Technology
Apple launches Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 with upgraded heart rate monitoring and AI health insights
The new wearables introduce more precise cardiovascular sensing, daily readiness scores, and Apple Intelligence features alongside expanded health tracking capabilities.
Ars Technica
Apple has unveiled its latest smartwatch lineup, the Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, featuring a redesigned health sensing system that the company contends delivers superior heart rate accuracy compared to competing wearables. The devices are now available for preorder, with shipping beginning September 18.
New Health Monitoring Capabilities#
The centerpiece of the new watches is Apple's updated Health Sensing System, which the company claims offers the most precise heart rate detection in the wearable market based on testing with over 1,000 participants across diverse demographics.
Beyond traditional heart monitoring, the watches introduce "readiness" scores—a daily metric that synthesizes recent workouts, training intensity, vital signs, and sleep quality into a single 0-to-10 assessment of the user's physical capacity. This score refreshes throughout the day as activity patterns shift.
Apple is also rolling out a "Health Age" score through an iOS Health app update arriving later in 2026, which will be accessible to Series 12 and Ultra 4 owners. The Health app will additionally feature movement assessments that evaluate flexibility, strength, and balance by leveraging vision-based AI analysis on the iPhone paired with Apple Watch heart rate data.
Biomarker Testing and Lab Access#
A notable expansion is direct integration with Quest Diagnostics, allowing users to schedule and pay for laboratory tests featuring over 50 biomarkers through the Health app at approximately 2,000 U.S. locations. The service costs $119 per panel.
Apple Intelligence Integration#
The new watches extend Apple's AI assistant ecosystem with several conversational aids. Users can activate Live Rewind by double-tapping the Digital Crown to view the prior 15 seconds of an audio exchange as text, while Siri Recap generates summaries of longer conversations for later review. Shazam song identification also carries over to the wearable platform.
Pricing and Availability#
The Watch Series 12 begins at $399, while the Ultra 4 carries a $799 starting price.
