Apple Watch Series 12

The Apple Watch Series 12 is Apple's current flagship Apple Watch, released in September 2026. The Apple Watch Series 12 is at the beginning of its product cycle, so now is the best time to buy. We aren't expecting a new model until September 2027.

Compared to the Series 11, the Series 12 has a faster S11 chip and expanded heart rate tracking capabilities that measure heart rate and HRV more frequently.

If you have an older Apple Watch model, the Series 12 is well worth the upgrade. It has the first Apple Watch chip refresh since the Series 9, so it is faster and more capable than prior models. It features all of the health features Apple has introduced in the Apple Watch to date, including heart rate tracking, ECG, blood oxygen monitoring, hypertension alerts, sleep apnea alerts, sleep tracking, and more.

For those who want a more rugged model with a larger display, Apple sells the $799 Apple Watch Ultra 4, which has satellite connectivity this year. The Apple Watch SE 3 is also available for those who want a more affordable option. The SE 3 lacks blood oxygen monitoring and ECG, plus it has a slower processor.

The Apple Watch Series 12, introduced in September 2026, is the newest iteration of the Apple Watch that initially launched in April 2015.

Apple did not update the design of the Series 12, and it has the same shape and size as the Series 11. It features a square-shaped casing that has rounded edges, a slim-bordered display, sapphire crystal backing and Digital Crown with haptic feedback.

The back of the Apple Watch is made from metal, with a sapphire crystal that protects the included sensors. The metal integrates the Apple Watch antenna into the housing, saving component space, and the matching metal for the front and back is meant to make the Apple Watch look like it's made from a single piece of metal.

The Apple Watch Series 12 is available in 42mm and 46mm size options, and it comes in aluminum, ceramic, or titanium. The aluminum Apple Watch Series 12 is available in Dark Bronze, Light Gold, Black, and Space Gray.. The titanium Series 12 is available in Radiant Gold or Natural with a shiny, reflective finish. Apple stopped selling watches in ceramic for several yers, but it's back for the Series 12 in Pearl White and Night Blue.

Display quality is the same, and the Series 12 features an LTPO3 wide-angle OLED display with a maximum brightness of 2,000 nits. Always-On display technology lets users see their watch face and complications at all times, and there's still a ticking seconds hand that's visible without raising the wrist.

The aluminum Series 12 now uses Ceramic Shield 2 that's 60 percent tougher than the prior Ion-X glass. The titanium and ceramic models use a durable sapphire crystal display. The Series 12 features IP6X dust resistance, and a WR50 water resistance rating so it is swimproof. There is a water temperature sensor that displays the water temperature when you're swimming or in the ocean, and a depth gauge that works up to 6 meters deep for activities like snorkeling and shallow diving. A Tides app also provides seven rolling days of forecasted tidal information for coastlines and surf spots worldwide.

Apple added a new processor to the Series 12. It's equipped with a faster S11 chip with a 64-bit dual-core processor, 64GB storage, and a 4-core Neural Engine. The S11 chip supports Audio Intelligence features including Live Rewind, Siri Recap, Shazam, and Sound Recognition. Live Rewind listens to what's going on and can give you a transcript if you miss something that was said, while Siri Recap uses the same listening capabilities to give you a high-level overview of your conversations throughout the day.

The Apple Watch Series 12 has updated optical and electrical heart sensors and larger, power-efficient green LEDs that power a Health Sensing System. Apple says the Series 12 has the most accurate heart rate sensing in a wearable device.

The watch measures heart rate and heart rate variability more frequently for new health and fitness features, including a real-time heart rate watch face complication and a new readiness score. Each morning, readiness analyzes your recent activity, training load, vitals, and sleep score and gives a 0-10 score ranking your capacity for the day ahead.

Apple redesigned the pedometer model with new machine learning algorithms, and it says the Series 12 gives more accurate distance measurements for indoor walk or run workouts. The S11 chip also offers more accurate step counts.

The Apple Watch Series 12 supports all of the prior health features available in the Series 11, including Heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen detection, ECG readings, sleep tracking with Sleep Score, fall detection, loud noise monitoring, built-in temperature sensing, sleep apnea detection, and hypertension notifications.

Crash Detection continues to use the watch's gyroscope and accelerometer along with an advanced sensor-fusion algorithm to detect severe car crashes and alert emergency services. When a crash occurs, the Apple Watch checks in with the user and if no response is received within a 10-second countdown, emergency responders are contacted. The Apple Watch Series 12 also supports Fall Detection.

Battery life has improved. The Series 12 battery still lasts for up to 24 hours, but it now offers up to 10 hours of battery life during an outdoor workout, which Apple says is a 25 percent increase compared to the Series 11. Battery life can be extended with Low Power Mode. Low Power Mode disables the Always-On display, turns off background heart rate measurements, limits Wi-Fi and cellular connections, and more.

The Series 12 supports faster charging with the charger that it ships with. 15 minutes of charging offers up to 12 hours of additional battery life, which is 50 percent more than the Series 11. The Series 12 can also fast charge from 0 to 80 percent in approximately 30 minutes when using an appropriate fast charger.

Apple is using the same second-generation Ultra Wideband chip in the Series 12 as in the Series 11. The UWB chip enables Precision Finding for locating a misplaced iPhone with visual, haptic, and audio guidance. As with the Series 11, the Series 12 supports media that plays out loud when headphones are unavailable.

Both GPS and GPS + Cellular models are available, and the cellular Apple Watches work with a separate cellular plan. The Series 12 continues to offer 5G connectivity in many countries.

Apple Pay purchases are available with credit and debit cards stored in the Wallet app, and can be activated at a tap to pay location by double-pressing on the side button.

The Series 12 is being sold alongside the larger, more expensive, and more rugged Apple Watch Ultra 4, plus the lower-cost Apple Watch SE 3.

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The Apple Watch Series 12 can be ordered from Apple and other retailers, and it is priced starting at $399.

Reviewers said the Series 12 brought meaningful improvements, even if it looks nearly identical to the Series 11.

The S11 chip is noticeably faster, especially for Siri AI, and the new more frequent heart rate tracking didn't appear to have an impact on battery life. Battery lasted about the same as the Series 11, and the fast charging helps. One reviewer said she went from 20 to 64 percent battery in 20 minutes.

Reviewers compared the Series 12 to the Oura ring, as the two health devices share some features. The Series 12 has a readiness score that's similar to Oura's readiness score, but Apple isn't charging a monthly subscription fee to use readiness and other Series 12 health features.

Reviewers also pointed out that Apple updates its readiness score throughout the day, which is unique among wearables with a similar feature.

Some of the key Series 12 features like Live Rewind and Siri Recap aren't available, but reviewers still said the Series 12 is a solid upgrade over older Apple Watch models. The Health Sensing System and increased heart rate measurements pair well with the upgraded Health app that Apple has in the works.

The Apple Watch Series 12 has the same design as the Series 11, with no updates to the device's look except for the color options. It features the same rounded, square look that Apple has used for years.

The Apple Watch Series 12 is available in 42mm and 46mm size options, in aluminum, titanium, or ceramic, which is a casing material that returned this year.

Series 12 models weigh between 31.5 grams and 52.9 grams depending on size and material, with the titanium models coming in at about five grams heavier than aluminum models and ceramic models at about 10 grams heavier. There have been some slight weight changes in the Series 12 compared to the Series 11, likely due to the new health sensors.

There are some small changes in sizing between the Series 11 and Series 12 Apple Watches. Most 42mm Apple Watch Series 12 models measure 42mm tall, 37mm wide, and 9.7mm deep, while the 46mm models measure 46mm tall, 40mm wide, and 9.7mm deep. Ceramic models are slightly different in size at 43mm tall, 37mm wide, and 9.85mm deep for the 42mm model and 47mm tall, 41mm wide, and 9.85mm deep for the 46mm model. Apple says the 42mm models fit 130mm to 200mm wrists, while the 46mm models fit 140mm to 245mm wrists.

The back of the Series 12 is made from an aluminum that matches the casing color, which means the device looks like it is crafted from a single piece of metal. A crystal back houses the electrical heart sensor and optical heart sensors, plus there is a speaker/air vent at the back. The sensors enable health-monitoring features like heart rate detection, ECGs, and more.

There is a Digital Crown on the side of the Apple Watch for scrolling, navigation, and Smart Stack access, and there is a side button for bringing up frequently used apps, accessing emergency services, confirming Apple Pay purchases, and more.

The Digital Crown is equipped with haptic feedback that offers a precise, mechanical feel when scrolling through lists and controlling various aspects of the Apple Watch, and it is key for the ECG app because it has a built-in electrode that works in tandem with the rear sensors.

Colors and Materials

The Apple Watch Series 12 comes in aluminum, titanium, and ceramic, a material Apple brought back after discontinuing it several years ago. The aluminum Apple Watch models are the most affordable, while the titanium and ceramic models are pricier.

Aluminum colors include Dark Bronze, Light Gold, Black, and Space Gray. Titanium colors include Radiant and Natural, both of which have a mirror-like finish. Ceramic models can be purchased in Pearl White or Night Blue and have a polished finish.

The titanium version of the Apple Watch Series 12 is 3D printed with aerospace-grade titanium powder. Apple's specialized printers create the case layer by layer, using less material than traditional forging.

The aluminum Apple Watch models are made from 100 percent recycled 7000 series aluminum, and are lightweight, inexpensive, and designed for an active lifestyle. The titanium models are heavier, more expensive, and designed for everyday wear, as are the ceramic models.

Durability and Water Resistance

The aluminum Apple Watch Series 12 models now use Ceramic Shield 2 for the display. Apple says the material is 60 percent tougher than the Ion-X glass used for the Series 11.

Titanium and ceramic models use an even more durable sapphire crystal. Sapphire crystal is a harder material that's more resistant to scratching and everyday wear and tear.

All Apple Watch Series 12 models feature IP6X dust resistance for use in environments like the beach or the desert, and they offer WR50 water resistance, rated for immersion in water as deep as 50 meters thanks to seals and adhesives. The speaker, which needs air to produce sound, is the only point of ingress and has been designed to expel water using sound vibrations after exposure to moisture.

Because it is rated for 50m immersion, the Apple Watch can be used when swimming in the ocean or in a pool. It can also be used for snorkeling and shallow diving up to 20 feet deep. Apple recommends against wearing the Apple Watch Series 12 when scuba diving, waterskiing, showering, or other activities that involve high-velocity water or deep submersion. For these water activities, the Apple Watch Ultra is recommended.

Apple's Apple Watch warranty does not cover water damage, so it is best to exercise caution when exposing the device to water.

Water Temperature Sensor and Depth Gauge

The Apple Watch Series 12 has a depth gauge and a water temperature sensor, which Apple says can be used for activities like swimming, shallow diving, and snorkeling.

The Depth gauge is able to measure up to six meters below the water's surface.

There's also a dedicated Tides app that provides information on high and low tides, rising and falling tides, tide height and direction, and sunrise and sunset.

Speaker

There is a single speaker in the Series 12, and it supports audio playback without connected headphones, so it can play music out loud.

The Apple Watch Series 12 models have the same displays as the Series 11 models. The 42mm Apple Watch has a 374×446 resolution with 989 sq mm of display area, while the 46mm model has a 416×496 resolution with a 1,220 sq mm display area.

The LTPO3 OLED displays provide a wide viewing angle that ensures brightness remains consistent even when the Apple Watch is viewed from the side. Maximum brightness is still 2,000 nits, and minimum brightness is 1 nit. 1-nit minimum brightness allows for a second hand that updates even when the wrist is down.

With the always-on edge-to-edge display, the watch face, time, and complications are continually visible. The display dims when the wrist is down in order to preserve battery life, but key features like watch hands remain illuminated all the time.

Touching the watch face or raising the wrist brings the display back to full brightness, and to minimize battery drain, Apple has optimized watch faces for the feature. The Apple Watch's display also has a variable refresh rate that drops from 60Hz to as low as 1Hz when the watch is inactive.

The Apple Watch Series 11 is being sold alongside the more expensive Apple Watch Ultra 4, priced starting at $799, and the more affordable Apple Watch SE 3, priced starting at $249.

The Apple Watch SE uses an older design and it does not feature a blood oxygen sensor or ECG capabilities, while the high-end Apple Watch Ultra is aimed at adventurers and explorers with a larger 49mm case size, longer battery life, and a more rugged build.

A major design update won't happen until 2028 at the earliest, though one rumor suggests Apple could introduce a new band attachment system in 2027.

A non-invasive blood glucose monitoring feature is still years away from launching despite 15 years of work, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said in March 2025. There is no word on when it might be introduced.

Apple is considering using LG Display's high-mobility oxide (HMO) thin-film transistor technology for the next Apple Watch OLED display in 2027.

Compared to the current LTPO display technology, HMO increases electron mobility for lower power consumption.

A future version of the Apple Watch could include support for Touch ID, though it is unclear how this might be implemented. Touch ID could go under the display, or be integrated into the side button. Touch ID on the Apple Watch could reduce reliance on numerical passcodes for unlocking, though it is worth noting that the Apple Watch already has a wrist authentication feature for making purchases and other rumors suggest the Apple Watch will not get Touch ID.