Apple’s yearly fall launch event is upon us, and with it comes a new selection of products. While the long-rumoured iPhone Duo is the undisputed star of the show, not to be forgotten is the lineup of wearables, which comprises the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4.
Both smartwatches come with the new S11 chip, which the bitten fruit brand claims is its most powerful wearable processor to date. In addition to this chip, the devices pack a new Health Sensing System, which features new optical and electrical heart sensors for more accurate measurements. According to the company, the devices can measure heart rate every five seconds throughout the day. HRV is also measured more often, with a new dedicated section in the Heart Rate app.
Watch Series 12
Like the previous generation, the Watch Series 12 comes in 42mm and 46mm sizes, with the usual options of aluminium and titanium finishes. The aluminium options include space gray, dark bronze, black, and light gold. Meanwhile, the titanium variants include natural titanium and radiant gold. In addition to these, Apple is also reviving the ceramic case option, which is available in pearl white and night blue.
Looks aside, the watch promises up to 24 hours of everyday battery life, which is about the same as last year’s model. That said, Apple claims that the watch can last longer during outdoor workouts, offering up to 10 hours of use. Furthermore, charging speeds have been increased, with a 15-minute top-up providing up to 12 hours of additional usage.
Watch Ultra 4
The Watch Ultra 4 comes in natural and black titanium, with an array of band options. Moving beyond aesthetics, the device boasts more than two days of battery life. According to the tech giant, it can last up to 50 hours, or 84 hours in Low Power Mode.
Other than that, a new Extended Workout mode delivers up to 25 hours of battery life, so users can track outdoor workouts with full GPS and heart rate readings. Additionally, charging the watch for 15 minutes adds 18 hours of battery life.
Readiness Score And Revamped Health App
Beyond the improved heart rate tracking, the watches come with a new Readiness feature. Essentially, it analyses the wearer’s recent activity, training load, vitals, as well as sleep score to provide insight on their capacity for the day ahead. The data is condensed into a single 0-10 score with a recommendation to help the user plan their day. The score is split across four categories: Recover, Pace Yourself, Ready, or Go For It. This score also updates throughout the day as new data comes in.
In addition to this, the company is updating the Health app to offer a more comprehensive view of the user’s long-term health. It leverages Apple Intelligence to dynamically respond to user data, with a new Insights tab. Meanwhile, the Longevity tab features Health Age, which is a feature that compares certain metrics against the user’s age. The new Health app is set to launch later this year.
Audio Intelligence
Beyond powering the new health features, the S11 chip powers Audio Intelligence, which is a suite of audio-related features. Sound Recognition, for instance, alerts deaf or hard of hearing users to surrounding noises like alarms and doorbells. Meanwhile, double pressing the crown triggers Live Rewind, a feature that shows a transcript of the last 15 seconds of a conversation. Finally, Siri Recap generates high-level summaries of conversations.
Pricing And Availability
Both the Watch Series 12 and Watch Ultra 4 will be available for pre-order starting from 11 September 2026, with open sales beginning on 18 September 2026. On the subject of pricing, the Watch Series 12 starts from RM1,799 for the aluminium variant, while the titanium model gets a starting price of RM3,299. Finally, the ceramic version starts from RM4,049. As for the Watch Ultra 4, pricing starts at RM3,699.
