Apple Watch Series 12 Blood Pressure Feature Submitted to FDA — September Launch Expected

Apple has submitted its high blood pressure notification feature for the upcoming Apple Watch Series 12 to the FDA for regulatory review, according to reports from 9to5Mac, Geeky Gadgets, and TechRepublic. If cleared, this would make blood pressure monitoring one of the headline features when the Series 12 launches at Apple{"'"}s September event.

How It Works

• Not a cuff replacement: The feature does not provide exact blood pressure readings like a traditional cuff. Instead, it uses signals from an upgraded sensor array to detect patterns indicating high blood pressure.
• Eight-sensor array: The Series 12 reportedly uses a redesigned eight-sensor ring on the case back for improved accuracy
• Notification-based: Users would receive an alert if the watch detects readings consistent with hypertension over time
• FDA clearance required: The feature cannot ship until the FDA completes its review

Other Expected Series 12 Features

• Thinner case: 15% thinner than Series 11
• Band-based sensors: New health sensors integrated into the watch band
• S12 chip: Faster on-device AI processing
• watchOS 27: Apple Intelligence integration for the wrist

Should You Wait or Buy Now?

With Apple{"'"}s event likely in the second week of September — roughly five weeks away — waiting makes sense if you use an iPhone. The Apple Watch Series 11 ($299 on Amazon) will likely drop further once the Series 12 launches. Android users should look at the Galaxy Watch 9 ($379) shipping August 7. See our fall 2026 smartwatch comparison for the full picture.