Apple Unveils New Watch Series 12 and Watch Ultra 4

Apple introduced two new Apple Watch models today, the Apple Watch Series 12 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4. Both new models will launch with watchOS 27 and a new Health Sensing System designed to improve heart rate sensing accuracy, completed by a new readiness experience to give users new daily insights about their body capacity.

The Apple Watch Series 12 got most of the attention during Apple’s event today, thanks to a new S11 chip and improved optical and electrical heart sensors. Apple Watch Series 12 can now measure heart rate every five seconds, all day long, and HRV, which Apple describes as “a key indicator of stress and recovery,” is now measured up to 24 times more often. Apple’s new S11 chip and a rearchitected pedometer model will also offer the most accurate step tracking ever seen on a smartwatch, according to the company.

The new Readiness feature on the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 will use recent activity, training load, vitals, and sleep score data and consolidate it into a 0-10 readiness score. Google’s Health app offers a similar feature with devices like the Fitbit Air, though Apple’s Readiness score will update throughout the day.

“Readiness clearly highlights which factors are driving the score and allows users to tap into more details. The scoring algorithm was developed using data from the Apple Heart and Movement Study, in collaboration with exercise scientists and physicians at Apple,” the company explained.

Later this year, watchOS 27 will welcome a redesigned Health app with a new Insights tab displaying key health data. A new Longevity tab will also analyze users’ health data to provide detailed health recommendations.

Besides new health and fitness features, the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 14 will add support for Audio Intelligence, a new set of Apple Intelligence features that leverage the company’s new S11 chip and the watch’s built-in microphones. Sound Intelligence will be able to alert users who are deaf or hard of hearing of important sounds, recall what was just said in conversation, create summaries of conversations, and detect music playing in the background with Shazam.

“These features do not create or store audio recordings, and raw audio used for processing is completely inaccessible to the operating systems, apps, the user, or Apple,” the company emphasized today. Siri-powered text snippets and summaries are also end-to-end encrypted, and Audio Intelligence features won’t identify and attribute speakers.

The Apple Watch Series 12 will be available in 42mm and 46mm sizes with aluminum, titanium, and ceramic finishes. The new model starts at $399, and it will start shipping on September 18.

The $799 Apple Watch Ultra 4, however, will come with the same S11 chip and new Health Sensing System and Audio Intelligence features. The S11 chip will also offer more than two days of battery life, up to 50 hours.

With larger, power-efficient green LEDs on the optical heart sensor, Apple Watch Series 12 now measures heart rate every five seconds, all day long. This continuous, passive measurement delivers deeper insight into a user’s fitness and physiological state while making Exercise and Move Activity rings even more accurate.