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Apple Launches Watch Series 12 With Live Rewind AI

By Drooid · Sep 13, 2026, 1:56 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Apple Introduces AI

Apple unveiled the Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 with AI-powered Audio Intelligence features.
Live Rewind buffers up to 15 seconds of sound and replays it when users double-tap the digital crown.
Apple says the watches never store audio files, replace each 15-second buffer, and encrypt all data end-to-end.
Live Rewind and Siri Recap will enter beta testing in late 2026 amid Reddit privacy-consent concerns.

Summary

Apple Launches Series 12

Series 12 launches at a $399 starting price, matching the discontinued Series 11.
The device uses the new S11 chip with 4 GB RAM, double the Series 11 memory.
A health sensor array measures heart rate every five seconds, providing continuous HRV and Readiness scores.
Charging now delivers twelve hours of use after fifteen minutes, up from eight hours previously.
Aluminum models get Ceramic Shield 2 glass, 60 % harder than the prior Ion-X material.

History

Historical Context

Apple launched the first Apple Watch in April 2015, selling 4.2 million units in its debut quarter and sparking the modern wearable market. FDA clearance for ECG in October 2018 cemented its health role, prompting other manufacturers to add similar sensors. By December 2022, over 115 million users relied on the device as the FTC examines its data practices.

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Apple Introduces AI

Apple unveiled the Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 with AI-powered Audio Intelligence features.
Live Rewind buffers up to 15 seconds of sound and replays it when users double-tap the digital crown.
Apple says the watches never store audio files, replace each 15-second buffer, and encrypt all data end-to-end.
Live Rewind and Siri Recap will enter beta testing in late 2026 amid Reddit privacy-consent concerns.

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