Apple Watch Series 12 is official, bringing a major expansion of Apple’s health sensing technology alongside the new S11 chip, readiness scoring, faster charging and a new generation of intelligence features.
While the familiar Apple Watch formula remains, many of the biggest changes happen beneath the surface. Apple has redesigned its heart sensing system, dramatically increased the frequency of heart-rate and HRV measurements and introduced new features intended to give wearers a clearer picture of recovery and long-term health.
Here is everything you need to know about Apple Watch Series 12, including its health features, S11 chip, battery life, materials, colors, price and release date.
The major upgrades include Apple’s new Health Sensing System, the S11 chip, readiness, more frequent heart-rate and HRV measurements, improved step tracking, faster charging, Audio Intelligence and deeper integration with the redesigned Health app.
Image: Apple
Aluminum models also receive Ceramic Shield 2, which Apple says is 60 percent tougher than the Ion-X glass used on Apple Watch Series 11.
Apple Watch Series 12 introduces redesigned optical and electrical heart sensors. Larger, more power-efficient green LEDs allow the watch to measure heart rate every five seconds throughout the day.
Apple says the new system delivers its most accurate heart-rate sensing in a wearable. HRV can also be measured up to 24 times more frequently than before, giving users additional information about recovery, stress and cardiovascular health.
Readiness is one of the headline software experiences. Apple Watch analyzes recent activity, training load, vitals and sleep score before producing a score from 0 to 10.
That score is accompanied by one of four recommendations: Recover, Pace Yourself, Ready or Go For It. The score can change during the day as new activity and health data is collected, rather than remaining fixed from the moment the wearer wakes up.
Apple Watch Series 12 distinguishes between Recovery HRV for shorter-term recovery and stress signals and overall HRV for broader trends. Recovery HRV is also incorporated into overnight Vitals and compared against the wearer’s personal baseline.
A daytime Vitals view lets users switch between overnight and daytime measurements, potentially making changes easier to spot earlier in the day.
At the heart of Series 12 is S11, which Apple describes as its most powerful wearable chip. It powers the new Health Sensing System, improved step tracking and a new generation of Audio Intelligence features.
Image: Apple
With watchOS 27, Series 12 also gains Siri AI through Apple Intelligence, allowing users to access personal context and broader knowledge from their wrist when paired with compatible hardware.
Apple Watch Series 12 continues to offer up to 24 hours of everyday battery life. The improvement is more noticeable for workouts, with Apple rating the watch for up to 10 hours during an outdoor workout, 25 percent longer than the previous model.
Charging has been accelerated. A 15-minute charge can provide up to 12 hours of additional battery life, which Apple says is 50 percent more than the previous generation could gain in the same amount of charging time.
Apple has redesigned its pedometer model with new machine-learning algorithms. Combined with S11, the system is designed to improve both all-day step counts and distance estimates during indoor walks and runs.
A new Steps complication can display the wearer’s step count directly on the watch face.
Apple Watch Series 12 works with Apple’s redesigned Health app, which is coming later this year. A new Insights tab surfaces timely information across areas including heart health, sleep, fitness, readiness and Vitals.
The new Longevity tab takes a longer-term view. Health Age uses Apple Watch metrics such as VO2 max, resting heart rate, sleep and HRV to show how a user’s health metrics are tracking relative to their chronological age.
Series 12 introduces Audio Intelligence features that use the watch’s microphone, S11 and Apple Intelligence while emphasizing privacy. These include Sound Recognition, Live Rewind, Siri Recap and faster Shazam recognition.
Live Rewind can show a text snippet representing the previous 15 seconds of a conversation when activated, while Siri Recap can generate high-level summaries intended to help users remember key points. Apple says the system does not create or store audio recordings, with audio processed through a hardware-isolated Secure Exclave before being deleted.
Apple Watch Series 12 runs watchOS 27, which brings Siri AI alongside other changes to Apple Watch. watchOS 27 will also be released for compatible older models on Monday, September 14.
Apple is offering Series 12 in several finishes. Aluminum models are available in dark bronze, black, light gold and space gray. Titanium versions come in radiant gold and natural titanium.
Series 12 is also available in ceramic, with pearl white and night blue options.
Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399 in the United States, with pricing increasing depending on case material, connectivity, size and band choice.
Apple Watch Series 12 is available to pre-order now in the United States, United Kingdom and more than 50 other countries and regions.
Apple Watch Series 12 will be released on Friday, September 18, when deliveries begin and the new watch becomes available in stores.