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

Apple's new Series 12 ceramic Apple Watch models boast a larger and heavier build than their aluminum and titanium counterparts, as disclosed by Apple's technical specifications. The ceramic cases measure 47mm by 41mm by 9.85mm, a millimeter taller, wider, and 0.15mm thicker than the aluminum and titanium versions, which are 46mm by 40mm by 9.7mm.

The 42mm ceramic and non-ceramic models follow a similar trend, with the former being 43mm by 37mm by 9.85mm, compared to 42mm by 37mm by 9.7mm for the latter. The 1,196 sq mm display area remains consistent across all materials.

Ceramic models are noticeably heavier. The Pearl White ceramic case weighs 51.3 grams, while the Night Blue variant is 52.9 grams. In contrast, the aluminum and titanium versions weigh 39.5 grams and 44.9 grams, respectively, for the 46mm model and up to 34% and 18% heavier, respectively, for the 42mm model. The 42mm ceramic cases weigh 41.7 grams and 42.8 grams for Pearl White and Night Blue, respectively, compared to 32.2 grams for aluminum and 36.5 grams for titanium.

This represents up to a 33% and 17% weight increase for the ceramic models when compared to aluminum and titanium, respectively.

The introduction of different physical case dimensions under the same nominal watch size marks the first time Apple has done so. The size increase is likely a design choice due to the distinct material, although previous ceramic Apple Watch Edition models maintained identical case dimensions across materials, varying only in weight.

Ceramic returns to the Apple Watch lineup after a six-year hiatus, having been absent since the Series 5 in 2019 before it was dropped for the Series 6 in 2020. The Series 12 ceramic watch starts at $899, compared to $399 for aluminum and $699 for titanium in Pearl White or Night Blue finishes. The watch is set to launch on September 18.