Apple Watch Series 12 boasts beefed-up heart rate sensing
Apple's latest smartwatches are getting improved health features, including upgraded heart rate sensing.
Alongside the new iPhone 18 Pro series and the first foldable iPhone, the tech giant introduced the Apple Watch Series 12 and Watch Ultra 4 during its "Surprise and Shine" event on Sept. 10, Philippine time.
'Most accurate heart sensing in a wearable'
The Watch Series 12, equipped with an S11 chip, comes with a new Health Sensing System, which enables, according to Apple, the "most accurate heart rate sensing in a wearable."
With larger LEDs on the optical heart sensor, the device monitors heart rate every five seconds throughout the day. This enables the smartwatch to capture deeper insight into the user's fitness and physiological state.
Another new health feature introduced is Readiness, which looks into the user's recent activity, vitals, and sleep score to tell them whether to push or hold back during the new day through a 0-10 score system and one of the following recommendations: Recover, Pace Yourself, Ready, or Go For It.
Additionally, the watch will integrate upcoming updates to the Health app, which arrive later in the year, including Health Age. This feature shows how a user's key metrics relate to their actual age.
Apart from health features, the Watch Series 12 will also be capable of AI features like Sound Recognition, ideal for users who are deaf or hard of hearing. With this function, users get alerted about sounds like sirens, alarms, doorbells, or a baby crying on their wrist.
Meanwhile, Live Rewind and Siri Recap can help you recall conversations. Apple said that the audio capture for the features is not recorded or stored and is end-to-end encrypted.
Live Rewind also plays an audible chime when it's being used, so people nearby know when the feature has been activated. Siri Recap, meanwhile, only provides a summary, not a transcript, and has been designed to exclude personal information, according to Apple.
Other watchOS 27 features, like perimenopause and menopause tracking and Workout Buddy, will also come to the new smartwatch.
On a single charge, the Apple Watch Series 12 can run for up to 24 hours, and a 15-minute charge can juice it up for 12 hours of use.
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 also gets the same health features as the Watch Series 12. Apart from its more rugged design, it differs from the latter with its beefier battery life. Apple said the Watch Ultra 4 now offers up to 50 days of battery life, which can also reach up to 84 hours in Low Power Mode.
It also gets a new Extended Workout mode with 25 hours of battery life for tracking workouts with GPS and heart rate readings.
The Apple Watch Series 12 comes in aluminum, titanium, and ceramic finishes in either 42mm or 46mm sizes. Prices start at P28,990.
On the other hand, the Apple Watch Ultra 4 is available in black and natural finishes and starts at P59,990.
