At its 10 September event, Apple announced the Apple Watch Series 12. Alongside the new S11 processor and redesigned health sensors, the company announced improved heart-rate measurement accuracy and enhanced recovery tracking, as well as expanded AI-powered Audio Intelligence and health features.
At the event, Apple officially announced the Apple Watch Series 12. While retaining the existing design, the watch has been substantially upgraded internally. The new S11 chip and redesigned health sensors improve heart-rate measurement accuracy and enable more detailed tracking of the body's recovery status. Apple also added AI-powered Audio Intelligence features, including notifications when important sounds are detected and a function that plays back the key points of conversations.
The new S11 chip speeds up the GPU, CPU and Neural Engine, supporting improved performance for Siri AI in watchOS 27. Apple said Siri AI can understand more complex questions and context than before, while also improving access to information within Apple's native apps. Battery life remains the same as before at 24 hours, according to the company, while more frequent heart-rate measurements are expected to improve measurement accuracy.
Expanded health capabilities include a new Readiness score and a redesigned Health app, with enhanced daily health summaries and personalized advice. A new feature also enables more comprehensive VO2 max testing using a smartphone camera. For women, Apple announced information on the menopausal transition and Spanish-language support for Workout Buddy, among other updates.
Apple also detailed the new design's color options, pricing and pre-order information. Prices for the 42mm aluminum model start at ¥71,800, and pre-orders are now open. The design options have also been expanded, with the return of a ceramic case for the Series 12, new colors for Hermès models and new bands for each model.