Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 are expected at today's keynote

Apple's September event is also expected to introduce the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4. Pre-event reports point toward continued emphasis on health monitoring, battery efficiency and tighter Siri or AI integration rather than a radical redesign. The Ultra line is likely to remain targeted at endurance sports and outdoor users, while the regular Series 12 continues Apple's mainstream health-and-notifications approach.

Wearables have become strategically important because they create another reason for users to remain inside a smartphone ecosystem. Once someone relies on Apple Watch for activity history, health metrics, payments and notifications, switching phone platforms becomes considerably more complicated. Competition is also intensifying. Motorola has just returned to premium Wear OS with Polar-powered fitness technology, while Samsung and Google continue improving their own watches.

Today's keynote should show whether Apple responds through new sensors, longer battery life, deeper AI or a combination of all three.