Some new Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Apple Watch Series 12 are reporting that their devices are restarting unexpectedly, and diagnostic files indicate that the crashes are related to the Apple Neural Engine. This issue has caused concern among users as it affects the daily use of their devices.
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Reports have been circulating on the MacRumors forums since the new models were released on Friday. Users describe their watches suddenly displaying the Apple logo and restarting while interacting with the device, doing things like using Siri AI, editing watch faces, opening Maps or the App Store, starting phone calls, and recording workouts. Some restarts have even occurred when the watch appeared to be idle.
The Apple Neural Engine, which appears to be the cause of the problem, is a specialized processor designed to perform machine learning and artificial intelligence tasks. Its integration into Apple devices is intended to improve performance in applications that require high computing power, such as voice recognition and image processing. However, it appears that in these cases, the Neural Engine lags by about two seconds, causing a firmware watchdog to trigger a kernel panic and force the watch to reboot.
The issue has been reported in both the initial release of watchOS 27.0 and the day-one update that devices downloaded during setup. This suggests that the issue may be embedded in the device’s software or hardware, making it difficult to resolve with simple software updates. Some users have experienced reboots despite erasing their watches and setting them up as new, and one Series 12 reported that a replacement unit also suffered the same Neural Engine panic.
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Around 30 owners have reported random reboots in the MacRumors forums thread so far. Users have also taken to Reddit and Community Support to share similar experiences, so it seems the problem is quite widespread. Apple has yet to acknowledge the issue, which has left many users frustrated as they await an official response or fix.
This situation has significant consequences for users and organizations that rely on these devices for daily activities and business applications. Unexpected reboots can interrupt important functions, such as health and fitness tracking, communicating via phone calls, and using applications that require constant connectivity and operation.
The Apple Watch Series 12, like the Ultra 4, is known for its advanced features, such as accurate health tracking, water resistance, and the ability to use third-party apps. These features make the watches particularly popular among consumers looking for a complete solution for tracking their daily activity and health. However, the issues mentioned can negatively affect the user experience and reduce consumer confidence in Apple's new technologies.
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It is important for Apple to address these issues quickly and effectively, providing software updates or other solutions that will resolve the issue and restore user confidence. Until then, Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 owners should be vigilant and monitor developments regarding this issue, and it would be helpful to continue sharing your experiences in the forums and support communities to help resolve the issue.
