Apple has introduced the Watch Series 12 and Watch Ultra 4, featuring an upgraded health monitoring system. The new heart rate sensor now measures heart rate every five seconds, which is 60 times more frequent than in previous models. The devices also track heart rate variability (HRV) every five minutes.
The watches include a new 'Audio Intelligence' feature, which can recognize sounds such as doorbells. It also features a 'live rewind' function that allows users to return 15 seconds back to transcribe a speaker's words, activated by double-clicking the Digital Crown.
Siri Recaps provides summaries of audio notes, such as meeting outcomes, while a new Siri Modular watch face has been added. Both models are powered by the Apple S11 chip, based on the A20 Pro architecture, including CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine components.
The Series 12 is available in aluminum (black, light gold, bronze, space gray) and polished titanium (radiant gold, natural titanium). Ceramic models return in pearl white and dark blue, and the Hermès line adds a gold variant. The Ultra 4 features a larger battery for over two days of autonomy, available in black and natural titanium with a new titanium strap.
Pre-orders for both models open today, September 9, 2026, with sales starting September 18. Prices remain unchanged from previous generations, starting at $399 for the Series 12 and $799 for the Ultra 4.