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Apple Watch Series 12 Review: Finally, a Readiness Score (2026)
Confirmed
In Short: The new Apple Watch models feature improved heart rate sensors and Audio Intelligence, according to reviews.
The new Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 models boast significant upgrades, including a new optical heart rate sensor and Audio Intelligence features, according to reviews from DC Rainmaker and WIRED.
The Series 12, priced at $399, and the Ultra 4, at $799, both feature the S11 chip, which powers the new listening tools and health metrics.
Reviews highlight the improved heart rate sensor, which is backed by an Apple study involving 1,400 participants, and the Readiness score system, which gauges users' physical preparedness.
Audio Intelligence includes features like the ability to transcribe the last 15 seconds of audio, processed in a secure part of the S11 chip that Apple cannot access.
While the Series 12's design remains largely unchanged, reviewers note that it feels more intuitive and offers longer battery life, making it a compelling upgrade for current users.
What's confirmed
- The new Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 models boast significant upgrades, including a new optical heart rate sensor and Audio Intelligence features, according to reviews from DC Rainmaker and WIRED.
- The Series 12, priced at $399, and the Ultra 4, at $799, both feature the S11 chip, which powers the new listening tools and health metrics.
- Reviews highlight the improved heart rate sensor, which is backed by an Apple study involving 1,400 participants, and the Readiness score system, which gauges users' physical preparedness.
- Audio Intelligence includes features like the ability to transcribe the last 15 seconds of audio, processed in a secure part of the S11 chip that Apple cannot access.
- While the Series 12's design remains largely unchanged, reviewers note that it feels more intuitive and offers longer battery life, making it a compelling upgrade for current users.
What's still developing
- But probably the most notable thing about both the Ultra 4 and the new Series 12 (which both my wife and I are also testing) is that new optical HR sensor, which is backed by an Apple study involving 1,400 people, including the majority of whom were dual-wristing other competitor watches.
- The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is arguably the biggest internal update the Apple Watch has seen in a number of years, and certainly the biggest Apple Watch Ultra series update since launch.
- Plus, there are promises of further new features later this year with a new Apple Health app that’s consumer-friendly, as well as more audio intelligence features.
- In this post (and the above video), I’m going to dive into some of those claims in that Apple-backed paper, and most critically, whether they stand up to real-life scrutiny out on the road (and trails, and gyms).
- There’s a lot new in this unit, and I’m going to cover virtually all the new features throughout this review.
- Obviously, given the wide-ranging capabilities of the Apple Watch as a smartwatch, there’s far more that I’m not going to cover here (such as music storage/playback, contactless payments, 3rd-party apps, etc…).
- These largely haven’t changed this time around, save for the handful of new Audio Intelligence features that I mention later in the review.
- With that, the first thing you probably already know is that the Apple Watch Ultra 4 requires an iPhone be paired with it.