Apple has officially introduced the next generation of its smartwatches: the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4. Both models feature an entirely new health sensing system, the S11 chip, and broad improvements in heart rate monitoring, fitness and sleep tracking, and a new Readiness feature. They also bring faster charging and longer battery life, especially in the Ultra model designed for sports and adventure.
A New Health Sensing System
The new health sensing system includes enhanced optical and electrical heart sensors. According to Apple, this gives both watches the most accurate heart rate sensing available in a wearable device.
The company based its assessment on a study involving more than 1,000 participants, comparing the watch’s accuracy against competing wearable devices. The watches now measure heart rate every five seconds throughout the day, providing more precise data about physiological state and fitness.
The two models also expand heart rate variability (HRV) measurement, which Apple uses as an indicator of stress and recovery. HRV can now be measured up to 24 times, with separate variables for tracking recovery and general health status. HRV data has also been added to overnight vital signs, along with a new view that allows users to follow measurements during both day and night.
Readiness Feature
One of the most notable additions is the Readiness feature. It analyzes recent activity, training load, vital signs, and sleep score to provide a daily assessment from 0 to 10 on how prepared the body is for the day ahead. The score comes with a practical recommendation, such as recovery, continuing activity, or pursuing a training goal. The score also updates throughout the day as new data becomes available.
Both watches also gain improvements in step tracking, using new machine learning algorithms and the S11 chip to deliver more accurate measurements of distance and steps. A dedicated complication allows users to follow step count directly from the watch face.
Battery Life
In terms of battery, the Apple Watch Series 12 offers up to 24 hours of use, with up to 10 hours during outdoor workouts. A 15-minute charge provides up to 12 additional hours of use.
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 reaches up to 50 hours of use, rising to 84 hours in low power mode. A 15-minute charge provides up to 18 additional hours. The watch can also track outdoor workouts for up to 45 hours with per-second GPS readings.
Sound Recognition Feature
Both watches also add Sound Recognition and Shazam, supported by the S11 chip. Sound Recognition can alert users, including deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, to important sounds such as sirens, doorbells, and a baby’s cry, without needing an iPhone nearby. Audio data is processed on the watch without creating or storing audio recordings, relying on the isolated Secure Exclave unit in the S11 chip.
watchOS 27
Both watches support watchOS 27, which introduces a dynamic app grid, a one-handed tap gesture, and smarter suggestions within the Smart Stack. It also adds support for pre-menopause and post-menopause stages, along with improvements to the Workout Buddy feature.
These features join the many ways Apple Watches help users stay active, gain a deeper understanding of their health, and call for help when needed. This includes advanced workout tracking, sleep tracking, heart health notifications, the ECG app, sleep apnea notifications, fall detection, Emergency SOS, and other features.
Pricing and Availability
The Apple Watch Series 12 is available in 42mm and 46mm sizes, with a variety of aluminum, titanium, and ceramic options. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 comes in natural and black titanium.
The Apple Watch Series 12 starts at AED 1,599, while the Apple Watch Ultra 4 starts at AED 3,199. Apple is opening pre-orders in more than 50 countries and regions, with in-store sales beginning on September 18.