The Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 share the same S11 chip and health sensors, with the Series 12 starting at $399 and the Ultra 4 at $799. For most users, the Series 12 offers better value with identical performance in a lighter design, while the Ultra 4 justifies its premium through extended battery life and specialized features for diving, hiking, and endurance activities.
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 introduces significant hardware improvements including a new S11 chipset, enhanced optical heart rate sensor with increased electrode surface area and photodiodes, extended battery life to over 2 days, and new health features like HRV trending and a Readiness Score system. The watch also promises upcoming features including a redesigned Health app with AI summaries, Health Age calculations, and additional audio intelligence capabilities, all backed by an Apple-conducted study of 1,400 participants.
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.
After a year wearing an Oura Ring for health tracking, the author abandoned it due to practical downsides: fingers change size with weight loss and temperature, rings must be removed during weightlifting, and they trap moisture during daily hand washing. Two devices failed within months, prompting a switch to a wrist-based Google Fitbit tracker.
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 improves upon the Ultra 3 with extended battery life (up to 50 hours vs. 42 hours), advanced health tracking with enhanced heart rate sensors and new metrics like readiness scores, and the S11 chip enabling AI features such as Siri recap and audio intelligence. The design remains largely unchanged with subtle refinements for comfort, while maintaining durability and premium aesthetics.
Apple unveiled the Apple Watch Series 12 at its Surprise and Shine event, featuring the new S11 chip for more frequent health sensor readings and AI features, while maintaining the same $399 starting price and 24-hour battery life as the Series 11. The Series 12 is virtually identical in design to its predecessor but adds a ceramic case option and improved sensor placement; it begins shipping September 18.