Review: Apple Watch Series 12 Adds Faster S11 Chip, Three New Health Complications and Quicker Charging
A 9to5Mac reviewer testing the Apple Watch Series 12 for several days cited three standout features: the faster S11 chip, new heart rate, steps and readiness complications, and charging that reaches 12 hours of use in 15 minutes.
The chip update was overdue, the review said, because Apple skipped changes last year and had not offered a true performance upgrade since the S9. The S11 chip feels noticeably faster and more capable than the S10, and everyday tasks on the Series 12 feel quick. Siri AI, described as a headline addition in watchOS 27, performs much closer to expectations on the Series 12 than on older hardware, where the reviewer found it sluggish in his own testing.
The new Health Sensing System is intended to make the Series 12 better at tracking metrics including heart rate and steps. Accuracy is not the only change: the new health sensors support three complications that were not previously available, covering Heart Rate, Daily Steps and Readiness, and each can display current readings directly on the watch face. The reviewer tested the heart rate and step complications, but said his watch needs more data before a readiness score is available. He called them welcome additions that measurably improve the watch's health and wellness features.
Battery life is largely the same as the Series 11, though the Series 12 lasts 25 percent longer during outdoor workouts, according to the review. The reviewer singled out faster charging as the more useful change. A 15-minute charge provides up to 12 hours of battery life on the Series 12, compared with up to 8 hours on the Series 11. He said he wears his watch to bed and tries to top it off quickly in the evening, and that faster charging means his poor planning is no longer a problem.
The 9to5Mac piece points readers to a full review written by the outlet's colleague Chance. The Apple Watch Series 12 is on sale now starting at $399.
Editor's Summary
Apple Watch Series 12 reviews highlight the S11 chip, three new health complications for heart rate, daily steps and readiness, and faster charging that delivers up to 12 hours of use from a 15-minute charge. The watch retains roughly the same battery life as the Series 11, with a 25 percent gain for outdoor workouts, and starts at $399. The assessment comes from a single reviewer's several days of testing.