Apple released a new Apple Watch Magnetic Fast Charger (model A3277) that delivers 10W of power, double the previous 5W limit, enabling faster charging for the new Series 12 and Ultra 4 models. The $29 charger can add 12 hours of battery life to the Series 12 or 18 hours to the Ultra 4 in just 15 minutes, but requires both the new watch hardware and new charger to achieve these speeds.
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.
watchOS 27 removes the double-click Digital Crown shortcut for app switching on older Apple Watch models to make room for Live Rewind, a new 15-second audio transcript feature exclusive to Series 12 and Ultra 4. Older watches now open a dynamic app grid with the same gesture, disappointing users who relied on the quick multitasking feature.
Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 introduce a new Readiness app that scores user fitness readiness on a 0-10 scale based on activity, vital signs, and sleep data. The app requires upgraded hardware with new optical and electrical sensors and is exclusive to these latest models.