Apple Watch Series 12 debuts redesigned sensors and extended battery
Apple Watch Series 12 launches September 18 at $399 with redesigned sensors, 24-hour battery, and new readiness score.
Event / Technology
Apple Watch Series 12 Launch
Apple announced the Apple Watch Series 12 on September 9, 2026, featuring enhanced health monitoring capabilities including improved heart rate tracking and HRV monitoring, new audio intelligence features, and a readiness score. The $399 device launches September 18 with watchOS 27, ceramic case options, and improved battery life for outdoor workouts.
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2026-09-10 to 2026-11-06 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 10 Sept, 00:02 UTC
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What happened
watchOS 27 removes Walkie-Talkie feature from Apple Watch
With the launch of watchOS 27, Apple is removing the Walkie-Talkie app, its real-time voice communication tool that allowed Apple Watch users to communicate directly with one another.
Apple Watch Series 12 returns ceramic case option
The Apple Watch Series 12 reintroduces ceramic cases for the first time since 2020, available in pearl white and night blue finishes. The ceramic material is made from compressed zirconia and alumina powder and is claimed to be four times more durable than stainless steel.
Apple Watch Series 12 introduces readiness score feature
The Apple Watch Series 12 introduces a new readiness feature that analyzes a user's recent activity, training load, vitals, and sleep to provide a 0-10 readiness score with actionable recommendations: Recover, Pace Yourself, Ready, or Go For It. The readiness score updates throughout the day as new data becomes available.
Apple Watch Series 12 made with 40 percent recycled material
The Apple Watch Series 12 is made with 40 percent recycled material overall, including 100 percent recycled aluminum in aluminum cases and 100 percent recycled titanium in titanium cases. All electricity used to manufacture the device is sourced from renewable energy sources including wind and solar across the supply chain.
Apple Watch Series 12 measures heart rate every 5 seconds
The Apple Watch Series 12 now measures heart rate continuously every 5 seconds throughout the day, compared to previous models. It also measures heart rate variability (HRV) up to 24 times more frequently than before. A study comparing the new heart rate sensor against leading wearables showed Apple Watch achieved the highest accuracy across devices.
Apple Watch Series 12 offers up to 24 hours battery life
The Apple Watch Series 12 maintains up to 24 hours of everyday battery life and offers up to 10 hours of battery life during outdoor workouts, which is 25 percent more than the previous model. The device also supports faster charging, with 15 minutes of charging providing up to 12 hours of additional battery life.
Apple announces Apple Watch Series 12 with redesigned health sensors
Apple announced the Apple Watch Series 12 during its September 9 event in Cupertino, California. The device features a redesigned Health Sensing System with new optical and electrical heart sensors, an upgraded S11 chip, and new wellness features including a readiness score and Health Age metric.
watchOS 27 brings redesigned Health app to Apple Watch
watchOS 27 introduces a redesigned Health app for iPhone with a new Longevity tab that analyzes long-term health data and includes a Health Age feature showing how metrics track relative to a user's actual age. The app also includes an Insights tab that surfaces timely health information dynamically using Apple Intelligence. The Health app will be available later in 2026.
Apple Watch Series 12 introduces Audio Intelligence features
The Apple Watch Series 12 introduces Audio Intelligence features including Sound Recognition to alert users of important sounds like sirens or alarms, Live Rewind to replay the previous 15 seconds of conversation as text, and Siri Recap to create summaries of conversations. These features use on-device processing with the S11 chip and Secure Exclave for privacy protection, with no audio recordings created or stored.
Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399 with September 18 release date
The Apple Watch Series 12 is priced at $399 USD and is available for preorder on September 9, 2026, with availability beginning September 18, 2026. The device is available in 42mm and 46mm sizes in aluminum, titanium, and ceramic finishes.
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