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T-Mobile to Charge $5 a Month for iOS 27 iPhone Handoff

T-Mobile will charge customers $5 per month to use iPhone Handoff, an e-SIM feature that allows the same phone number to be used on two separate iPhones. iPhone Handoff requires carrier support, and at launch, only T-Mobile users in the U.S. and Deutsche Telekom users in Germany will be able to use it. T-Mobile says customers can use their number across two compatible iPhone models and elect which phone is active at any given time. Features like calls, texts, data, mobile hotspot, Scam Shield, and T-Satellite will work on both devices with an eligible plan. Apple is adding support for iPhone Handoff in iOS 27 . It requires two iPhones running ‌iOS 27‌ or later that are connected to Wi-Fi and signed into the same Apple Account with FaceTime , iMessage, and Messages in iCloud turned on. It can be turned on when activating a new iPhone or in the Settings app. When iPhone Handoff is enabled, one iPhone serves as a main iPhone and the other iPhone is the secondary device that shares the same number. Moving between the main iPhone and secondary iPhone happens automatically when you unlock one of the devices. A phone number can only be active on one iPhone at a time when using iPhone Handoff. Payment cards in the Wallet app and car keys can work across both iPhones, but Apple warns some Wallet items like transit passes, IDs, or corporate badges might only work on one iPhone at a time. iPhone Handoff also does not transfer an Apple Watch from one iPhone to another. iPhone Handoff works with Dual SIM as long as both eSIMs are from carriers that support iPhone Handoff. Both eSIMs will switch simultaneously when you unlock your iPhone. Each eSIM has to be set up separately. Once set up, iPhone Handoff remains activated until you contact your carrier to turn it off. More information can be found in Apple's support document for the feature. ‌iOS 27‌ is set to launch on Monday, September 14, and the new iPhone 18 Pro models will launch on Friday, September 18. Related Roundups: iOS 27 , iPadOS 27 Tag: T-Mobile Related Forum: iOS 27 This article, " T-Mobile to Charge $5 a Month for iOS 27 iPhone Handoff " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

MacRumorsMacRumors•Juli Clover10 Sept

You Can't Use Apple Watch's Live Rewind Secretly, Apple Says

With the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, Apple is adding Live Rewind, which relies on an S11 processor and new continual listening features. Live Rewind listens to what's happening around the wearer, and when activated with a double press on the Digital Crown, offers a transcript of what was said in the last 15 seconds. Apple says the feature will let users catch something they missed or are less familiar with. Snippets can be referred to Siri for further evaluation or saved to the ‌Siri‌ app. Apple users are already expressing privacy concerns about Live Rewind, and likening it to Meta 's much-maligned smart glasses, but no Apple Watch user will be able to activate it surreptitiously. When the Digital Crown is pressed for Live Rewind, the Apple Watch will sound an audible chime from the speaker. The chime will sound even if the Apple Watch is on silent or if headphones are connected. At the same time, a full-display animation and microphone indicator will appear, with the combination meant to alert those nearby that the feature has been activated. Apple says Live Rewind only activates with a deliberate press on the Digital Crown and all processing is done on-device. It shows the last 15 seconds of speech as a text snippet on the display, and does not continue to transcribe in the background. It can be turned on or off through the Watch app on the iPhone. The Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 have an S11 chip equipped with a Secure Exclave. Apple describes the Secure Exclave as a hardware-isolated compartment that processes sensor data separately from the rest of the system. Data processed and analyzed in the Secure Exclave is not accessible by the operating system, apps, the user, or Apple. Live Rewind and other Audio Intelligence features do not generate audio recordings. Audio flows into the Secure Exclave, is processed, and then deleted. According to Apple, Live Rewind text snippets "disappear permanently" from the Apple Watch approximately 30 seconds after the Apple Watch display dims, unless the info is saved to the ‌Siri‌ app. Live Rewind requires an Apple Watch Series 12 or Apple Watch Ultra 4 paired with an iPhone 16 or later, though the iPhone 16e is not compatible. Apple Intelligence and ‌Siri‌ AI are required, and the feature is not available for users under 13. The feature will launch later this year and won't be in the initial versions of watchOS 27 and iOS 27 . Related Roundup: Apple Watch 12 Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now) Related Forum: Apple Watch This article, " You Can't Use Apple Watch's Live Rewind Secretly, Apple Says " first appeared on MacRumors.com

MacRumorsMacRumors•Juli Clover10 Sept

The Best iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max Cases

It’s September, so Apple just had a huge event , where it released an annual Pro phone update in the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max . The standard iPhone 18 and follow-up to the iPhone Air didn’t make an appearance, though. Sorry, regular phone-havers, but you’ll have to wait a little while longer. Featured in this article These new slabs of glass and metal are spendier than in years past , starting at $1,199 for the Pro and $1,299 for the larger Pro Max – a $100 price jump from their predecessors. Not that you wouldn’t have wanted to anyway, but protecting them is even more important. We’ve poked around, and picked out the best cases you can grab right now. Apple TechWoven Case with MagSafe Best iPhone 18 Pro Case Your number one bet for an iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max case will be Apple’s first-party case. It’ll fit the best, and it supports both MagSafe and Apple’s Crossbody Strap and Wrist Strap accessories. The switch from FineWoven to TechWoven last year seems to have been the right call – by all accounts I’ve read, the cases have held up far better over the last year. The only things not to like about them, then, might be the look, as the colors haven’t gotten any more exciting this year. There’s also the feel; I’ve got issues with certain textures, and the TechWoven case gives me the creepy crawlies when I touch one. The other thing to note is the price. Apple first-party cases don’t come cheap, and this year is no different. Expect to shell out $59 for the TechWoven case. Dbrand Grip Case Best iPhone 18 Pro Case for Fashion Dbrand’s collection of cool case designs comes straight to the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. While you can certainly pick one that just has a single color, the company also has slick-looking options, like skins that look like X-rays of the interior of the phone or just the inside if you popped the back off. There are also cases with groovy inky splotches and the Sketch cases that look, well, like sketches. The Grip Case is priced comparably to Apple’s first-party TechWoven cases, and most will run you $60, with some exceptions that are cheaper or more expensive (when not on sale). Dbrand Ghost Case Best Clear Case for iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max Dbrand’s Ghost Case is made up of a clear polycarbonate backing, complete with camera bump cover, and a dark edge. This take on the transparent case won’t ever yellow, Dbrand promises, because the part made with TPU, a material that usually darkens over time, is already dark and opaque. That also has the added advantage of feeling grippier in-hand. The Ghost Case comes with an integrated magnetic ring for Qi2 wireless charging – the iPhone 18 Pro charges at up to 25W on a compatible charger. It’s on the pricey side, at $60, although right out of the gate, the company is selling it at a $10 discount. Bullstrap Original Leather Case Best Leather iPhone 18 Pro Case Bullstrap has been my go-to for leather iPhone cases for years. Although its cases don’t tend to be quite as thin as Apple’s leather options were, it does offer the open-bottom design that I’ve always liked for using the swipe up gesture from the bottom of the phone. (There is a closed-bottom option, too.) The cases also feature clicky, metal buttons. The cases don’t come cheap at $100 each, but the ones I’ve owned in the past have always felt like high-quality leather that develops a pleasing patina with time. For those who just can’t give up leather, Bullstrap’s is among the best. Peak Design Everyday Case Best Budget iPhone 18 Pro Case Peak Design has made quality smartphone cases for years, particularly in the days before MagSafe, when the company offered its SlimLink modular accessory cases. The Everyday Case doesn’t support those, but it’s hard to see a need for them in a world filled with MagSafe accessories that accomplish the same thing. It helps that the Peak Design Everyday Case, at $40, is the cheapest case on this list. You could absolutely find something at an even lower price, but you would be hard-pressed to find one that makes your phone feel as sturdy and pleasing to the touch as the cloth-backed Everyday Case. Your iPhone 17 Pro Case Best iPhone 18 Pro Case (Redux) Last month, Otterbox started straight-up listing its iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max cases as compatible with their 2026 replacements, and that’s as true today as it was then. According to Apple’s tech specs for the 18 Pro and 17 Pro models, they share the exact same dimensions. A word of caution: there could be very subtle differences between the phones. Apple doesn’t give the exact measurements for the camera bump, for instance, and we don’t know if the buttons are in the exact same place. That could lead to tiny, annoying inconsistencies. Still, if you like the one you have and it’s not too beaten up, it might be worth trying it to see if you can save yourself a few bucks on a new case! How to Pick an iPhone 18 Pro or 18 Pro Max Case Whether you’re case-hunting for the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max, the general advice I’d give is the same: Set your budget and needs, then look for options that fit it, from manufacturers you’ve trusted in the past. Given how much more durable phones are in 2026 than they were, say, 10 years ago, I tend to prioritize slimness and how they feel in my hand. But you might be more interested in a case that you could run over with a tank, or that offers extras like a kickstand or an integrated credit card slot. If you don’t see or like the cases your favorite manufacturers have produced, your best bet is take a look at a few stories like this, figure out which cases, or at least which manufacturers, get mentioned the most. I’d only check the lists from sites you’ve heard of and that you feel you can trust. I do my best to pick cases from companies that haven’t done me wrong, but I certainly haven’t tried them all, so it’s best to get multiple opinions. And if you’ve come here from the future, several months into the iPhone 18 Pro life cycle, you’ll probably be able to find a few actual reviews. The same thing applies, there: consider reviews from sources you trust. When I’m looking at them, I care most about people whose taste generally most closely matches my own.

IGNIGN•Jacqueline Thomas10 Sept

Ceramic Series 12 is Pricier to Repair Than Apple Watch Ultra 4

Apple reintroduced a ceramic case for the Apple Watch Series 12, but if you don't have AppleCare +, repairs are unusually expensive. It costs $599 to fix "other damage," which covers any repair besides a battery replacement. Battery service is priced at $99. Repairing a ceramic Series 12 is more expensive than getting an Apple Watch Ultra 4 repaired. That repair costs $549 without ‌AppleCare‌+ (up $50 from the prior model). A repair for a cellular aluminum Series 12 of the same size is $349. Apple Watch Series 12 models in the Pearl White or Night Blue ceramic options are priced starting at $899, while the Apple Watch Ultra 4 is priced starting at $799. With ‌AppleCare‌+, Apple Watch users will only need to pay a $69 service fee for damage to the ceramic Apple Watch Series 12 or $79 for the Apple Watch Ultra 4. Battery service is free if a watch's battery capacity drops below 80 percent, and theft or loss has a $119 deductible. ‌AppleCare‌+ with Theft and Loss for the Apple Watch Series 12 is $4.99 per month, and it's $5.99 per month for the Ultra 4. Customers can also opt for ‌AppleCare‌ One, Apple's $19.99 per month option that covers up to three devices. Starting on September 14, Apple is also offering ‌AppleCare‌ One Family, which is $49.99 per month for up to six family members. Related Roundups: Apple Watch 11 , Apple Watch Ultra 3 Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now) , Apple Watch Ultra (Buy Now) Related Forum: Apple Watch This article, " Ceramic Series 12 is Pricier to Repair Than Apple Watch Ultra 4 " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

MacRumorsMacRumors•Juli Clover10 Sept

Mac's Edge Light Feature Rumored to Expand to iPhone

macOS 26.2 added an Edge Light feature to Macs with the M1 chip or newer, and it has now been rumored that this feature will expand to the iPhone. According to pdfu , who has been digging through code in Apple's software updates in recent weeks, the iOS 27 Release Candidate contains evidence of the Edge Light feature coming to the iPhone Duo at a minimum. However, it appears that the feature is still in development, as they said the color temperature setting is not fully implemented. On the Mac, Edge Light illuminates the borders of the screen to evenly illuminate your face in low-light conditions. The feature is essentially a virtual ring light, and there are settings to adjust the width of the white line around the screen and a color temperature slider to make the light it produces appear more or less warm. Edge Light is coming to iPhone. iOS 27 RC gates the feature behind a device subtype that points to iPhone Duo. The color temperature setting isn't fully implemented. pic.twitter.com/dc4pQmikJc — pdfu (@itspdfu) September 10, 2026 Based on a video of the feature in action on a simulated iPhone, it appears that the feature will work in a similar manner and have the same brightness and color temperature settings on the iPhone. It is unclear if Edge Light will be available on the iPhone Duo when the device launches on October 23, or if it will expand to other iPhone models. Some of pdfu's other Apple-related code findings have already proven to be right, so the user has an accurate track record so far. Related Roundups: iOS 27 , iPadOS 27 , iPhone Duo Tag: pdfu Related Forums: iOS 27 , iPhone This article, " Mac's Edge Light Feature Rumored to Expand to iPhone " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

MacRumorsMacRumors•Joe Rossignol10 Sept

Apple Rates iPhone 18 Pro Slightly Easier to Repair Than 17 Pro

Apple's repairability scores suggest the iPhone 18 Pro and ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max are slightly easier to repair than the iPhone 17 Pro and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max. Apple released the repairability data in a product information sheet required by EU energy labeling regulations [ PDF ]. The EU requires smartphone makers to self-rate repairability across categories like disassembly depth, fasteners, tools, spare parts, software update duration, and repair information. Each category gets a 0–5 score, which is combined into the overall index number. Here are the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ and Pro Max scores compared to the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ and Pro Max scores. Overall index - 3.14, up 0.10 from 3.04 Disassembly depth - 2.75, up 0.10 from 2.65 Fasteners - 3.80, no change Tools - 2.55, up 0.50 from 2.05 Spare parts - 4.00, no change Software updates - 1.00, no change (EU only awards a higher software core when manufacturers agree to support devices beyond the five-year minimum) Repair info - 5.00, no change It looks like the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ models and the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ models have similar builds and are repaired in largely the same way, but there are small gains in tools and disassembly depth. Apple may have new tools for accessing some components, but the regulatory filings don't go into specifics. Both devices are class C on the A-E scale that appears on the iPhone's label. We won't have to wait long to see what's changed inside the new iPhone models, because repair site iFixit is likely planning a teardown of one of the new iPhones on or shortly after the September 18 launch date. Since the iPhone Duo isn't available for pre-order yet, Apple hasn't published similar repair data for the device. Related Roundup: iPhone 18 Pro Related Forum: iPhone This article, " Apple Rates iPhone 18 Pro Slightly Easier to Repair Than 17 Pro " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

MacRumorsMacRumors•Juli Clover10 Sept

RIP, iPhone Ultra

For many months, tech blogs like ours used the name iPhone Ultra to refer to Apple's rumored foldable iPhone, but the device ended up being named iPhone Duo . The name iPhone Duo was not a complete surprise. Daring Fireball 's John Gruber accurately guessed that the device would be named iPhone Duo all the way back in April, and the name made the rounds again on social media last week. iPhone Ultra became the more common name in rumor coverage after Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman floated it as a potentially fitting name for the device back in March, and he later reported that many Apple employees referred to the device as the iPhone Ultra . Plus, former Macworld reporter Filipe Espósito cited a source familiar with Apple's plans who said the foldable iPhone would be named iPhone Ultra . Evidently, that source was wrong. To his credit, Gurman ended up confirming the iPhone Duo name in a last-minute report published shortly before Apple announced the device. Apple avoiding the name iPhone Ultra makes sense, as the device now known as the iPhone Duo is not the most "ultra" version of the iPhone available. Yes, the iPhone Duo has a large 7.6-inch inner display when opened, but on the other hand the device lacks features such as a dedicated Telephoto camera, Face ID, and an Action button. Apple has used Duo branding in the past for its PowerBook Duo line of laptops in the 1990s and the MagSafe Duo Charger in the early 2020s. In the case of the iPhone Duo, the word Duo obviously refers to the device's dual screens. Apple does have some products and services with Ultra branding, including the Apple Watch Ultra, CarPlay Ultra, and the M1 Ultra through M5 Ultra line of chips. And with Apple rumored to be a planning a special 20th-anniversary iPhone , perhaps there will still be an opportunity for the company to use the name iPhone Ultra in the future. For now, though, the iPhone Ultra rumor is dead. Related Roundup: iPhone Duo Tag: iPhone Ultra Related Forum: iPhone This article, " RIP, iPhone Ultra " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

MacRumorsMacRumors•Joe Rossignol10 Sept

Upgrading to Apple Watch Series 12 Could Cost You Hypertension Notifications

Some Apple Watch users who upgrade to the Series 12 or the Ultra 4 might temporarily lose access to hypertension notifications. On the watchOS feature availability page , Apple says notifications might not be available on the Series 12 or Ultra 4 at launch because regulatory clearances are in process. Hypertension Notifications may not be available on Apple Watch Series 12 or Ultra 4 in your region, as additional regulatory clearances for these devices are in process. The warning applies to 33 countries and regions, including Canada, Australia, India, Brazil, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, South Africa, South Korea, and the UAE, with a full list on Apple's website. The Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 have revamped sensors and a new Health Sensing System. Apple added new optical and electrical heart sensors for more frequent and accurate tracking, and the change appears to require new regulatory approval in some locations. What's new: ECG - The electrodes in the watch cover more surface area for improved skin contact during ECG readings. Optical sensing - Redesigned photodiodes are organized in a ring to capture light more efficiently. Heart rate measurement - Larger, power-efficient green LEDs in the optical heart rate sensor allow the new watches to measure heart rate every five seconds all day, offering more data on a user's fitness and physiological state. Real-time heart rate is available in the updated Heart Rate app, and Exercise and Move Activity rings are more accurate. HRV is also measured as often as every five minutes. Apple Watch users who get these notifications today may lose the option when upgrading to the Series 12 or Ultra 4 until regulatory clearance is granted. Countries not on Apple's list with a footnote will continue to get notifications as usual. This includes the United States, UK, and all EU countries. Related Roundups: Apple Watch 11 , watchOS 26 , watchOS 27 Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now) Related Forum: Apple Watch This article, " Upgrading to Apple Watch Series 12 Could Cost You Hypertension Notifications " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

MacRumorsMacRumors•Juli Clover10 Sept

iOS 27 Apple Health App Redesign: Every New Feature Coming in 2026

Apple is planning a major redesign of the Health app on iPhone and iPad , with a long list of new features set to be added. Apple announced the Health app changes at yesterday's iPhone event. The Health app is getting an update because Apple overhauled the sensors in the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4. There's a Health Sensing System with three main improvements: increased electrode surface area for better skin contact during ECG readings, redesigned photodiodes arranged in a ring to capture light more efficiently for optical sensing, and power-efficient green LEDs for capturing continuous heart rate data. The new watches take heart rate readings every five seconds throughout the day, and more frequently measure heart rate variability (HRV). All of the data collected is sent to the Health app on iPhone. Apple says in a head-to-head study against other wearables using an ECG chest strap as reference, the new Apple Watch had the most accurate heart rate sensing. Apple Intelligence Guidance The Health app will turn the data and metrics that it collects into personalized guidance thanks to Apple Intelligence integration. There are several new sections coming to the Health app. Insights - The Insights tab offers an Apple Intelligence-generated summary of timely information like your latest sleep metrics or a new peak in VO2 max. There are options to get custom advice on readiness, fitness, heart health, and more in the For You section. Personal Guidance - Personal guidance is part of the Insights tab. It knows what's important to you, and will make relevant suggestions. Apple says if you're working on your cardio, you might see a suggestion to incorporate intervals into your morning run. Recommendations adapt to each user and their data. Readiness - The new Apple Watch models calculate a readiness score that takes into account recent activity, vitals, and sleep score. It gives a 0–10 score with recommendations on activity level. Readouts include Recover, Pace Yourself, Ready, or Go For It. Info is shown on the watch, in the Fitness app, and in the Health app's Insights tab. Fitness - Insights incorporates your daily activity and it updates throughout the day. Vitals - The Vitals option in the Health app has new overnight views and daytime views. HRV is incorporated as a metric, offering a better look at your ability to recover from stress. It measures overall HRV and recovery HRV. Longevity - There is a new Longevity tab in the Health app. It uses metrics from your iPhone and Apple Watch to assess overall health across heart health, sleep, mental wellbeing, movement health, metabolic health, hearing, and nutrition. The section shows you how well you're doing in each category, and how each metric is classified against the latest clinical guidance. Health Age - Health Age is part of the Longevity tab. It uses metrics like VO2 max, resting heart rate, HRV, sleep, and biomarkers from blood work to determine how your health metrics compare to your actual age. It will help you figure out what habits make the biggest impact on your health, and how you can improve. Lab Results Health Age and Longevity can be more useful with lab results. Users can upload lab results manually or sync medical records. Apple has also partnered with Quest to offer U.S. users an option to buy a full bloodwork panel that covers more than 50 biomarkers. The test is priced at $119, and users will be able to buy it right in the Health app . It'll require a visit to a Quest lab location, and results are combined with data from the Apple Watch and analyzed on iPhone. Apple says users will get videos from clinical experts related to their results. According to Quest, the panel delivers preventive health insights and includes biomarkers for assessing cardiometabolic health and organ function. It also includes biometric readings that measure blood pressure, height, weight, and waist and hip circumferences. Since the test isn't available in the Health app yet, a full list of what's included isn't known. Apple competitor Oura offers a similar testing option through Quest. The $99 test checks more than 50 biomarkers, and Oura runs discounts. Quest has approximately 2,000 locations across the U.S. Results appear in the Health app shortly after testing. Movement Evaluations Apple is adding new at-home health assessments you can complete, such as a VO2 max test. The test uses the iPhone camera to track your movements as you follow moves and instructions from a trainer. The tests offer real-time audio and visual feedback. There are in-depth physical assessments for measuring flexibility, strength, balance, and movement mechanics in addition to VO2 max. Apple says the tests are useful to see how well your body is moving or to track your progress recovering from an injury. Tests run on device with no video recorded or stored, and users get an exercise plan after completing a test. Cycle Tracking Apple is adding perimenopause and menopause support to Cycle Tracking in the Health app. Device Requirements Apple Watch users with an Apple Intelligence-capable iPhone will get the updated Health app when it launches, but readiness, more frequent heart rate readings, and more frequent HRV readings require a Series 12 or Ultra 4. Launch Date Apple says the new Health app is coming in late 2026, but the company did not give a specific launch date. It will be available in U.S. English at launch, with more languages to follow. Related Roundups: iOS 27 , iPadOS 27 Tag: Apple Health Related Forum: iOS 27 This article, " iOS 27 Apple Health App Redesign: Every New Feature Coming in 2026 " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

MacRumorsMacRumors•Juli Clover10 Sept

Apple Watch Series 12 Received a Price Increase You Might Have Missed

Ever since the Apple Watch Series 4 in 2018, the larger-sized aluminum Apple Watch has started at $429 in the U.S., but that has changed with the Apple Watch Series 12 . While the Apple Watch Series 12 with a 42mm case maintains a starting price of $399, the 46mm model has received a $20 price increase and now starts at $449. In other words, stepping up to a 46mm case now costs an extra $50 instead of $30. Apple products are getting more expensive lately. Amid a RAM chip shortage, the company raised prices on several existing iPhone models this week, after raising prices on Macs, iPads, HomePods, the Apple TV, and more in June. Plus, the starting prices of the iPhone 18 Pro models are $100 higher in the U.S. compared to the iPhone 17 Pro models. Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 models have increased RAM , according to Xcode. Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11 Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now) Related Forum: Apple Watch This article, " Apple Watch Series 12 Received a Price Increase You Might Have Missed " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

MacRumorsMacRumors•Joe Rossignol10 Sept

Ceramic Apple Watch Series 12 Is Bigger and Heavier Than Other Models

Apple Watch Series 12 models with a ceramic case are physically larger than the same model in aluminum or titanium, according to Apple's own tech specs. At 46mm, Apple's tech specs page lists the aluminum and titanium case at 46mm by 40mm by 9.7mm, while the ceramic case sold under the same 46mm name measures 47mm by 41mm by 9.85mm, a millimeter taller, a millimeter wider, and 0.15mm thicker. The 42mm size follows the same pattern: 42mm by 37mm by 9.7mm for aluminum and titanium, versus 43mm by 37mm by 9.85mm for ceramic, a millimeter taller and 0.15mm thicker, with the width unchanged. The display is unaffected. Apple lists the same 1,196 sq mm display area at 46mm and 970 sq mm at 42mm across all three materials, meaning the extra size is entirely case, not screen. The ceramic models are also heavier. At 46mm, the Pearl White ceramic case weighs 51.3 grams and Night Blue weighs 52.9 grams, against 39.5 grams for the equivalent aluminum model and 44.9 grams for titanium, up to 34% heavier than aluminum and 18% heavier than titanium. The 42mm ceramic models weigh 41.7 grams in Pearl White and 42.8 grams in Night Blue, against 32.2 grams for aluminum and 36.5 grams for titanium, up to 33% heavier than aluminum and 17% heavier than titanium. This appears to be the first time Apple has sold different physical case dimensions under the same nominal watch size. The increased size is presumably a design compromise owing to the entirely different material, although the earlier ceramic Apple Watch Edition models used identical case dimensions across materials at a given size, with only the weight changing between them. Ceramic returns to the Apple Watch lineup with the Series 12 after a six-year absence, having last been offered on Series 5 in 2019 before Apple dropped it for Series 6 in 2020. Apple Watch Series 12 in ceramic starts at $899, compared with $399 for aluminum and $699 for titanium, in Pearl White or Night Blue finishes. It launches on September 18. Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11 Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now) Related Forum: Apple Watch This article, " Ceramic Apple Watch Series 12 Is Bigger and Heavier Than Other Models " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

MacRumorsMacRumors•Hartley Charlton10 Sept