Apple Watch Series 12 Has Subtle Design Change that Apple Didn’t Mention
The new models add a Health Sensing System, Audio Intelligence, and longer battery life, while Ultra 4 starts at $799, Apple said.
- On Friday, September 18, 2026, Apple launches the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, featuring redesigned health sensors and extended battery life.
- Both models incorporate an entirely redesigned 'Health Sensing System' that tracks heart rate data every five seconds, up from previous five-minute intervals, enabling more frequent vitals monitoring.
- Apple claims the S11 chip powers the Series 12 to 54 hours of real-world battery life, while the Ultra 4 achieves up to 50 hours of everyday use with further efficiency gains.
- WatchOS 27 introduces the Readiness app to assess daily physical preparedness, while Audio Intelligence features like Siri Recap are 'end-to-end encrypted through iCloud syncing,' Apple says.
- Starting at $399, the Series 12 maintains price parity with its predecessor, while the $799 Ultra 4 targets endurance athletes requiring maximum battery capacity and advanced health tracking.
18 Articles
18 Articles
The Independent
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The Apple Watch Series 12 delivers one of the line's biggest generational leaps in years and ushers in a new era for Apple wearables. Armed with an entirely redesigned health array that tracks heart rate data every five seconds, a faster S11 chip driving context-aware
The Apple Watch Series 12 is the start of a new wearable era
You wouldn't know that the Apple Watch Series 12 is a big deal just by looking at it. It has the same design, buttons, sizes, and sensor types as generations of Apple Watches before it. But under the hood, the Series 12 builds in major changes that lay the groundwork for big ideas about the […]
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