Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 Offer These Eight New Health and Fitness Features
The Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 offer a range of new health and fitness features. Here's everything that's new. Apple today revealed the following features for the two new devices: New "Health Sensing System" : A redesigned sensor architecture with three main improvements, including increased electrode surface area for better ECG skin contact, photodiodes arranged in a ring for more efficient light capture, and larger, more power-efficient green LEDs for accurate heart rate readings during motion. Continuous heart rate sensing : Heart rate is now measured every five seconds throughout the day, 60 times more frequently than before, viewable via a new watch face complication. Higher-frequency HRV : Heart rate variability is sampled up to 24 times more often, with separate recovery and overall HRV values shown in a new section of the Heart Rate app. Daytime vitals view : A new toggle lets users switch between overnight and daytime vitals, potentially catching shifts in metrics before they show up in overnight readings. VO2 Max test : A new test has users set up their iPhone to watch them perform a series of exercises, delivering results immediately alongside data from their Apple Watch. Most accurate step tracking : A redesigned pedometer model with new machine learning algorithms improves distance accuracy for indoor workouts and all-day step counts. Steps complication : A brand-new watch face complication, enabled by the S11 chip, lets users track their step count in real time. Longer workout battery life : Up to 10 hours during an outdoor workout, 25% more than the previous model, with 15 minutes of charging now delivering up to 12 hours of extra battery. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 goes further, with up to 50 hours of everyday battery life, 84 hours in Low Power Mode, and a new Max Extended Workout mode rated for up to 45 hours of outdoor tracking; 15 minutes of charging adds up to 18 hours of battery. The Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4 starts at $799, with pre-orders for both open today and availability beginning Friday, September 18. Related Roundups: Apple Watch 11 , Apple Watch Ultra 3 Tag: Health and Fitness Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Don't Buy) , Apple Watch Ultra (Don't Buy) Related Forum: Apple Watch This article, " Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 Offer These Eight New Health and Fitness Features " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
What happened?
The Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 offer a range of new health and fitness features. Here's everything that's new. Apple today revealed the following features for the two new devices: New "Health Sensing System" : A redesigned sensor architecture with three main improvements, including increased electrode surface area for better ECG skin contact, photodiodes arranged in a ring for more efficient light capture, and larger, more power-efficient green LEDs for accurate heart rate readings during motion. Continuous heart rate sensing : Heart rate is now measured every five seconds throughout the day, 60 times more frequently than before, viewable via a new watch face complication. Higher-frequency HRV : Heart rate variability is sampled up to 24 times more often, with separate recovery and overall HRV values shown in a new section of the Heart Rate app. Daytime vitals view : A new toggle lets users switch between overnight and daytime vitals, potentially catching shifts in metrics before they show up in overnight readings. VO2 Max test : A new test has users set up their iPhone to watch them perform a series of exercises, delivering results immediately alongside data from their Apple Watch. Most accurate step tracking : A redesigned pedometer model with new machine learning algorithms improves distance accuracy for indoor workouts and all-day step counts. Steps complication : A brand-new watch face complication, enabled by the S11 chip, lets users track their step count in real time. Longer workout battery life : Up to 10 hours during an outdoor workout, 25% more than the previous model, with 15 minutes of charging now delivering up to 12 hours of extra battery. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 goes further, with up to 50 hours of everyday battery life, 84 hours in Low Power Mode, and a new Max Extended Workout mode rated for up to 45 hours of outdoor tracking; 15 minutes of charging adds up to 18 hours of battery. The Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4 starts at $799, with pre-orders for both open today and availability beginning Friday, September 18. Related Roundups: Apple Watch 11 , Apple Watch Ultra 3 Tag: Health and Fitness Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Don't Buy) , Apple Watch Ultra (Don't Buy) Related Forum: Apple Watch This article, " Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 Offer These Eight New Health and Fitness Features " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
Story details
The Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 offer a range of new health and fitness features.
Here's everything that's new.
Apple today revealed the following features for the two new devices: New "Health Sensing System" : A redesigned sensor architecture with three main improvements, including increased electrode surface area for better ECG skin contact, photodiodes arranged in a ring for more efficient light capture, and larger, more power-efficient green LEDs for accurate heart rate readings during motion.
Why it matters
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Original source
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/09/09/apple-watch-series-12-and-ultra-4-health-and-fitness/