly tough. It helps to be a fan of college football rivalry games, and of a certain legendary baseball player who sadly died young. Read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is out of beta now, making its debut on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 9. That’s a sign that the game has earned enough loyal players that The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by the Times, will continue to publish it. It doesn’t show up in the NYT Games app but now appears in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can continue to play it free online.  

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Good times outside.

Green group hint: Apple Cup is another one.

Blue group hint: Lots of rings.

Purple group hint: «Luckiest man on the face of the earth.»

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Lawn games.

Green group: College football rivalries.

Blue group: Teams with the most Super Bowl wins.

Purple group: Associated with Lou Gehrig.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is lawn games. The four answers are bocce, cornhole, croquet and horseshoes.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is college football rivalries. The four answers are Backyard Brawl (Pitt vs. West Virginia), Bedlam (Oklahoma State vs. Oklahoma), Iron Bowl (Alabama vs. Auburn) and The Game (Michigan vs. Ohio State).

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is teams with the most Super Bowl wins. The four answers are Dallas, New England, Pittsburgh and San Francisco.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is associated with Lou Gehrig. The four answers are 4, Iron Horse, New York and Wally Pipp.