Apple Watch Series 12 Hands-On: New Sensing System, Health Features and Audio Intelligence

The main hardware change is in the sensing system, which Apple says it has re-architected. In a side-by-side comparison with the Series 11, Engadget observed that the underside of the Series 12 looks different: the newer model has a ring of 12 lights, while last year’s device has four LEDs arranged in a diamond shape. Engadget said other components, including diodes and electrodes around the LEDs, also differ in number and layout. The changes increase the surface area in contact with the skin, which, along with updated hardware, is intended to produce more accurate and consistent readings.

Apple is also increasing sampling rates, so the watch measures heart rate and related data such as VO2Max and heart rate variability much more frequently. Apple says it conducted its own study of wearables and found the Series 12 to be the most accurate in heart rate sensing. The data feeds into several health features, including an updated heart rate app with a new HRV metric. That metric is now measured at up to every five minutes, compared with every two to four hours or so on older watches.

HRV information is a key part of the new Readiness app, which factors into a daily readiness score on a scale of 0 to 10. The score takes into account activity, sleep and vitals. Engadget could not test the feature because it requires wearing an Apple Watch for at least seven days, but a company representative’s watch showed a score of 3. The Health app indicated that poor sleep and HRV performance brought the score down. Apple also made tweaks to the Vitals app, changing some of the language it uses around performance.

The biggest update to the Apple Watch experience may be outside the watch itself. The Health app is getting a significant makeover, which may appeal to longtime users who have struggled to make sense of their data. Because Apple Intelligence summaries are part of the redesigned Health app, users will need a compatible iPhone; otherwise they will see the current version. The updated app is coming later this year, with an Apple Intelligence-generated summary at the top that considers the time of day to deliver the most relevant information. Tiles showing metrics such as activity, heart and sleep will change order throughout the day.

Swiping sideways on the home screen will take users through sleep, fitness and heart pages, while the bottom navigation bar offers Longevity and data tabs. The Longevity tab is a new interface that measures wellbeing across seven areas and shows a “health age.” Engadget said the different names for what appear to be similar concepts were confusing, but expected the distinctions to become clearer with more time in the app. The app will also include new assessments, such as a VO2Max test that requires users to follow instructions to jog in place while the Health app studies heart rate from an Apple Watch or compatible AirPods.

On the audio side, the Apple Watch Series 12 introduces an Audio Intelligence suite that includes tools such as Siri Recap and Live Rewind. Engadget said it was intrigued by these features and by AI wearables that listen to surroundings and conversations, provided they are done responsibly and with accountability. The publication also asked how the new Audio Intelligence features work and whether Apple is listening to users’ conversations. Engadget said the short answer is no. Some new features, such as Readiness scores and increased sampling rates, have already been offered by competitors, but others, including the Audio Intelligence tools and new finishes and materials, are novel, according to Engadget.