Apple unveils Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 with S11 chip

Apple has unveiled its latest smartwatch lineup, featuring the Apple Watch Series 12 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4. Both models are powered by the new S11 chip, which enables advanced artificial intelligence capabilities and enhanced health tracking through a redesigned Health Sensing System.

Key AI features include ‘Audio Intelligence,’ which encompasses ‘Siri Recap’ for summarizing conversations and ‘Live Rewind,’ a tool that can transcribe the last 15 seconds of audio upon user request. These features have sparked privacy debates in the United States, with legal experts examining whether they comply with wiretapping laws in various states. Apple maintains that audio is processed locally within a secure hardware enclave and is not stored as permanent recordings.

Health improvements include more frequent heart rate monitoring—every five seconds—and enhanced heart rate variability (HRV) measurements. A new ‘Readiness’ score provides users with a daily assessment of their physical state based on sleep, activity, and vital signs.

The Ultra 4 focuses on endurance, offering up to 50 hours of standard use and 84 hours in low power mode. The Series 12 introduces a premium ceramic version, which is noted for being heavier and slightly larger than the aluminum and titanium models. Additionally, the Ultra 4 has removed support for the GLONASS satellite system, focusing instead on GPS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou.