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The Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 are all about what’s happening underneath. Headlined by a new Health Sensing System, they bring some of the biggest improvements to Apple Watch health tracking in years. I’ve spent the last week with the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4. Here’s everything you need to know. Buy Apple Watch Series 12 from $390 (Reg. $399) Buy Apple Watch Ultra 4 Black from $780 (Reg. $799) more…
Apple released watchOS 27 on September 14, bringing a new Audio Intelligence feature set to its latest Apple Watch models, but as a result, owners of previous models are set to lose out doubly in the process. Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 models later this year will get Live Rewind, a feature that provides a transcript of any spoken audio that was picked up by the device in the last 15 seconds. To activate the feature, users need to double-click the Digital Crown. Unforunately, this double-click action is the same one that in watchOS 26 switches between the current app and the previously used app – or indeed the watch face and the last used app. It's a neat way of multitasking on your Apple Watch without tapping the display. Needless to say, this feature will no longer work for anyone upgrading to Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 models when the devices are released on September 18. Apple has reserved the double-click action for when its new Live Rewind feature is activated later this year. However, what's arguably more frustrating is that owners of older Apple Watch models who update to watchOS 27 will also lose the ability to jump between apps using the Digital Crown double-click. After updating to watchOS 27, the Digital Crown double-click no longer works to switch between apps. All it does is bring up the new dynamic app grid, which is the same behavior that a single click offers. This is despite the fact that the new Live Rewind feature is hardware-bound to the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4. Owners of previous models are simply out of luck in both senses, losing a useful function while also missing out on the new feature that usurps it. It also throws up another problem for new Series 12 and Ultra 4 owners: What if people don't want to go near the Live Rewind feature and its privacy implications? Apple could have made the double-click action work to switch between apps as it does in watchOS 26, while also providing an option to assign the action to Live Rewind if that's preferred. Apple currently doesn't provide options to resolve the situation for either group of users, so all we can do is provide feedback to Apple and hope the company hears enough demand for it to change course in watchOS 27.1 or a later update. Pre-orders for the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 are available now ahead of a Friday, September 18 launch. Related Roundups: Apple Watch 12 , Apple Watch Ultra 4 , watchOS 26 , watchOS 27 Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now) , Apple Watch Ultra (Buy Now) Related Forum: Apple Watch This article, " PSA: watchOS 27 Removes This Useful Feature From Your Apple Watch " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
With the iOS 27.2 beta, Apple is testing the new Health app that it previewed at its September iPhone event. The app has been entirely overhauled, with new Insights and Longevity tabs that give you more information on your health and fitness metrics. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The Insights tab shows your most recent health data, such as Activity Rings, heart rate, sleep score, and vitals. It'll eventually show personalized guidance, but that feature hasn't been added yet. Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 owners will see a readiness score calculated from recent activity, vitals, and sleep score to help them decide whether to take a recovery day or push harder. The Longevity tab looks at your health data over time to calculate your Health Age based on activity level, VO2 max, sleep time, and other metrics. It also uses fitness assessments you can do right on your iPhone to check flexibility, balance, and VO2 max. Apple plans to offer a $119 laboratory panel from Quest Diagnostics, which will also contribute to the Health Age score. For now, you can upload your recent lab results. Getting the most out of the Health app requires an Apple Watch or another fitness device that integrates with it. While the Health app is being tested in the iOS 27.2 beta, it won't be part of the iOS 27.2 release. It will instead launch later this year. Related Roundups: iOS 27 , iPadOS 27 Related Forum: iOS 27 This article, " Hands-On With the Redesigned Health App in the iOS 27.2 Beta " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
The iOS 27.2 beta that Apple released today adds a feature that reminds you it's your anniversary when you call someone, as long as you've added the date in the Contacts app. On the date of your anniversary, when you go to call the person, you'll see a reminder that it's an important day so you don't forget to say something. The anniversary alert uses Call Context, a feature Apple added in iOS 27 . Call Context brings up information from emails and other sources when you place a phone call. If you place a call to an airline and you have an email with a flight confirmation number for that airline in the Mail app, it surfaces that confirmation number so you don't have to go digging for it. In ‌iOS 27‌, Call Context works with birthdays, and it shows a fireworks animation when you're placing a call. iOS 27.2 adds anniversaries, but unfortunately, it doesn't come with a new animation. The Call Context anniversary option draws from your Contacts app. To add an anniversary to a contact, open the Contacts app and select their name. Tap "Edit" in the corner, then tap "add date," and the first suggestion under date is anniversary. You can also ask Siri AI to add the anniversary date to the person's contact card if you have a device that supports Apple Intelligence . iOS 27.2 is in beta right now, and it is expected to launch in October. Related Roundups: iOS 27 , iPadOS 27 Related Forum: iOS 27 This article, " iOS 27.2 Could Save Your Marriage " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
