The Apple Watch Series 12 has arrived, and like clockwork, Apple unveiled its latest flagship smartwatch at its September launch event alongside the Apple Watch Ultra 4, new iPhone 18 models and the long-awaited foldable iPhone Duo. I got to test out the new Series 12 in the demo room and see its new features up close.

Apple may have kept the familiar Apple Watch design for another year, but it has seemingly changed everything else inside. The most important upgrades are the hardware that powers its new features: a new S11 processor and reengineered health sensors. Combined, they allow for higher heart rate accuracy, deeper recovery insights and a new AI-powered Audio Intelligence feature that can transcribe and save important conversations. 

But perhaps the biggest surprise is what didn’t change: the price. While Apple raised prices on its iPhone 18 Pro lineup, the Series 12 still starts at $399, while the Ultra 4 starts at $799.

More processing power for Siri AI

Apple had ground to make up on processing power this year after using the S10 chip for two generations. The new S11 chip makes up for some lost time, with a faster GPU, CPU and neural engine.

One place that extra processing power could come in handy is WatchOS 27, which brings the new Siri AI to the Apple Watch. I’ve already been testing Siri AI in beta on the Ultra 3, and it’s miles ahead of traditional Siri. It can answer more complex and contextual questions, reference information in Apple’s native apps and generally avoid the frustrating “here’s what I found on the web” response that made traditional Siri feel especially limited on the wrist.

But I’ve also noticed some lag. Some of that could be because the software is still in beta, but I’m curious to see whether the new S11 chip speeds up those interactions on the Series 12.

The new processor could also help with battery life. Apple rates the Series 12 for the same 24 hours as the previous generation, but it’s now taking heart rate samples more frequently than before for increased accuracy and uses a separate always-one processor within the S11 chip for these types of tasks.

For context, the Series 11 lasted about 28 hours during my real-world testing, so I’ll be looking to see whether those gains translate outside Apple’s controlled testing.

Apple/CNET

Audio Intelligence feature recaps older conversations 

One of the most interesting new AI-powered features on the watch is what Apple calls Audio Intelligence. It’s essentially the ability for your watch to listen in on conversations, to either transcribe the last 15 seconds of a missed conversation with live Rewind — like revisiting the specials at a restaurant if you zoned out while the waiter was talking — or give you a high-level summaries of longer conversations and meetings with Siri Recap.  

You can set up this feature manually or enable it to turn on at a specific time. Apple also says none of the conversations are stored and that even what is processed in the cloud to surface on your other Apple devices can’t be accessed by the company (or anyone else). 

Apple/Screenshot by CNET

Apple gets serious about recovery

Compared with the sensor array on my Series 11, the back of the Series 12 looks almost flower-like, with 32 electrodes that look like the petals of a daisy instead of the ring array with two electrodes on the older model. That gives the electrodes more surface area to capture better ECG readings. Apple also rearranged the green and infrared LEDs from the optical sensor into a smaller, circular cluster in the middle of the petals and reduced the size of the dots.

The new sensors enable more frequent heart rate and heart rate variability (or HRV) readings to (among other things) power a new Readiness score that tells you how your body is recovering.

Rather than looking at individual metrics in isolation, the app combines biometric signals associated with sleep, activity and other vitals to help you decide whether your body is ready for a hard workout or could be better off taking it easy.

This is similar to the existing Vitals app, which shows when overnight health metrics fall outside your typical range, and an addition to Training Load, which tracks how much strain you’re putting on your body. 

And while recovery metrics aren’t new to wearables, Apple’s is different in that it reacts in real time and can change throughout the day depending on whether you’re draining or fueling your body. It’s also not locked behind a paywall and doesn’t require an additional subscription to unlock, just seven days (and nights) of use.

Revamped health app and other health features

Apple also announced a redesigned Health app that will combine AI insights and biometrics to give you daily summaries and personalized health recommendations similar to what other wearables such as Fitbit Air, Whoop and Oura give you, but also behind a paywall.

It also has a more comprehensive health test you can take on the app related to VO2 max and mobility using the cameras on the phone. It feeds all this data, along with optional blood panels, into a longevity tab that assesses different health categories.

WatchOS 27 will also bring more health features that aren’t exclusive to the Series 12, including workout updates and new perimenopause insights for women. Workout Buddy, Apple’s hype person in your ear during workouts, will also work in Spanish and without an iPhone nearby.

Familiar design, new paint job

If you were hoping for a dramatically different Apple Watch, this isn’t the year. The Series 12 keeps the familiar rectangular, all-screen display like its predecessor, but Apple is giving it a refresh with new colors, case finishes and bands.

The Series 12 comes in black, silver, light gold and a new bronze aluminum finish. Apple is also bringing back a ceramic case option for the Series 12, a material we haven’t seen on its flagship watch since the Series 5 in 2019, as well as a new gold titanium Hermes edition and new band options across the board. 

Apple Watch Series 12: Price and availability

The Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399 for the 42mm aluminum Wi-Fi model, and is available for preorder now. 

Is the Apple Watch Series 12 worth the upgrade?

The Series 12 may look the same, but it has enough upgrades under the hood to warrant an upgrade, especially if you’re coming from an older model such as the Series 8 or below that won’t support some of the AI capabilities such as Siri AI.

The biggest issue right now is that a lot of the best features — including Siri AI, the revamped Health app and Audio Intelligence — won’t be available to test until later this year, so I can’t make a recommendation until these key features have been put to the test. 

Vanessa Hand Orellana

Principal Writer

Vanessa is a lead writer at CNET, reviewing and writing about the latest smartwatches and fitness trackers. She joined the brand first as an on-camera reporter for CNET's Spanish-language site, then moved on to the English side to host and produce some of CNET's videos and YouTube series. When she's not testing out the latest health tech, you can catch her on a hike or trail run with her family. See full bio