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Apple launches Watch Ultra 4 with $799 price

9/10/2026

9 1 Full Breakdown

Summary

Apple Launches Ultra 4

Apple launched the Apple Watch Ultra 4 in the United States at $799.
Pre-orders in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India and Japan.
The Ultra 4 runs on the S11 chip with a Neural Engine from the A20 Pro iPhone.
Health Sensing System measures heart rate every five seconds and HRV every five minutes, a Readiness score.
Apple added Audio Intelligence features and 50-hour battery life (45 hours in workout mode).

Summary

Apple Unveils AudioIntelligence

Apple launches Audio Intelligence beta in English only, with no EU availability.
Recaps feature is opt-in, letting users schedule listening by location or time.
Raw audio is processed in the S11 Secure Enclave, deleted instantly, and never recorded or stored.
Live Rewind and Siri Recap need iPhone 16 or later and emit an audible chime.
Sound Recognition alerts deaf users to sirens, alarms, doorbells, and baby cries without an iPhone.

History

Historical Context

Apple introduced the first Apple Watch in September 2014, creating a new wearable market that spurred competitors and health-sensor regulation. The rugged Apple Watch Ultra arrived in September 2022, while a 2023 trade-representative Katherine Tai upheld a ban on its ECG feature and a Masimo patent suit forced a U.S. recall, highlighting growing legal and regulatory pressure on smartwatch health data.

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Apple Launches Ultra 4

Apple launched the Apple Watch Ultra 4 in the United States at $799.
Pre-orders in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India and Japan.
The Ultra 4 runs on the S11 chip with a Neural Engine from the A20 Pro iPhone.
Health Sensing System measures heart rate every five seconds and HRV every five minutes, a Readiness score.
Apple added Audio Intelligence features and 50-hour battery life (45 hours in workout mode).

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