Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4: Ceramic, Specs, Release Date

Apple has unveiled the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 today during its September hardware event.The new models retain the signature designs of their predecessors but add a faster S11 chip, new health and fitness features, and the watchOS 27 software update announced at WWDC last June.Both the Series 12 and Ultra 4 run on the upgraded S11 chip, which Apple says delivers faster CPU and GPU performance, along with improved Siri capabilities. Apple is also expanding the smartwatch’s wellness-tracking suite with a redesigned Health app that includes a Longevity tab with new metrics, like Health Age and a Readiness score.Photograph: Courtesy of AppleThe health sensor array has been redesigned with more electrodes for more accurate readings, photodiodes organized in a ring to capture light more efficiently, and new LEDs that allow heart rate measurements to be collected every 5 seconds, giving you a continuous stream of heart data throughout the day.Video: Courtesy of ApplePerhaps most notably, the Series 12 brings back the ceramic case, available in pearl white and night blue finishes. Apple first offered a ceramic option with the Series 2 in 2016, marketed as a luxury alternative to the company’s long-retired 18-karat gold edition; the ceramic casing was discontinued in 2020. According to Apple, the ceramic casing—made from compressed zirconia and alumina powder and polished with a diamond slurry—is four times more durable than stainless steel. The aluminum models are available in black, light gold, space gray aluminum, radiant gold, natural titanium, and a new dark bronze. All of the aluminum is recycled.The new hardware arrives alongside watchOS 27, which will also be made available to people who already own compatible Apple Watches when the Series 12 goes on sale. The new OS updates the divisive Liquid Glass redesign on the smartwatch, and adds a more capable Siri AI powered by Apple Intelligence.Following the industry trend of AI-notetakers, the new Siri Recap can translate and transcribe real-time conversations for users. In a demonstration video today, Apple showed a server at a restaurant reciting menu specials, and the person sitting at the table was able to scroll back through a transcript of what the server said to read the daily specials.WatchOS 27 also introduces a dynamic app grid that surfaces five Siri AI-suggested apps, the Siri app, and a shortcut to the full app grid. A new one-handed tap gesture lets you select widgets in Smart Stack, and a double-tap lets you scroll through them. A wrist-flick gesture can return you to the watch face, silence timers, and dismiss notifications.Battery life remains the same for the Series 12, but the Ultra 4’s battery has expanded to up to 50 hours. A new proactive battery extension feature will notify users that tools they never use will be disabled to preserve battery life, such as gestures, Start Workout reminders, and Raise to Speak. Users can turn those abilities back on in Settings.Photograph: Courtesy of AppleLike its competitors, health and fitness remain a major focus. Workout Buddy now incorporates more wellness metrics and can run without an iPhone nearby; it’s also now available in Spanish. In addition to the “Functional Strength Training” workout mode, users can now log sets, repetitions, weights, and equipment. Cycle Tracking is also gaining support for perimenopause and menopause, including notifications about cycle deviations associated with perimenopause.With the launch of watchOS 27, Apple is removing Walkie-Talkie, its real-time voice communication tool that lets Apple Watch users communicate directly with one another.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.