Technology
Apple Watch Series 12 Review: Finally, a Readiness Score (2026)
Key Points
On the surface, the Apple Watch Series 12 doesn’t appear to be a major upgrade over last year’s release and, in many ways, it isn’t. But after a week of wearing it day and night, I noticed that the Series 12 feels more intuitive, putting fewer steps between me and the information I need from my everyday smartwatch. Health tracking is more thorough, thanks to a new Health Sensing System and faster S11 chip.
On the surface, the Apple Watch Series 12 doesn’t appear to be a major upgrade over last year’s release and, in many ways, it isn’t. But after a week of wearing it day and night, I noticed that the Series 12 feels more intuitive, putting fewer steps between me and the information I need from my everyday smartwatch.
Health tracking is more thorough, thanks to a new Health Sensing System and faster S11 chip. The watchOS 27 update, first announced at WWDC in June and finally available to consumers, gives the Apple Watch a cleaner, streamlined interface that positions Siri AI at the center of the user experience. The most notable addition is perhaps Audio Intelligence, a suite of listening tools powered by Apple Intelligence. Plus, in a fun return, the Series 12 also comes in ceramic, a premium finish Apple discontinued in 2020.
Not everyone needs the upgrade, though. If you’re coming from the Series 8 or older, the Series 12 is a generational leap, with a better display, longer battery life, and newer health features, including sleep apnea and hypertension notifications. Owners of the Series 9 or 10 have fewer reasons to swap, but the battery improvements alone (18 hours to 24 hours) may be compelling. If you already have the Series 11, Audio Intelligence probably isn’t going to be enough to justify replacing a watch that’s already capable of most of the same functions.
Polished, Inside and Out
Visually, Apple isn’t fixing what isn’t broken, and I’m not mad about it. The Series 12 looks nearly identical to its predecessors, but Apple highlights it as its thinnest Apple Watch yet. The aluminum and titanium models measure 9.7 millimeters thick, and the ceramic option is 9.85 millimeters thick. I didn’t notice a difference during everyday wear, but the Apple Watch Series remains one of the most comfortable smartwatches I’ve tested. Aside from the new Hermès collection, there aren’t any new band designs this year, but Apple has added new colors to the existing lineup.