Apple Unveils Series 12 and Ultra 4 Smartwatches with AI-Powered Audio and Enhanced Health Sensors

Apple introduced the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 at its iPhone launch event in Cupertino. Both models retain existing case designs but add the new S11 chip with a quad-core Neural Engine for on-watch Siri AI capabilities.

CNETThe Verge

• Live Rewind – Double-press the Digital Crown to view a text snippet of the previous 15 seconds of conversation; users can ask Siri for details or save the transcript.

TechCrunch

• Siri Recap – After a conversation, the system generates a title and key points in the Siri app.

TechCrunch

• Sound Recognition – Detects sirens, alarms, doorbells and a baby crying, aimed at users with limited hearing.

CNET

Apple says these features do not create or store audio recordings on the device or in the cloud.

CNET

• Larger electrode surface and redesigned photodiode ring improve ECG and optical heart-rate measurements.

TechCrunch

• Background heart-rate readings are taken every five seconds, a 60-fold increase over prior models.

TechCrunch

• Heart-rate variability is sampled every five minutes.

CNET

• Health Age compares users’ health metrics (VO2 max, sleep, etc.) with chronological age.

TechCrunch

• Readiness score, on Series 12 and Ultra 4, aggregates recent activity, training load, vitals and sleep to indicate daily preparedness.

CNET

• Series 12 starts at $399 for aluminum; titanium $699, ceramic $899.

The Verge

• Ultra 4 starts at $799 for the base titanium version and is also offered in a Hermès edition.

The Verge

• Pre-orders began shortly after the announcement; retail launch is set for September 18.

CNET

• Apple advertises up to 24 hours of “everyday” battery life for Series 12 and up to 10 hours of workout battery, with a 15-minute charge delivering roughly 12 hours of power.

CNET

• Ultra 4 is claimed to last up to 50 hours, with an extended mode providing up to 45 hours.

CNET

• Independent testing of the prior Ultra 3 recorded around 47 hours of real-world usage, suggesting the Ultra 4’s endurance is plausible.

CNET

• Apple describes the Audio Intelligence suite as a way to make “conversational context instantly accessible” on the wrist.

TechCrunch

• The features will be available in beta later this year, with broader rollout through upcoming watchOS updates.

CNET

• AI-driven audio tools position the Apple Watch against emerging AI wearables that rely on cloud processing.

TechCrunch

• Enhanced health metrics and the Readiness score deepen the device’s role in daily wellness tracking, potentially influencing user adherence to fitness and medical monitoring regimes.

TechCrunch

• Maintaining price points comparable to previous generations while adding AI capabilities may broaden the appeal of premium smartwatch features.

TechCrunch

• Apple plans to release watchOS 27 later this year, enabling the full suite of Audio Intelligence features for all users.

CNET

• The new Health app, powering Health Age and Readiness scoring, is slated for release later in the year.

TechCrunch