Touch ID isn't coming to Apple Watch yet, leaker claims

For now, improved battery life and more advanced health sensors are the main upgrades expected for upcoming Apple Watch devices.

The Apple Watch Series 11 — *Image via Apple*

The next generation of Apple Watch devices will be unveiled at Apple’s upcoming September event. Despite earlier speculation suggesting that fingerprint authentication might be added to these devices, a recent leak claims Apple currently has no plans to introduce this feature and is instead focusing on improving battery life.

Chinese leaker Instant Digital stated in a recent Weibo post that biometric authentication is not yet a priority for next-generation Apple Watch models. Instead, the company is reportedly concentrating on larger batteries and more advanced health sensors for its wearables.

According to Instant Digital, adding Touch ID to the Apple Watch would increase production costs and take up internal space that could be used for a larger battery. For now, Apple appears to prefer refining the existing product rather than introducing a major change such as Touch ID.

Back in August last year, Macworld reported that it had discovered a line of code hinting at 2026 Apple Watch models with support for AppleMesa, Apple’s internal codename for Touch ID. If Apple eventually brings Touch ID to its wearables, the feature could be integrated either into the side button or beneath the display.

Some concept designs have also suggested that Apple could eventually add both Touch ID and a FaceTime camera to the Apple Watch. However, these features are unlikely to appear in the next generation anytime soon due to technical and cost-related challenges.

Apple Watch Series 12 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4 are expected to debut at Apple’s September 2026 event alongside the iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and Apple’s first foldable iPhone.

So far, details about the next-generation Apple Watch models remain limited, but aside from a faster chip, a brighter display, and improvements to health sensors, Apple is unlikely to introduce any major upgrades in 2026. That said, previous reports suggest the company is continuing to develop Apple Watch models with built-in cameras.