Apple has unveiled the Apple Watch Series 12. The new smartwatch features a completely redesigned Health Sensing System, the new S11 chip, and—for the first time—a daily fitness and recovery metric called “Daily Form.” Pre-orders are now available, and the watch will be in stores starting September 18, 2026, with prices starting at 449 euros.
The form factor has remained virtually unchanged from the Series 11. Under the hood, however, there have been significant upgrades: new heart sensors, more precise step counting, on-device noise detection, and more scratch-resistant glass are designed to position the watch primarily as a health wearable.
Key Points at a Glance
- New Health Sensing System with redesigned optical and electrical heart rate sensors, measuring every 5 seconds
- New S11 chip, which Apple claims is the company’s most powerful wearable chip to date
- New features: Daily Fitness Score, more accurate step counting, sound recognition, and Shazam right on your wrist
- Up to 24 hours of battery life in everyday use; a 15-minute charge provides up to 12 hours of use
- Starting at 449 euros; pre-orders are already open, and sales begin on September 18, 2026
Apple Watch Series 12: New Health Sensing System for Greater Accuracy
At the heart of the Series 12 is the Health Sensing System, which Apple says has been completely redesigned. Larger green LEDs on the optical sensor are more energy-efficient, and the device also features redesigned electrical sensors. In a study involving over 1,000 participants, the Series 12 is said to have achieved the most precise heart rate measurement ever built into a wearable device.
Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability Around the Clock
The watch will now measure heart rate every 5 seconds throughout the day, rather than at longer intervals as before. Apple has also made significant strides in heart rate variability (HRV): The Series 12 records two different HRV metrics—“resting HRV” and general HRV”—up to 24 times more frequently than before. A new complication displays your current heart rate in real time directly on the watch face.
Daily Form: A Measure of Recovery and Resilience
A new feature is “Daily Form.” It combines activity, training load, vital signs, and the sleep index into a value between 0 and 10 and, based on that, provides one of four recommendations: Recover, Pace Yourself, Ready, or Go. The score updates throughout the day as new data is added. The algorithm is based on the Apple Heart and Movement Study.
More Accurate Step Counting
According to Apple, new ML algorithms are designed to provide the “most accurate step counting in a smartwatch,” validated through a 1,000-step test, among other methods. Distance measurement is expected to become significantly more reliable, especially for indoor activities. There’s also a new complication for this that counts your steps in real time on the display.
Sound Recognition and Shazam Right on Your Wrist
The Series 12 will be able to automatically recognize certain ambient sounds, such as sirens, alarms, doorbells, or crying babies. The processing takes place entirely on the device and works even without a connected iPhone, making the feature particularly useful for deaf and hard-of-hearing users. In addition, Shazam is coming to the watch: the song and artist of the music currently playing can be displayed directly in the Smart Stack, without needing an iPhone in hand.
Regarding data privacy, Apple points to the Secure Enclave of the S11 chip: Audio processing runs in isolation; raw audio data is inaccessible to the operating system, apps, users, or Apple itself, and is deleted immediately after analysis.
Battery Life: Longer Lasting, Faster Charging
According to the manufacturer, the Apple Watch Series 12 lasts up to 24 hours in everyday use and up to 10 hours during outdoor workouts. That’s an increase of about 25 percent compared to the Series 11. Charging has also improved: 15 minutes on the charger is said to provide up to 12 hours of battery life—50 percent more than the previous model.
Design, Sizes, and Materials
The Series 12 is still available in 42 mm and 46 mm sizes. A new feature is Ceramic Shield 2 as the display glass, which Apple claims is 60 percent more durable than the previous Ion-X glass. When it comes to materials and colors, however, Apple is stepping it up:
| Material | Colors |
|---|---|
| Aluminum | Dark Bronze, Black, Light Gold, Space Gray |
| Titanium | Radiant Gold, Natural |
| Ceramic | Pearl White, Night Blue |
There are also new colors for the bands, such as Olive, Burgundy, and Wildflower Blue for the Sport bands, as well as new Milanaise and Nike variants. Hermès is also offering the Series 12 in Radiant Gold titanium for the first time.
watchOS 27 and Apple Intelligence
To complement the Series 12, watchOS 27 introduces, among other features, a dynamic app grid with Siri suggestions, a one-handed tap gesture for widget access, and support for perimenopause and menopause. Workout Buddy now works even without a paired iPhone, as long as Wi-Fi or cellular data is available. Apple Intelligence and the new Siri AI are set to launch on September 14, 2026, initially in English, with additional languages—including German—to follow starting in October.
If you’re still wearing an older Apple Watch, you should check quickly: Not every model will receive watchOS 27 at all. We’ve summarized here which watches will be excluded from support.
Price and Availability
The Apple Watch Series 12 has been available for pre-order since September 9, 2026, and will be available in stores starting Friday, September 18, 2026. The starting price is 449 euros (including tax). In addition to Germany, the watch will go on sale in France, the United Kingdom, the U.S., Canada, Australia, Japan, India, and more than 50 other countries. New customers will also receive 3 months of Apple Fitness+ and Apple Music for free.
watchOS 27 is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 9 and later, the SE 3, and the Ultra 2 and later models, provided the paired iPhone is running at least iOS 27 (iPhone 11 or 2nd-generation iPhone SE and later). If you’re interested in the technical specifications of the foldable iPhone,
which
was also unveiled on the same day, you’ll find all the details about the iPhone Duo in our separate article
“The Apple Watch Series 12 is the most advanced health and fitness companion we’ve ever created. With our new health detection system and the S11 chip, the Apple Watch Series 12 provides meaningful insights, such as your daily fitness level.”
Kaiann Drance, VP of Worldwide Apple Watch Product Marketing at Apple
Conclusion: Evolution rather than revolution, but a worthwhile one
Little has changed in the design of the Apple Watch Series 12, but Apple has clearly invested in its health features. More accurate heart rate measurement, the new Daily Fitness Score, and privacy-friendly noise detection make the watch particularly appealing to those who are health- and fitness-conscious. Those currently wearing a Series 9 or older are likely to notice the biggest difference when switching. Owners of a Series 11, on the other hand, should carefully consider whether the upgrade is worth it just 11 months after the last model change.
For more information and to place an order, visit Apple’s official product page; the full press release is available in the Apple Newsroom.
