The Apple Watch Ultra 4 launches September 18 at $799, offering improved health sensing, more memory, and better battery life compared to the Ultra 3. For existing Ultra 3 owners, upgrading is generally not worthwhile unless recovery tracking or extended battery life are priorities; new buyers should prefer the Ultra 4 unless the Ultra 3 is significantly discounted.
Apple is redesigning its Health app for iOS 27 with new features powered by Apple Intelligence, including Insights, Personal Guidance, Readiness scoring, and a new Longevity tab that assesses overall health across multiple dimensions. The update leverages improved sensors in the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, which now take heart rate readings every five seconds, and partners with Quest to offer bloodwork testing directly in the app for $119.
Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 users in 33 countries may temporarily lose hypertension notifications at launch due to pending regulatory clearances for the devices' redesigned health sensors. The new models feature upgraded ECG, optical heart rate, and electrical heart sensors for more frequent and accurate health tracking.