From PCMAG · Andrew Gebhart · · 4m
Apple Watch Series 12: 54 hours and smarter Siri
The new Apple Watch Series 12 delivers massive battery life, redesigned health sensors, and context-aware AI that actually understands your day.
In brief
The new Apple Watch Series 12 delivers massive battery life, redesigned health sensors, and context-aware AI that actually understands your day. The Series 12 is a major generational leap with 54 hours of real-world battery life, health sensors that track heart rate every five seconds, and AI-powered Siri that learns…
Series 12 is a major leap forward
The Apple Watch Series 12 delivers one of the biggest generational jumps in years with redesigned health tracking, a faster S11 chip, and 54 hours of real-world battery life. It starts at the same $399 price as its predecessor.
Base model holds the $399 line
The 42mm aluminum Series 12 starts at $399, matching the Series 11. The 46mm costs $449, and adding 5G cellular service adds $100 to either size.
Premium titanium and ceramic options
Titanium models start at $699 for 42mm or $749 for 46mm with built-in cellular. New ceramic cases cost $899 for 42mm or $949 for 46mm in Night Blue or Pearl White.
Hermes edition tops out at $1,499
The luxury Hermes version comes in titanium with exclusive band styles, priced at $1,399 for 42mm or $1,499 for 46mm.
Ceramic Shield is 60% tougher
The Series 12 features an upgraded Ceramic Shield front cover that Apple claims is 60% tougher than the Series 11's Ion-X glass. Both maintain IP6X dust resistance and WR50 water resistance.
Slightly larger and heavier design
The 42mm Series 12 measures 37mm by 9.7mm and weighs 1.1 ounces, while the 46mm measures 40mm by 9.7mm and weighs 1.4 ounces. Ceramic models weigh up to 1.9 ounces.
Display stays the same as Series 11
The Series 12 keeps the same LTPO3 OLED Retina screen with 2,000 nits of brightness. Display area and pixel count remain unchanged from the previous generation.
S11 chip powers on-device AI
The new S11 chip features a 64-bit dual-core processor with upgraded CPU, GPU, and neural engine power. It enables faster Siri performance and on-device AI processing.
Requires iPhone 11 or later
Using the Series 12 or updating an older Apple Watch requires an iPhone 11 or later running iOS 27 and watchOS 27.
Siri AI learns from your conversations
The new Siri AI app tracks past conversations to build context for future inquiries. It can answer general knowledge questions and use personal context from compatible apps like email and activity rings.
Crown now shows Siri AI first
Pressing the crown no longer pulls up the full app drawer. Instead it shows a small circle of recommended and recently used apps with Siri AI always in the middle.
Siri understands your personal context
You can ask Siri about activity ring progress, search your email for flight info, or request your driver's license number. It can also provide local event details and directions based on your location.
Heart rate tracked every five seconds
The Series 12 features a completely redesigned health sensor array that tracks heart rate data every five seconds, a major improvement over previous generations.
54 hours of real-world battery
The Series 12 achieves a massive 54 hours of real-world battery life, addressing one of the biggest user complaints about previous Apple Watch models.
Editors' Choice for iPhone users
The Series 12 is PCMag's Editors' Choice smartwatch for most iPhone users, offering better value than ever at its $399 starting price.
Google and Samsung raise prices
Google bumped the Pixel Watch 5 by $50 to $399, matching Apple's price. Samsung's Galaxy Watch 9 raised its price by $30 to $379.99, narrowing the gap between Apple and Android wearables.
Ultra 4 launches alongside Series 12
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 arrives with the Series 12 in a single 49mm titanium build with cellular connectivity for $799.
64GB storage unchanged
The Series 12 maintains the same 64GB storage capacity as the Series 11, providing ample space for apps, music, and health data.
The bottom line
The Series 12 is a major generational leap with 54 hours of real-world battery life, health sensors that track heart rate every five seconds, and AI-powered Siri that learns from your conversations and personal context.
