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Apple's Series 12 smartwatch now samples heart rate every 5 seconds, up from every 5 minutes on prior models, and adds a Readiness app that scores recovery from 1-10 using HRV data. Paired with a redesigned Apple Health app in iOS 27 that presents stats more clearly, these updates are prompting at least one longtime WHOOP user to consider returning to Apple's ecosystem.
A new round of weekend discounts on Apple products includes up to $100 off AirPods Max 2 and $50 off AirPods Pro 3, alongside price cuts on Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4. Pre-order savings have also returned for the new M6 Mac mini and Mac Studio, plus $150 reductions on M5 MacBook Air models and other accessories like AirTag 2 and MagSafe battery packs.
Apple's newest iPhone and Apple Watch models are now available for purchase in physical and online stores. A tech columnist evaluated the new devices primarily by comparing them against previous generations already owned by many consumers.
The Quantified Scientist's Rob ter Horst compared the Apple Watch Series 12's redesigned heart rate sensor against a Polar H10 chest strap across cycling, running, and weightlifting. He found near-perfect correlation during cycling, strong results while running, and solid but slightly weaker accuracy during weightlifting, an exercise notoriously difficult for wrist sensors to track.
WIRED's testing of the Apple Watch Ultra 4 found it shares nearly all core health and safety features with the new Series 12, thanks to the same Health Sensing System and S11 chip powering both devices. The Ultra 4 retains its multiday battery, Action button, and satellite messaging as its main distinctions, but pricing stays at $799 with no new case finishes this generation.
With iPhone 18 Pro units now arriving to customers, retailers are running discounts across new cases, chargers, and cables alongside an existing $50 markdown on AirPods Pro 3. Amazon is also offering pre-order savings on the upcoming M6 and M5 Pro Mac mini lineup, plus a $320 cut on the entry 24GB M5 MacBook Pro.
Apple's newest lineup—iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, and AirPods 5—hit store shelves and retailers worldwide today. CEO John Ternus marked the occasion by opening Apple's Fifth Avenue flagship in New York alongside retail chief Deirdre O'Brien and marketing head Greg Joswiak. Online orders for the new iPhones face multi-week delays, though in-store pickup is available in many locations.
Alongside launching the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, and AirPods 5, Apple has rolled out its complete range of first-party accessories. This includes multiple Silicone and TechWoven case options with MagSafe support in various colors for both new iPhone models, priced at $49 and $59 respectively.
A new wave of screenless wearable devices is gaining popularity as alternatives to mainstream smartwatches like the Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch, and Pixel Watch. These minimalist gadgets focus on health tracking without a display, appealing to users who want fitness and biometric data without the distractions of a screen.
Apple's Watch Ultra 4 introduces a revamped sensor system with five-second heart rate readings, an improved pedometer, and a new Readiness feature that combines recent activity and sleep data. Samsung's Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 counters with an expanded Vitals suite in its Health app, offering daily blood pressure estimates, a Heart Health Score, antioxidant readings, and trail-running hydration guidance. Both devices share core safety tools like Emergency SOS, fall detection, and alert sirens, though only Apple's watch adds crash detection.
Mophie's MagSafe 3-in-1 Charging Stand, which charges an iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods simultaneously, is now on sale at roughly 49 percent off its usual price. The stand's standout feature is a telescoping pole that lets the iPhone pad extend from 7.5 to 16 inches and tilt, and the charger is both MFi and Qi certified, delivering up to 15 watts to the phone and 5 watts each to the watch and earbuds. It ships with a 36-watt power supply and a 5-foot USB-C cable.
Counterpoint Research reports that worldwide smartwatch shipments declined 4% year-over-year in the second quarter of 2026, as consumers kept existing devices longer rather than upgrading. Huawei topped the market in total shipments, while Apple posted the strongest growth rate among the five leading brands. Counterpoint projects only 1% shipment growth for the full year.