Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4: New Features, Prices, Buying Guide
Image: Piperpet / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
In short: The Apple Watch Series 12 starts at €449, the Ultra 4 at €899. Both have been on sale in Germany since 18 September 2026. The main new feature is the Health Sensing System: the watches measure heart rate every five seconds all day and calculate a readiness score from 0 to 10. There is also a new S11 chip with protected audio processing, and the Series 12 returns in ceramic for the first time since 2019. The design barely changes.
Health and chip
Heart rate is measured 60 times as often as before, and HRV up to 24 times more often. Live heart rate now appears on the watch face. The daily readiness score combines activity, training load, vitals and sleep; Apple says it is for wellness, not diagnosis. The S11 has a Secure Exclave for audio, enabling sound recognition, Live Rewind (last 15 seconds of a conversation as text), Siri Recap and Shazam. Check language availability before buying; see our article on Siri and Apple Intelligence in iOS 27.
Battery and prices
| Series 12 | Ultra 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday | up to 24 h | up to 50 h |
| Low power | – | up to 84 h |
| 15 min charge | up to 12 h | up to 18 h |
| Satellite | no | SOS, Find My, Messages |
| Price from | €449 | €899 |
Series 12 aluminium costs €449 (42 mm) or €499 (46 mm); titanium adds €350, ceramic €600, cellular €120. A 46 mm ceramic cellular model costs €1,219, more than the Ultra 4.
Design, fitness and ECG
There is no redesign. Aluminium models get Ceramic Shield 2, which Apple says is 60 percent harder, plus a new Dark Bronze colour; the ceramic Series 12 comes in white and blue, and the Ultra 4 stays in black and natural titanium. Both run watchOS 27. Step counting has been reworked with a new complication, and the Series 12 now lasts up to ten hours in outdoor workouts, enough for a marathon. Both models keep the ECG feature, but the watch does not replace a doctor.
Should you upgrade?
Owners of a Series 9 or older will notice the difference; Series 10 and 11 owners can wait. Athletes benefit from the Ultra 4's battery and satellite features. Apple Watch only works with iPhone; Android users should look at the Galaxy Watch9 and Watch Ultra2. Wear the watch snugly for accurate readings and treat the readiness score as guidance. More in the Apple Watch section.
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