Apple Watch Series 12, Ultra 4, and AirPods 5 Ship This Friday: Pre-Orders Still Open

Three days until launch. Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, and AirPods 5 all go on sale Friday, September 18. Pre-orders are still open through Apple, Amazon, and Best Buy — but high-demand configurations (Ultra 4 Natural Titanium, Series 12 Ceramic) may slip to later shipping dates.

What's Launching

• Apple Watch Series 12 — from $399: New S11 chip with Apple Intelligence, Health Sensing System with blood pressure trends, Readiness score, Audio Intelligence, and Ceramic Shield 2
• Apple Watch Ultra 4 — $799: First real redesign in four years. 50-hour battery life, satellite emergency SOS, and all Series 12 health features
• AirPods 5 — $129 / $149: ANC at the $129 tier for the first time, 50% better noise cancellation than AirPods 4, IP57 water resistance, Siri AI integration

Best Pre-Order Deals

Best Buy offers up to $325 off with enhanced trade-in on Apple Watch. The Apple Watch Series 11 has dropped to $319 on Amazon as retailers clear stock. The Ultra 3 is now $619 — a strong alternative if the Ultra 4's new features don't justify $800.

Should You Buy on Day One?

If you're upgrading from Series 9 or older, the Series 12's Health Sensing System is a generational leap worth the day-one buy. AirPods 5 at $129 with ANC are the easiest yes — they undercut AirPods 4 ANC by $30. Ultra 4 buyers should only upgrade from Ultra 2 or earlier; Ultra 3 owners can skip. Read our Series 12 pre-order guide or compare all smartwatches.