Apple's new $799 Watch Ultra 4 pairs a redesigned sensor array—32 electrodes arranged like flower petals—with the new S11 chip, enabling heart-rate readings every 5 seconds and HRV checks every 5 minutes, far more frequent than prior models. That increased sampling powers a new Readiness score that updates throughout the day rather than relying mainly on overnight data, plus a Daytime toggle in the Vitals app to view daytime alongside nighttime metrics.
Apple's newly announced AirPods 5, Apple Watch Series 12, and Apple Watch Ultra 4 are now listed for pre-order on Amazon ahead of their September 18 release. The AirPods 5 lineup adds Active Noise Cancellation across both models starting at $129, while the Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 introduce a new Health Sensing System with higher-frequency heart rate and HRV tracking, a readiness score, and audio features like Live Rewind and Siri Recap. New band colors, including translucent Ocean Band options, are also available starting at $99.
Apple's new AirPods 5 are available for pre-order at $129 and $149, while retailers are already discounting the newly launched Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 by up to $325. Separately, the entry-level M5 MacBook Air is selling for $1,099 through Apple's refurbished store, $200 under its regular price.
Apple is adding always-listening music recognition to the Apple Watch, using Shazam to identify songs playing nearby directly from the wrist. The feature mirrors Pixel's ambient music detection, which has surfaced song titles automatically on Android phones for years, but Apple is bringing it to its wearable rather than the iPhone.
Apple has launched the Watch Series 12 with faster charging but the same 24-hour battery life, alongside the Ultra 4, which extends battery life to 50 hours. Both models run watchOS 27, which brings tighter Siri and Apple Intelligence integration, including AI-suggested apps, new one-handed gestures, expanded workout and women's health tracking, and a Siri Recap feature for real-time transcription and translation.
Data from Xcode 27 reveals that Apple's new Watch Ultra 4 and Series 12 both ship with 4GB of RAM, twice the 2GB found in last year's Ultra 3 and Series 11. Apple did not disclose this memory increase in its official announcements, and the discovery came from developer tools rather than Apple's own specs pages.
Apple has published full release notes for watchOS 27, the major software update arriving alongside the new Apple Watch Series 12 and Watch Ultra 4. The update brings a more conversational Siri with natural-sounding voices, a dedicated Siri app, Apple Intelligence upgrades to Workout Buddy and Phone call context, expanded perimenopause-related cycle tracking, and a redesigned Siri Modular watch face.
Apple's Series 12 smartwatch features a redesigned sensor layout with more diodes and electrodes for greater skin contact, enabling more frequent and accurate heart rate and HRV readings. This data powers a new Readiness app that generates a daily 0-10 score based on activity, sleep and vitals, alongside a redesigned Health app with Apple Intelligence summaries for compatible iPhones.
Apple's GymKit feature, which lets gym equipment exchange workout data with Apple devices via NFC tap, is expanding beyond the Apple Watch. With iOS 27, iPhones can now tap compatible cardio machines to sync data, while AirPods Pro 3 measure heart rate, letting people without an Apple Watch use the feature. The underlying requirement for GymKit-enabled gym equipment remains unchanged.
Apple has begun accepting preorders for its Series 12 and Ultra 4 smartwatches, both powered by the new S11 chip with upgraded audio and sensor features. The Series 12 starts at $399 for the 42mm model, with a ceramic case option returning for the first time since the Series 5 at $899, while the Ultra 4 starts at $799 with GPS and 5G support. Both devices, available through Apple, Amazon, and Best Buy, ship September 18th alongside the iPhone 18 Pro line.
Apple introduced Siri Recaps, an Audio Intelligence feature on the new Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 that continuously monitors ambient audio to generate summaries of a wearer's day, including conversations. Apple says the feature processes sound in real time without recording, storing, or transcribing audio, distinguishing it from wake-word-only listening used for Siri commands.
Apple's new Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, available for pre-order now and shipping September 18, introduce an Audio Intelligence system that can transcribe and summarize ambient conversations through features called Live Rewind and Siri Recap. The devices also add Sound Recognition for accessibility alerts and automatic Shazam-based Music Recognition, with both conversation-focused tools entering beta in late 2026.
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