New Apple Watch models, the Series 12 and Ultra 4, have faced unexpected issues shortly after their September 18 release. Users have reported that their watches restart randomly during calls, when using Siri, editing watch faces, recording workouts, or even when idle on the wrist. Some users have experienced interruptions in health data or lost parts of their workouts due to these unexpected restarts.
The problem seems to be related to the Apple Neural Engine, a component of the S11 chip that handles artificial intelligence tasks. Diagnostic logs labeled "panic-full," shared by multiple users, suggest that the system crashes when the Neural Engine freezes for about two seconds. A software watchdog then triggers a restart to recover the device. This issue persists even after resetting the watches and occurs on both the original version of watchOS 27.0 and updates installed during setup.
Some users who received replacement models reported the same issue, raising concerns about possible hardware defects. However, some testers of the upcoming watchOS 27.2 beta version claim they no longer face the problem, hinting at a possible software fix. Still, the number of such reports is limited, and beta software can sometimes introduce new issues. Apple has not officially commented on the problem.
Users are advised to install the latest public update of watchOS and to collect "panic-full" logs using the Settings app to help support teams diagnose the issue. If the restarts impact health tracking or workout data, users are encouraged to reach out to Apple support while their devices are still under warranty.
Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 Face Restart Issues Linked to Neural Engine
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