Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 Have Increased RAM

Apple disclosed through Xcode 27 that the upcoming Series 12 and Ultra 4 models are powered by a new S11 processor and come equipped with 4 GB of RAM, a stark increase from the 2 GB found in the Series 11 and Ultra 3. The memory boost is positioned as the hardware foundation for “Apple Intelligence” capabilities such as Live Rewind text snippets and Siri Recap, which only activate when the watch is paired with an iPhone 15 Pro or later. Despite a global shortage of DRAM that has forced Apple to raise prices on iPhones, iPads, and Macs, the company has kept the entry‑level watch prices at $399 for the Series 12 and $799 for the Ultra 4, matching the prior generation’s pricing.

This move marks a departure from Apple’s historically frugal approach to smartwatch memory, where 2 GB has been sufficient for health tracking and basic notifications. By doubling RAM, Apple is aligning its wearables with the broader industry shift toward on‑device AI and more demanding third‑party apps. Competitors such as Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 6 and Google’s Pixel Watch 2 have already moved to 2 GB or 3 GB configurations, but Apple’s jump to 4 GB gives it a clear hardware edge for future AI‑heavy features. The decision also signals that Apple is willing to absorb higher component costs to maintain a price‑point that keeps the watch accessible, a strategy that could pressure rivals to reconsider their own pricing structures.

The extra memory should translate into faster Siri responses, smoother multitasking, and the ability to cache larger AI models locally, potentially reducing latency compared with cloud‑dependent solutions. However, the larger RAM footprint may increase power draw, testing Apple’s ability to preserve the watch’s all‑day battery life. Supply‑chain volatility remains a risk; if DRAM scarcity worsens, Apple could face margin compression or delayed shipments. Watch owners and developers should watch for iOS 19 updates that unlock the new RAM capacity, and for any subsequent hardware revisions that might further expand memory or introduce additional AI‑specific sensors.