Apple’s newest smartwatches are out, and this year the story is not a redesign; it’s what’s happening inside. The Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 both got a genuinely upgraded health-sensing system, a new chip, and in the Ultra 4’s case, a battery jump big enough to change how you would actually use it day to day.
Here’s everything worth knowing, including which one makes more sense for you.
Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 Release Date
Both watches were announced at Apple’s September 9 event, with pre-orders opening the same day. They officially went on sale on September 18, running on the new watchOS 27.
Price in India
- Apple Watch Series 12 – starts at ₹56,900 (GPS, 42mm), with the 46mm at ₹62,900 and the GPS+Cellular variant at ₹69,900. Titanium and ceramic finishes cost more.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4– starts at ₹1,09,900.
Apple Watch Series 12 Features
The headline change is a completely redesigned Health Sensing System. The new optical and electrical heart sensors now measure heart rate every five seconds throughout the day. A 60x jump in frequency over the previous generation, and track HRV up to 24 times more often. Apple calls it the most accurate heart-rate sensor it’s ever put in a wearable, and early reviewers testing it against a chest strap during runs have found the readings genuinely close.
That sensor data feeds into a new Readiness score, which looks at your sleep, recent activity, and vitals to tell you how prepared your body actually is for the day, and updates as the day goes on rather than staying fixed like similar features on other wearables.
Other notable additions:
- S11 chip– Apple’s first real silicon upgrade for the Watch in three generations, and it’s what powers the new Siri AI and Audio Intelligence features, including Siri Recap (short summaries of conversations) and Live Rewind (a text transcript of the last 15 seconds of audio).
Image: Wccftech
- Ceramic Shield 2 – on aluminium models, offering meaningfully tougher scratch resistance than before.
- Ceramic case option returns – after being missing from the lineup for six years, in Pearl White and Night Blue finishes.
- Same case design Apple’s used since the Series 10, in 42mm and 46mm sizes.
Apple Watch Series 12 Battery Life
Battery life on the Series 12 stays at 24 hours for typical use, same as before, but charging is faster this generation, which ends up mattering more day to day than the raw capacity number.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Features
The Ultra 4 keeps its familiar titanium design and rugged build, now made from 3D-printed recycled titanium, and sticks to the same 49mm case size in Natural and Black Titanium finishes. It runs the same S11 chip, Health Sensing System, and Readiness score as the Series 12, plus its usual dual-frequency GPS for more precise tracking during outdoor activities, satellite-based Emergency SOS, and support for diving and endurance sports.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Battery Life
This is where the Ultra 4 pulls ahead in a real way. Battery life during normal use jumped from 42 to 50 hours over two full days on a single charge with Low Power Mode stretching to 84 hours, and up to 45 hours of continuous tracking during long workouts. Charging is quicker too: about 15 minutes on the charger adds up to 18 hours of use.
Apple Watch Series 12 vs Ultra 4: Which One Should You Get?
Here’s the honest answer: for most people, Series 12 is the better pick. It runs the same chip, the same health sensors, and the same Readiness and Audio Intelligence features as the Ultra 4, in a lighter, thinner watch, for a lot less money.
The Ultra 4’s real advantage is battery life. If you are someone who forgets to charge overnight, tracks very long workouts, or wants a watch that can comfortably go a couple of days between charges, that extra endurance is genuinely useful. You don’t need to be training for an ultramarathon to appreciate it. And if you are hiking outside cellular range, diving, or need satellite SOS, the Ultra 4 has a clear purpose the Series 12 simply doesn’t cover.
If you are deciding between the titanium Series 12 and the Ultra 4, the gap narrows. Titanium Series 12 pricing sits close to the Ultra’s starting price, so at that point, paying a bit more for the extra battery life and rugged build starts to make sense if you are fine with the larger case.
One thing to know either way: there’s no new Apple Watch SE this year, so the SE 3 remains the cheapest way into the lineup if budget’s the main factor.
Keeping Your Apple Watch Running Long-Term
A longer-lasting battery and tougher glass are genuine upgrades, but no smartwatch is immune to a cracked screen, a battery that starts wearing down after a couple of years, or a knock that throws off the sensors. Whichever model you end up with, it’s worth knowing where to go if something goes wrong down the line.
Dealing with a cracked screen, battery issues, or anything else on your Apple Watch Series 12 or Ultra 4? Get it looked at by Rapid Repair. Genuine parts, experienced technicians, and repairs that actually hold up over time.
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