I logged a 5,000-step walking workout with the Apple Watch Series 12 on my left wrist and the Garmin Forerunner 170 on my right wrist to find out which of these new smartwatches is the better fitness tracker.

The Apple Watch Series 12 is one of the best full-featured smartwatches of 2026, and the Garmin Forerunner 170 is one of the best budget-friendly running watches.

However, cost-wise, the Garmin is $349. The Apple Watch 12, meanwhile, starts at $399 and goes up to $549.

Apple Watch 12 vs Garmin Forerunner 170

Both smartwatches offer comparable onboard heart rate, location (GPS), and elevation tracking (altimeter) tech, plus bright, touch-sensitive displays and sleek cases. Safety- and wellness-focused features are plentiful too. But the Apple Watch supports way more apps and smart features, while the Forerunner has better training and recovery tools for runners.

Design-wise, the Forerunner 170 Music comes in a wider range of colorful, sporty options, but features a plastic case. The Series 12, by comparison, boasts an aluminum case. That said, it also weighs more. The 46mm Apple Watch 12 case is roughly 39 g compared to 26 g for the Forerunner 170 Music case.

I already tested the Apple Watch Series 12 versus the Garmin Venu 4, a higher-end ($549) sibling of the Forerunner 170. In that showdown, both devices impressed across the board, but the Venu 4 proved slightly more accurate. Will Garmin pull a repeat win? There’s only one way to know.

I walked 5,000 steps with the Apple Watch 12 vs Garmin Forerunner 170

As a primary control, I manually counted all 5,014 steps, using a tally counter to record every hundred. As a control for distance, climb, and pace, I turned to ol’ reliable, the Strava app.

Find the results of my Apple Watch 12 vs. Garmin Forerunner 170 Music walk test below, along with the five biggest takeaways from the data.

1. Both watches came remarkably close to my actual step count total

I've done dozens of these smartwatch walk tests, and my general rule of thumb is that any step count total within 100 steps of my actual tally is considered a solid result and within an acceptable margin of error. With that in mind, the Apple Watch 12 and Garmin Forerunner 170 each performed exceptionally well here.

The Series 12 undercounted by a mere 11 steps, while the Forerunner 170 was over by just six steps. Meanwhile, the Apple Watch and Garmin noted exactly the same amount of distance covered. More importantly, the tallies are also less than a tenth of a mile off from the control.

2. Garmin's climb data is slightly closer to the control

In my experience, even the best Apple Watch models sometimes inflate elevation gain data during outdoor workouts by a noticeable, albeit not outrageous, margin. That's again the case here.

The Apple Watch Series 12 noted 28 additional feet of climb compared to the control. The Forerunner 170, meanwhile, was off by just six feet, an impressive result.

3. Apple doesn't provide an average moving pace metric

Both the Strava app and Garmin provide average moving and elapsed pace metrics for outdoor workouts, like walks. Of the two, the former tends to be the more useful, as it more accurately reflects your overall speed.

Apple only provides one post-workout pace metric, and it's almost certainly elapsed pace, which is what I've recorded in the table above. That being said, Apple's average elapsed pace metric is closer to the control than Garmin's.

Meanwhile, Strava noted a moving pace of 18:07 per mile compared to 18:39 per mile for the Garmin.

4. Apple and Garmin's heart rate data is a perfect match

Both Apple and Garmin allow users to specify which wrist their smartwatch is on via the companion app. So, assuming those details are correctly entered, there should be zero difference in heart rate tracking accuracy between your right and left wrists. But is that actually the case?

The results of this walk test suggest that the answer is yes, seeing as both wearables noted identical average and max heart rates for my ~50-minute walk.

5. Garmin burned through more battery, but overall, proved more accurate

One might assume Garmin smartwatches always beat Apple Watches when it comes to battery performance, but this showdown proves that isn't always true. While the Garmin Forerunner 170 Music can far outlast the Apple Watch Series 12 in standard smartwatch mode, when using continuous GPS and heart rate tracking, the Apple Watch Series 12 actually has the advantage.

That said, when it comes to comparing the fitness tracking performance of the Apple Watch Series 12 vs. the Garmin Forerunner 170 Music, the latter slightly outperforms the former... in this test, at least. The Forerunner 170 produced an ever-so-slightly more accurate step count and climb total, while the Series 12 was closer in terms of pace.

Which of these two smartwatches would you rather use to keep tabs on your health and fitness? Let me know in the poll below.

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Don't want to wait for Black Friday? Apple tech will (most likely) be cheaper during next month's Black Friday sales, but if you want an upgrade now, there are plenty of great apple deals to be had.

Right now Amazon is offering deals on AirPods, MacBooks and accessories starting from just $14. One of my favorite deals right now is the AirTag 4-Pack on sale for $89. Just attach an AirTag to anything you want to keep track of, and you can use the Find My app on your iPhone to find it if it gets lost.

Keep scrolling to see all my favorite deals!

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The Apple Watch Series 12 is easily one of the best smartwatches of 2026 thanks to cutting-edge smart, safety, and health features, packed into a sleek, user-friendly design. Even though it's only been a month since its debut, this flagship model is already on sale for a sizable discount.

The Apple Watch 12 is $50 off for Prime Day; its lowest price yet. Best of all, the discount applies to both the 42mm and 46mm models.

The Apple Watch Series 12 is one of only two Apple Watches with the brand’s updated health sensor technology (the other is the Ultra 4), which is more powerful and reads your vitals more frequently for more accurate insights into your daily wellness and long-term health trends.

Despite the upgraded onboard tech, the Series 12 boasts the same battery life as its predecessor: 24 hours per charge. It's also jam-packed with helpful safety tools, including fall and crash detection, high/low heart rate alerts, hypertension alerts (unique to Apple Watch), and sleep apnea notifications.

One of the thinner full-featured smartwatches out there, the Apple Watch 12 is also fairly lightweight, making for a comfortable all-day wearing experience regardless of which size you choose.

It’s also one of Apple's first smartwatches to ship with the new Siri AI voice assistant, powered by Google Gemini, built in. Of course, if the Apple Watch Series 12 isn’t quite your speed, the Apple Watch SE 3 is also on sale right now for $50 off via Amazon for Prime Day.

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I’m the type of person who turns on automatic updates for all of my gadgets, especially my iPhone and Apple Watch, seeing that they go hand-in-hand.

So, when I saw the notification for the official watchOS 27 update pop up, I immediately scheduled it to install overnight. As much as the new software brought critical security updates to my Apple Watch, my excitement was aimed at all the new features it introduced — like the new single-tap gesture control.

Everything went smoothly until the next day, when I realized something was amiss. Normally, I’d see the complication for the Walkie-Talkie app, but it was nowhere in sight. I thought it might’ve reset with the update, so I tried looking through the app list to find it.

However, it was completely gone. After a quick search, I found out that Apple killed off my favorite feature, and I think it’s making a big mistake. Here’s why.

Unlike anything else on another smartwatch

Having strapped nearly every major wearable to my wrist over the years, I can tell you that most smartwatches blur together. Whether they’re running Wear OS, Garmin OS, or proprietary fitness software, they all stick to the exact same playbook: sending notifications, tracking heart rate, and letting you take the occasional call from the wrist.

Yet, when I stumbled upon the Walkie-Talkie app on my Apple Watch several years ago, it quickly became one of the few tools I used religiously. It was truly distinct — a feature you simply couldn't find on rival platforms, and one that made immediate practical sense.

It wasn’t trying to duplicate a standard phone call. Instead, Walkie-Talkie delivered a purpose-built wrist experience, turning the Apple Watch into a genuine push-to-talk communicator. I can’t tell you how many times I relied on it — like whenever my partner and I split up while shopping on opposite sides of a store.

Then there were all the coffee runs where I’d inevitably forget her exact order. With Walkie-Talkie, I could get an immediate answer without the hassle and delays of dialing an actual phone call.

Other alternatives, but they share the same flaw

I’m devastated by Apple’s decision to kill off the Walkie-Talkie app. I’ve read through this Reddit post and understand how some users experienced hiccups using it, but I found it to be pretty reliable. Since finding out it’s been eliminated with the watchOS 27 update, I’ve been looking at my options.

A quick search through the watchOS App Store reveals plenty of third-party push-to-talk options that could fill the void. But none of them capture the magic of Apple’s original feature because they lack native system integration.

Instead of working out of the box using your existing Apple ID and iCloud contacts, these alternatives force you and your recipient to set up accounts and jump through account registration screens. It doesn’t help either when these alternatives all have single reviews, so they really stop me in my tracks from pursuing them further.

I’m back to phone calls and it's just not the same

Without Walkie-Talkie, I’m forced back to standard phone calls, and it’s annoying. The whole thing is a process compared to the push-to-talk simplicity I was used to: I need to find my contact and wait for them to pick up.

The experience pales in comparison because with Walkie-Talkie, I was able to bypass all that and send my message instantly. If you’ve used the Drop-In feature on Amazon Echo devices, you know exactly how Walkie-Talkie felt.

Walkie-Talkie lived in that perfect middle ground between a voice message you might not hear for an hour and an intrusive live call. I really hope Apple reconsiders this and resurrects push-to-talk in a future watchOS update.

Whether it returns as a redesigned system app or evolves into a cross-device tool integrated directly into Messages, the Apple Watch desperately needs that effortless voice connection back.

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Despite writing about fitness tech for a living, I’m always surprised when devices strapped to my pulse points spot things before I do. A few years ago, I wrote how my Oura Ring spotted I was pregnant weeks before I did a test; this week, the Apple Watch Vitals app knew my toddler had passed on his germs before I felt the rumblings of a cold.

Impressive, I know, but if you’re new to Apple Watch, you might not know a few tweaks can help you get the most out of the Vitals app. This applies to all Apple Watches, not just the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, which have the new Readiness and Daytime Vitals functionalities.

This week, my overnight vitals told me my resting heart rate and respiratory rate were slightly off — signs that my body was under increased strain. A few days later, I developed a head cold.

Knowing you’re getting sick before you actually get any symptoms not only allows you to prevent spreading germs, but also to get ahead of your recovery, allowing your immune system to fight the virus before it takes hold.

I’m a few weeks out from my seventh marathon, so I've spent this week dialing my mileage back and focusing on rest and hydration to give my body the best chance to shake the illness before race day.

But how can you be sure your watch is tracking your health correctly? Here are some little tweaks to improve the accuracy of the Vitals app on your watch.

1. Ensure your watch fits correctly

This is probably more of an issue if you have wrists as scrawny as mine and you’re wearing an Apple Watch Ultra, but to track correctly, the watch needs to be sitting close to your skin.

Make sure your watch is tight enough to ensure it’s not moving around your wrist when you sleep, but not so tight that it’s cutting off circulation. It should also be sitting above your wrist bone, toward your elbow, not on your wrist bone or leaning toward your hand.

2. Wear your watch continuously overnight

The best way for the Vitals app to spot an outlier is to have enough data to establish your baseline. Make sure you wear your Apple Watch to bed every night so it can collect this data.

If you have a new Apple Watch, the Vitals app will need seven nights of data to establish typical ranges for things like respiratory rate and heart rate.

3. Make sure you turn sleep tracking on

You’ll probably already be doing this if you want a sleep score when you wake up, but to see your overnight vitals, make sure your watch is in Sleep Focus. If, like me, you forget to do this, you can set up an automatic Sleep Focus window.

4. Make sure the required settings are enabled

If you’re not seeing anything in your Vitals app, chances are you need to check that you’ve enabled everything correctly. To do this, head to the Watch app on your iPhone, click on Passcode, and make sure you’ve turned Wrist Detection on. Go to your iPhone and Watch privacy settings and make sure that Heart Rate and fitness tracking are enabled.

It’s also worth keeping your iPhone and Apple Watch updated with the latest software to ensure you’re getting the most accurate health algorithm.

More from Tom's Guide

• Can the $99 Fitbit Air beat the $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3 at fitness tracking? I manually counted 4,500 steps to find out
• I walked 4,000 steps with the Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 — and the winning margin was razor-thin
• Oura vs Whoop vs Fitbit Air — 5 questions to ask yourself before buying a screen-free fitness tracker

I’ve tested every model of the Apple Watch to date, and ever since they updated the sensor on the Apple Watch Series 4, I’ve found that it has been one of the best smartwatches for heart rate accuracy during workouts.

The latest models — the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 — now promise the most accurate heart rate sensor on the market, based on an in-house Apple study comparing the Series 12 to other wearables and using the Polar H10 chest strap as a reference.

I was keen to put these claims to the test myself, and along with racing a half marathon while wearing both watches and a chest strap, I’ve done a variety of workouts with the Apple Watch Series 12, comparing its heart rate readings to a Garmin HRM 600 chest strap.

How I tested the Apple Watch 12’s heart rate accuracy

My main sport is running, and I’ve logged over 100 miles with the Apple Watch 12 while also wearing a chest strap. I’ve also done two strength workouts with weights, a bodyweight HIIT session, and an indoor bike ride.

For each test, I paired the Garmin HRM 600 chest strap to the Coros Pace 4 Pro on one wrist and wore the Apple Watch 12 on the other, then checked the graphs of their readings using the DC Rainmaker Analyzer.

I used the Apple Watch 12 with both the silicone and nylon sports bands, and it was similarly accurate with both, but mostly, I used the nylon sport loop as I find it more comfortable and easier to tighten quickly for a snug fit for heart rate readings.

Chest straps are the gold standard for consumers seeking accurate heart rate data because they measure electrical signals directly from the heart, rather than using lights to measure your pulse at the wrist like optical sensors in watches. They're generally more accurate and faster to respond to changes in heart rate as a result.

However, most people find just wearing a watch more comfortable and convenient than putting on a chest strap — especially in winter when putting a cold strap on your chest is no fun, trust me. So if a watch proves to be just as good, it’s a better option for most people.

Let’s dive into the results, starting with how the Apple Watch 12 fared on the run.

Apple Watch 12 heart rate accuracy test: Running

I’ve got a lot of data from my runs with the Apple Watch 12, and the vast majority of it shows the watch to be very accurate with regard to heart rate accuracy during those runs.

One common problem is that the watch would gray out the heart rate reading at the start of a run if it lacked confidence in the reading.

These periods without readings were always short and show on the graphs below as straight lines between readings the watch did take.

As an aside, the Apple Watch 12 has been better than the Apple Watch Ultra 4, which has often grayed out its readings for long stretches of my runs during testing.

Once locked on, the Apple Watch 12’s heart rate sensor has stuck closely in line with the reading from the chest strap on all my outdoor runs, including a lot of easy miles, a half marathon race, and several challenging workouts in training.

I also did one treadmill run comparing it to a chest strap, which did feature a few more minor errors from the Apple Watch 12 that results in a slightly higher average heart rate reading from the watch by the end of the run.

It hasn’t been perfect, with the odd erroneous dip or spike, and it doesn’t respond to fast changes in heart rate quite as quickly as the chest strap, which is common for optical readings, but the Apple Watch 12 impressed me overall during my runs.

It could certainly be used to judge my training based on heart rate, which is the main benefit of it being accurate, in my mind.

Apple Watch 12 heart rate accuracy test: Indoor cycling

I did one indoor bike ride testing the Apple Watch 12 against the Garmin HRM 600 chest strap, cycling for just over 40 minutes total, with most of that done at an easy effort.

To put the Apple Watch 12’s sensor through its paces, I did 30-second sprint efforts every five minutes during the cycle to spike my heart rate quickly — something that can be very hard for optical sensors to track as quickly as a chest strap.

The Apple Watch 12 performed brilliantly during this test, responding rapidly to these spikes and drops in effort and ending up with an average heart rate of 109.97 compared to 109.89 for the chest strap.

While the graph shows it lagged a tiny fraction behind the chest strap when I started an interval — something I could see when looking at the watches during these efforts — the Series 12 captured each and every sprint well, and should be a reliable option if you love spinning sessions.

Apple Watch 12 heart rate accuracy test: Strength and HIIT workouts

In my experience, the hardest test for an optical sensor is gym workouts, because unlike sports like running and cycling, you don’t move in a predictable, consistent way when lifting weights or doing HIIT, which means the watch has more random noise to filter out when trying to detect your heart rate.

It’s such a challenge for watches that when you select a HIIT workout on the Apple Watch 12, a message actually pops up saying you can connect a chest strap to the watch via Bluetooth if you’re not getting consistent heart rate readings from the watch.

I did two strength sessions lifting weights with the watch, where my heart rate was mostly quite low, and a bodyweight HIIT session doing circuits of five exercises, three of which were jumping moves like burpees that get the heart pumping.

In both strength workouts, you can see the heart rate readings from the watch largely rose and fell in line with the chest strap but lagged and were rarely in line. The watch also missed one small jump in heart rate during one of the workouts.

The average heart rate reading was only a couple of beats off from the chest strap overall, though, and most spikes in effort were spotted and logged by the watch, even if it was a few seconds behind the strap.

It was a similar story with the HIIT workout, where I was actually pretty impressed with the Apple Watch 12’s readings. It lagged behind the chest strap, but did catch each of my intervals and rise to the right level.

It did also add in a couple of erroneous spikes, though, and for both HIIT and strength workouts I’d say a chest strap, or even an armband, will still deliver better results than a watch.

Apple Watch 12 heart rate accuracy test: Verdict

The Apple Watch 12 performed well overall in my testing, but I wouldn’t say it’s a marked improvement over other watches I’ve used for heart rate accuracy.

I typically wear a Garmin watch for training and have found the latest Garmin models like the Forerunner 970 that use the brand’s Elevate v5 heart rate sensor very reliable for heart rate accuracy; at least as good as the Apple Watch 12.

I’d say the Apple Watch 12’s heart rate accuracy is up there with the best wearables for me, but if you are relying on heart rate to judge your training, especially in HIIT or strength sessions, a chest strap might still be a worthwhile investment.

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October Prime Day is coming soon, but Amazon is already slashing prices on Apple tech. With the brand’s newest lineup of products recently released, older models are now seeing some especially nice discounts.

For instance, the Apple AirPods 4 with ANC are down to $119 (a $60 discount), while the iPad mini is currently on sale for $569. The brand-new Apple Watch Series 12 is also available for $389, saving you $10. It may be a small discount, but considering this is a brand-new device, it’s still worth a look.

The savings don't end there! You’ll also find plenty of great deals on other AirPods models, iPads, MacBooks, and accessories — and prices start at just $14. Keep scrolling to see my favorite Apple deals to shop ahead of Amazon Prime Day.

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• Apple EarPods (Lightning): was $19 now $15
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• Apple AirPods 4 w/ ANC: was $179 now $119
• Apple Watch Series 12: was $399 now $389
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Apple is slowly rolling out a revamped Health app for iPhone and Apple Watch, and you can try it now by downloading the iOS 27.2 public beta; you’ll also need to run watchOS 27 on your Apple Watch.

One of the coolest new features in the overhauled app is a series of at-home longevity assessments designed to be done in your living room using your iPhone’s camera and Apple Watch’s heart rate sensor.

These assessments provide insights into a user’s strength, balance, flexibility, and more. I tried both the balance and flexibility tests, which take about five to seven minutes each, and gained some valuable, surprising insights into my physical health. Here’s what I learned.

How Apple’s at-home longevity tests work

To perform one of these assessments, users are asked to place their iPhone on the ground, lean up against a wall, and then walk back ten to 12 feet, ensuring their entire body is framed within the front-facing camera’s view.

The assessments use a vision-based AI model to track your body movement as you perform each step. However, no video is actually being recorded during the assessment, and all the AI processing occurs on-device.

What I learned from Apple’s flexibility test

Once your iPhone is set up and you're well-framed in the center of the screen, it’s time to start the assessment.

An on-screen trainer demos the movements for each test with more than enough detail to easily follow along. For example, the flexibility assessment involves five different stretches to thoroughly determine your overall upper and lower body flexibility ratings. Ratings fall into one of four categories: Needs Improvement, Fair, Good, and Excellent.

So, how did I do? My upper body flexibility score was ‘Good,’ but my lower body flexibility score was only ‘Fair,’ lower than I expected. I performed the five tests in the assessment twice, just to be sure I properly followed all the instructions, and both times the results were the same.

Was I aware that my lower body flexibility could use some attention? Honestly, no, not at all. Now that I am, I plan to prioritize more workouts and stretches to improve it.

Helpfully, in addition to a rating, the new Health app also provides fairly comprehensive information on the best ways to make progress in either category, including suggested exercises to try.

My balance is better than my flexibility, according to Apple

The balance assessment is even easier than the flexibility one, involving just one test. Users are asked to stand on one foot, with their other foot suspended in the air behind them for as long as they can without touching the ground, for up to sixty seconds. You do this twice, once for each foot.

Once the countdown begins, calming music starts playing, while a voice periodically provides encouraging words. Balance is scored on the same rubric as flexibility.

Fortunately, this time around I scored an Excellent — again, I did the test twice — which was a lovely little ego boost after my mediocre flexibility performance.

Like an at-home physical exam

These are just two of the 17 longevity assessments found in the new Apple Health app. Once all the assessments are complete, the Health app generates a report based on the results to share with your doctor.

Ultimately, Apple’s new longevity assessment might be foreshadowing what the future of healthcare will look like, where users rely on a mix of AI-powered consumer tech and traditional doctor visits to better understand and improve their well-being.

What are your thoughts on Apple’s new longevity tests in the updated Health app in iOS 27.2? Are you looking forward to trying them yourself? Let me know in the comments below.

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2026 seems to be the year of the screenless fitness tracker. We’ve seen the success of the $99 Fitbit Air, as well as the launch of the Garmin Cirqa and the Oura Ring 5. And according to new rumors, Apple might be joining the party.

As reported by Bloomberg, Apple is working on a screenless health tracker, set to take on the likes of Fitbit Air, Garmin Cirqa, and Whoop. There have been rumors for months that Apple has been “exploring” the category and developing prototypes, which feature a fabric band attached to a module that rests on the wrist — similar to the Apple Watch, but without a screen.

It’s said that Tim Cook and services chief Eddy Cue are interested in the product. Cue now leads Apple’s health teams and is thought to be pushing to explore wearables with simpler interfaces. Yet as someone who has been writing about wearables for the past decade, I really don’t see this happening any time soon.

With the Apple Watch Series 12 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4, Apple has made two of its best health trackers yet, with an updated heart rate sensor and built-in recovery tools at last. Yet part of their appeal is that they feel like an extension of the iPhone on your wrist. Without a screen, you’re left with the slightly chaotic Health app (though I’ll wait to test the new version launching in the iOS 27.2 Beta with its new user-friendly interface) and the need to check your phone constantly to see the progress of those all-important rings.

Only time will tell, but if you’re a fan of the Whoop, I wouldn’t hold your breath. The report does state that if we do see a screenless tracker from the brand, it probably won’t be till 2028, as Apple is said to be focusing on AI smart glasses and AirPods with cameras first.

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• How to add Apple's new dynamic step count widget to your Apple Watch

With the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, users can now view their total daily step count in real time on the watch face courtesy of Apple’s powerful S11 processor.

While there are a couple of different ways to add the Daily Steps widget to your watch face, below, I’ve explained my favorite way to do it: Using the new Siri Modular watch face in five quick steps.

Don’t have one of the latest Apple Watch models? You can still add a step count widget to the watch face using a third-party option like the Pedometer++ app.

That said, if you do have the Apple Watch Series 12 or Apple Watch Ultra 4, here’s how to unlock Apple’s step count widget in less time than it takes to walk around the block.

How to add the step count widget to your Apple Watch

1. Open the Watch app on your iPhone and tap ‘Face Gallery’ at the bottom, center of the page
2. Select the category ‘New Watch Faces' or search for “Siri Modular’
3. Select your preferred Siri Modular layout and scroll down to ‘Complications’
4. Tap on one of the complications to change it; you’ll find the ‘Daily Steps’ widget toward the top under ‘Activity’
5. With the ‘Daily Steps’ widget added, tap ‘Add to Watch’ to switch to the Siri Modular face

Read on to see full illustrated instructions for each step.

And... that's it! Your personalized Siri Modular watch face with a Daily Steps widget should now appear on your Apple Watch Series 12 or Apple Watch Ultra 4 (the only models that support this feature natively).

Looking for more ways to customize your Apple Watch with the latest watchOS 27 bells and whistles? Here's how to enable the new Siri AI voice assistant on your Apple Watch. Best of all, you don't need one of the latest models – just one that supports watchOS 27.

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Last week saw the full launch of the Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Apple Watch Series 12, and both landed on my doorstep just days before I was due to tackle the Shoreditch Half Marathon in east London.

It seemed the perfect chance to test the accuracy of both watches in race conditions, especially as this particular half marathon has to fit its 13.1-mile route into quite a small area of London, so it had a lot of tight twists and turns — ideal for checking GPS accuracy.

I also strapped on a Garmin HRM-600 chest strap heart rate monitor to compare the new optical sensors on the Apple Watches, and I linked this strap to the Coros Pace 4 Pro, one of the best sports watches with multi-band GPS, for another reference point in the race.

I was impressed by the accuracy of both watches during and after the race, but each excelled in a different area — the Series 12 was a bit stronger on heart rate, while the Ultra 4 had the edge on GPS accuracy.

Let’s dive into the details.

GPS accuracy

I don’t think I’ve ever done a race with more turns than the Shoreditch Half Marathon, and while it’s not in an area of London with many tall buildings, the constant changes of direction made it a proper challenge for the GPS tracking on the watches.

The high number of turns also means I definitely ran further than the official half marathon distance of 13.1 miles, which is measured at the tightest racing line. I frequently had to take wide turns and weave around runners, so it’s not surprising that the watches registered a longer distance.

The two Apple Watches were almost in agreement on the total distance, with the Ultra 4 logging 13.31 miles and the Apple Watch 12 logging 13.33 miles, whereas the Coros Pace 4 Pro logged 13.22 miles.

I can’t say anything definitive about which of these distances is the most accurate — the Coros is closest to the official distance, but I did run further than that with all the turns.

However, looking at the GPS tracks, the Apple Watch Series 12 shows more minor errors than the others, veering off the road through buildings and the like. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Coros Pace 4 Pro produced very similar tracks for the race.

This makes sense, because the Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Coros Pace 4 Pro both have multi-band GPS, which tends to outperform the all-systems GPS on the Apple Watch 12 when in tough conditions.

It’s one of the key upgrades on the Ultra 4 over the Series 12, and while I still find the latter generally good enough on GPS accuracy, there is a benefit for opting for the Ultra 4 if you want that extra level of precision.

Heart rate accuracy

The Apple Watch 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 both have Apple’s new optical heart rate sensor, which the company claims is the most accurate available in a wearable based on an internal study comparing several watches to the Polar H10 chest strap.

I’ve tested every Apple Watch and found that their heart rate sensors have been particularly good for watches since the Series 4, but I do notice a difference between the Ultra and the Series models.

Even though they have the same sensor, I usually find the Series watches have more reliable heart rate tracking for me, probably because they are smaller, lighter watches that fit more snugly on my thin wrists than the weightier Ultra.

It’s important to note that if the Apple Watch you’re wearing doesn’t have a high level of confidence in the heart rate it’s sensing, it will gray out the number and not give a reading until it does.

This is what happened for me early in the race with the Apple Watch Ultra 4, which didn’t get a reliable lock on my heart rate until I was about 13 minutes in, which you can see on the graph below, noted as a straight line.

Once locked on, the Ultra 4 stayed in line with the Garmin chest strap I was wearing for the rest of the race, but the Series 12 gets the win in this category because it was in line with the chest strap for the entire race, with no grayed out sections.

Rather than going flat out from the start in the race, I ran it as a progression effort and pushed harder and harder as the race went on, producing the gradual rise in heart rate in the graph.

I quite like this approach from Apple in general — it’s better to have no reading than an incorrect one — but it does mean I couldn’t use the Ultra 4’s heart rate reading to judge effort early in the race.

Verdict

While I’ve highlighted the differences between the watches from the race, the overall performance of both was very good. Both are great sports watches as well as being among the best smartwatches.

The Ultra 4 has some extra strengths on the sports front with its multi-band GPS, longer battery life and more rugged design, but the Series 12 might be a little more reliable for heart rate, especially if you have thin wrists like mine.

I plan to do plenty more testing of both watches to get more of an insight into their performance and accuracy. Hopefully on routes that are a little more straightforward than the Shoreditch Half Marathon.

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I walked 5,500 steps with the new Apple Watch Series 12 on my left wrist and the Garmin Venu 4 on my right wrist (Okay, it was 5,520 steps) to determine which is the better fitness tracker.

Two of the best smartwatches in 2026, the Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399, though the 46mm 5G+GPS model I'm testing is $549, the same cost as the Garmin Venu 4. More importantly, both devices are equipped with their respective brand's latest heart rate tracking tech, along with onboard GPS and barometric altimeters for elevation tracking.

So, which of these two popular, capable devices came out on top in this fitness tracking accuracy showdown between the Apple Watch Series 12 and Garmin Venu 4? See for yourself below, along with my five biggest takeaways. I've also declared a winner at the very end.

I walked 5,000 steps with the Apple Watch 12 vs Garmin Venu 4

As noted above, I wore the Apple Watch on my left wrist and the Garmin on my right during this ~50-minute walk around hilly Seattle, Washington. As a control, I manually counted my steps, recording every 100 with a click of a tally counter, and logged the walk in the Strava app on my iPhone 16 Plus.

1. Both wearables logged my steps and distance with impressive accuracy

Strava logged the exact same number of total steps taken as my manual count: 5,520, a tally that both the Apple Watch 12 and Garmin Venu each came ridiculously close to matching as well.

Apple ended up overcounting by just 11 steps while Garmin undercounted by only two steps. Distance data is also impressively close to the control, with the Apple Watch being just a bit more spot-on than Garmin.

2. Apple was generous with climb data

I've come to expect my Apple Watch to be on the generous side when it comes to logging climb data, whether strolling around the city or hiking a mountain. That said, despite my expectations for this consistent inconsistency, the best Apple Watches still tend to be in the ballpark at logging uphill efforts, just, perhaps, the furthest corner of the upper deck.

That's the case here; Apple seemingly tacked an extra 38 feet of climb onto my walk compared to Strava, which is both forgivable and certainly better than undercounting my ascent by 38 feet.

3. Heart rate data is a perfect match

The Garmin Venu 4 sports the brand's latest Elevate V5 heart rate sensor, and the Apple Watch Series 12 — along with the Apple Watch Ultra 4 — uses Apple's newest, most powerful holistic sensor arrays.

Latest tech or not, Apple and Garmin are two brands I've come to trust when it comes to accurately logging heart rate. This is to say, I expected the Series 12 and Venu 4 to produce pretty similar HR data for my walk. Instead, they noted the exact same average and max, a rare, encouraging outcome!

4. The Venu 4 used a lot more battery than the Series 12

Garmin watches may have a reputation for outlasting their Apple rivals, but during this roughly 50-minute outdoor workout, the Garmin Venu 4 burned through four times the battery of the Apple Watch Series 12.

5. Both smartwatches did well, but Garmin wins overall

Ultimately, both watches performed extremely well in this fitness tracking showdown between the Apple Watch Series 12 and the Garmin Venu 4, but a winner must be declared, darn it.

While the Apple Watch Series 12 was closer distance-wise, the Garmin Venu 4 was slightly more precise at tracking steps, and comfortably closer to the control with regard to climb and pace data.

I am, of course, splitting hairs here. The big takeaway is that both the Garmin Venu 4 and Apple Watch Series 12 are both excellent, reliable options if you want a sleek, modern smartwatch to keep tabs on your outdoor workouts. That said, for the uphill-obsessed, the Series 12 just may be the bigger ego booster.

Which smartwatch did you expect to win this head-to-head? Let me know in the poll below.

More from Tom's Guide

• I’m a smartwatch reviewer: This is the new Apple Watch 12 feature I’m most excited for
• Apple just killed one of my favorite Apple Watch features with the launch of watchOS 27
• I’ve tested over 100 fitness trackers head-to-head — 3 workout stats I trust the least

Bad news, Apple Watch power users: the latest watchOS 27 software release removes the easiest way to quickly and efficiently jump between apps.

In watchOS 26 and earlier, users could simply double-press the digital crown at any time to jump back into the previous app they were using. This functionality, unofficially called the “app switcher,” is unfortunately no longer available in watchOS 27.

Here’s everything you need to know about the removal of the app switcher function for Apple Watch in watchOS 27.

watchOS 27 removes the app switcher function

I just updated my Apple Watch Series 11 to watchOS 27, a process that took longer than expected (several hours). While I’m largely impressed with the new software — these are the 7 watchOS 27 features you should try first — it falls short in two regards.

First, Apple removed the fan-favorite Walkie-Talkie app for no apparent reason. Second, and perhaps much more noticeable, double-tapping the digital crown no longer brings you to the last app you used. Instead, it defaults to displaying the new “Dynamic App Grid” with your seven most-used apps.

Oddly, a single click of the digital crown also launches the Dynamic App Grid, which seems redundant/oddly un-Apple-like. What gives?

Apple has bigger plans for the digital crown double-tap

Apple apparently has even bigger plans for the digital crown double-tap. Later this year, several intriguing new “Audio Intelligence” features are set to be added to watchOS 27, including “Live Rewind.”

It’s designed to give users an easy and discreet way to relisten to the last 15 seconds of audio captured by their Apple Watch (Series 12 and Ultra 4 only) at any moment, and even generate a transcript. For example, if you’re bad with names, like me, Live Rewind could be a truly useful bit of tech. It's also freaking some users out.

But what does this have to do with the end of the app switcher function? When Live Rewind launches, the digital crown double-tap will default to opening the feature on compatible devices.

What comes next?

Ultimately, it’s possible that if enough folks convey their annoyance with the removal of the app switcher function for Apple Watch, the brand might add it back in future firmware, at least for the devices that don’t support the new Live Rewind feature.

What are your thoughts on Apple removing the app switcher in watchOS 27? Let me know below.

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• Apple Watch Ultra 4 first impressions: 5 reasons to buy and 2 reasons to skip Apple’s new rugged model
• Here's how to enable the new Siri AI on your Apple Watch
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It’s officially Apple release day! A host of new Apple products were announced a few weeks ago and they’re finally available to buy today on Amazon. Better yet, Amazon is already knocking a few bucks off these brand-new devices.

For example, the Apple AirPods 5 are down to $124 (a $5 discount), while the Apple Watch Series 12 is available for $389, saving you $10. But the savings don't end there! There are also plenty of great deals on previous models of AirPods, iPads, MacBooks and accessories with larger discounts.

If you're ready to snag Apple's newest offerings, or grab a great deal on older versions, this is your chance — especially since Amazon Big Deal Days is right around the corner and early deals are already starting to roll out. Keep scrolling to see my favorite Apple deals on Amazon.

Quick Links

• shop all Apple deals on Amazon
• Apple EarPods (Lightning): was $19 now $14
• Apple AirTag: was $29 now $24
• Apple AirPods 5 w/ ANC: was $129 now $124
• Apple Watch Series 12: was $399 now $389
• Apple iPad 11" (Wi-Fi/128GB): was $449 now $399
• Apple AirPods Max 2: was $549 now $449
• 15" MacBook Air (M5): was $1,499 now $1,459

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Apple designed the Ultra for summiting mountains and diving reefs. In reality? Most of us wearing one are weekend warriors chained to a 9-to-5, using an $800 rugged watch to track our steps on our commutes. With the Apple Watch Ultra 4, Apple makes having the watch on your wrist even better, whether you're working out or not.

The big headlines with the Apple Watch Ultra 4 are a new heart rate monitor, a readiness score to help you know when to push and when to rest, two days of battery life for the first time, and new Audio Intelligence features that will come later this year. Physically, it looks the same, but under the hood, this is a smarter watch.

But is it worth the upgrade if you already have the Apple Watch Ultra 3 on your wrist? I’ve been wearing the Apple Watch Ultra 4 for the past week and wore it for a 22-mile run this morning to see how the heart rate monitor compares to a physical chest strap. Read my full Apple Watch Ultra 4 review to find out more.

Apple Watch Ultra 4: Quick facts

• Improved battery life: lasts up to 50 hours per charge compared to 42 hours for the Ultra 3
• New S11 chip: Faster, more efficient processing with support for Siri AI features
• Redesigned holistic sensors: Apple says this is the most accurate heart rate sensor on a wearable; heart rate and HRV are sampled more frequently than before; HRV insights are now more readily displayed in the Health app
• New health metrics: the Ultra 4 supports a new Readiness score and Health Age metric
• Siri AI features: the Ultra 4 ships with support for Siri AI voice assistance; new "Audio Intelligence" features help you better recall life's important details

Apple Watch Ultra 4: Specs

Apple Watch Ultra 4 review: Price and availability

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is available for preorder from September 9, 2026. Units should hit store shelves and your hands starting on September 18.

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is $799 / AU$1,349, the same price as the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and prior models.

Apple Watch Ultra 4 review: Design and display

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 looks physically identical to the Ultra 3, boasting the same dimensions, oversized display with 3,000 nits of max brightness, an all-titanium case, and 100 meters of water resistance. It’s still available in black and natural titanium.

There are slightly more bands to choose from: the Trail Loop is now available in dark umber, sand, and Apple’s color of the year, burgundy. The Alpine Loop comes in desert, dark olive, and also burgundy. Ocean Bands are now made from translucent silicone and come in three new colors: translucent gray, translucent kelp, and translucent black.

The big difference between the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 from a design perspective is when you flip the watch over. The heart rate sensor has been completely redesigned, but more on that below. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 also has a built-in microphone for all of the audio intelligence features coming later this year.

Apple Watch Ultra 4 review: Health and fitness tracking

The biggest difference, and the reason I think this is the best Apple Watch Ultra yet, is the new heart rate monitor loaded onto the watch. When looking at the two monitors side-by-side, the Ultra 4 and the Apple Watch Series 12 have a “32-petal design,” whereas older watches had a two-petal design. This refers to the spoke-like lines coming out of the electrode.

The green LED lights, which measure your heart rate by shining light into the skin, are bigger and more powerful. Apple says it also makes the heart rate monitor more accurate on certain skin tones, although it might still struggle if you have tattoos on your wrist.

I’ve always found the heart rate monitor on my Apple Watch Ultra 3 to be a little sketchy, and while I often put this down to how it sits on my wrist, I was keen to see how things might have changed on the Ultra 4. It’s worth noting that if, like me, you have petite wrists, you’ll need to ensure the Ultra is really tight against your wrist. I’ve found that if my watch strap isn’t tight enough, the watch just doesn’t give me a heart rate reading.

Heart rate data lies at the heart of a lot of health features on the Apple Watch, including HRV, workouts, and ovulation prediction. With the Apple Watch Ultra 4, the new heart rate monitor, along with the S-11 chip, measures your heart rate every five seconds, all day long. On the Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple only allowed continuous heart rate monitoring during a workout, but this is a huge step in the right direction. Inside the Heart Rate app, there's a rolling two-minute chart.

On the Apple Watch Ultra 4, you’ll be able to see your Recovery HRV score, which shows signs of stress and recovery, as well as your overall HRV, which offers insights into your overall health. You can now see from your wrist if your heart rate suddenly spikes, and through the new daytime Vitals app, you're getting a much more immediate picture of what's happening, rather than having to wait till you’re asleep.

I’ve been testing the new heart rate sensor alongside a chest strap and my Oura Ring 5, and have found the Apple Watch Ultra 4 to be pretty much spot on. Here’s a graph from my recent run:

The new sensors also feed into the new daily Readiness score, which is only available on the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4. Readiness provides a single score out of ten with one of four different recommendations: Recover, Pace Yourself, Ready, or Go For It. Readiness updates throughout the day as new data comes in, and is based on your overnight vitals, sleep score, recent physical activity, and training load.

To get a Readiness score, you need to wear the watch for seven nights and get at least four hours of sleep per night. While I have done that, my Apple Watch got a little confused by moving time zones, so it only registered two hours of sleep as I travelled back to London from Cupertino. I’ll update this review soon when I’ve had a few days of Readiness scores. I’ll also look at how these scores compare to the likes of Body Battery on Garmin, and the Readiness score on the Oura Ring 5.

Later this year, the Health App will see big changes, including a new Health Age score that compares your physical fitness to the average for your age. There will also be a greater emphasis on things like sleep trends, heart data, and other longevity metrics. Again, I’ll be testing these as soon as they drop, but I’m excited to hear about these updates to make the Health app more useful to users.

Of course, it's worth noting that Apple isn’t reinventing the wheel — Garmin has had a Fitness Age score forever, but wearing a Garmin isn’t like having an extension of your iPhone on your wrist. While these little changes might not sound like a lot, a Readiness score can show you at a glance if you’re overtraining and putting yourself at risk of injury. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or training for your seventh marathon, knowing how well you’re coping with your training is imperative, and Apple makes this easier with the Apple Watch Ultra 4.

Another minor but exciting update I’ve found during my testing is the Steps watch face. At last, you can see your daily step count from your watch face. Sure, steps aren’t the biggest health metric to keep an eye on, but on rest days, I still like to make sure I’m closing my rings and keeping my legs moving. Unfortunately for folks with an older Apple Watch, this is a hardware thing, as Apple says it relies on the more accurate S-11 chip, so older watches won’t get the updated pedometer.

Apple Watch Ultra 4 review: Audio Intelligence

Now, to address the parts of the watch that are probably going to get headlines — the Audio Intelligence features. Here’s everything you need to know about the new Audio Intelligence features, but in a nutshell, the two features everyone is talking about are Live Rewind and Siri Recap.

Neither is available for me to test just yet; they are coming later in the year, but essentially, Live Rewind allows you to double-click on the Digital Crown of your Apple Watch Ultra 4 and get a 15-second recap of what was just said around you. The Watch will play an audible chime even if your watch is on silent and puts a microphone indicator on screen, so people around you will know you’re recording.

One example is if you’d missed the specials at a restaurant, or missed a colleague's name, you could read it from your watch. I think there’s a compelling reason here, say, if you have ADHD or struggle with auditory processing.

The trickier sell, for me and most people I’ve spoken to, is Siri Recap. This records ambient audio every 15 minutes to create an itemized CliffsNotes of your day. You can set this to record at certain times or locations, say only at work, or only after 6 pm. Apple put a lot of stress on privacy when demoing this new feature — raw audio isn’t saved, uploaded, or retrievable, and Siri Recap doesn’t identify individual speakers. It’s also designed to exclude sensitive information or hate speech.

Even with these features, there’s still the slightly blurred line around the fact that other people’s snippets of conversation could appear in my Siri Recap, without them knowing they were being recorded. This isn’t a problem Apple faces alone — the same questions can be leveled at the ambient AI, cameras, and microphones in smart glasses and other wearable devices.

Personally, I don’t think I’d ever want my watch to be silently recording in the background, but I’ll reserve judgment until I go hands-on with the features later this year. It’s also worth noting that all of these features you’ll have to opt in to — they are automatically disabled when you unbox the watch.

Apple Watch Ultra 4 review: Battery life

Even with continuous heart rate monitoring every five seconds, Apple has improved the battery life on the Apple Watch Ultra 4. You’re now getting more than two days of battery life in smartwatch mode, with 50 hours of battery life, up from 42 hours of battery life in the Ultra 3. In low power mode, you’ll get 84 hours of battery life in the Apple Watch Ultra 4, compared to 72 hours in the Ultra 3.

In workout tracking, the battery is better on the Ultra 4 too. You’ll get 25 hours of battery life for tracking workouts with full GPS and heart rate tracking. This is up from 20 hours on the Ultra 3. There’s also a Max Extended Workout mode that allows the Apple Watch Ultra 4 to track outdoor runs, walks, and hikes for up to 45 hours.

I’ve found these numbers to be pretty accurate. I’m easily getting two days of battery life on my Ultra 4. It’s 5 pm right now, and I have worn the watch all day, replying to messages from my wrist and tracking three and a half hours of workouts, and my watch has gone from 82% at 6 am to 61%.

You also get faster charging on the Apple Watch Ultra 4 — 15 minutes of charge will give you up to 18 hours of battery life.

Apple Watch Ultra 4 review: Should you buy?

This is, without question, the best Apple Watch Ultra yet. Sure, there are still things missing: I’d love a built-in LED flashlight or a second size option for smaller wrists, but the health improvements made to this watch with the continuous heart rate sensing and recovery information help you train smarter. Little things like a Readiness score and Daytime Vitals help me see, at a glance, how much my long run has impacted my body.

Would I upgrade if I had an Apple Watch Ultra 3 on my wrist? I’m not sure, as the heart rate monitoring isn’t bad on the older watch, but if you’re wearing an older Ultra, you want longer battery life, or you’re intrigued by the Audio Intelligence features, this is a watch worth buying.

If you’re on a budget, I’ve also been wearing the Apple Watch Series 12, which is similarly excellent and has all the same sensors and features as the Ultra 4. It’s also smaller, lighter, and more comfortable to wear for 24/7 sleep tracking.

With the Apple Watch Ultra 4, you’re getting Apple’s extreme durability, the best battery life on an Apple Watch, and that all-important Action Button, which really does make using your watch with sweaty fingers better, along with the native recovery metrics long requested by serious athletes. This stands out as Apple’s most competitive endurance wearable to date.

"Your heart tells a story of your health, and it’s a story worth hearing," said Apple, as it announced the updated Apple Watch Series 12, with the most accurate heart rate sensor yet. It's not often a tech keynote makes me emotional, but as a health writer, this one did. Maybe I was jet-lagged, or maybe I believe that these huge health updates might make this the best smartwatch on the market.

I spend my days writing about how the best prediction of longevity is how healthy your heart is. With a new heart rate sensor, the Apple Watch Series 12 gives you a heart rate reading every five seconds, 60 times more frequent than the Apple Watch Series 11. This supports HRV readings, a new readiness score that gives you deeper insights into when to push and when to recover, and longevity features in the updated Health app.

The downsides? Everyone I talk to hates the fact that the watch has a built-in microphone for new audio intelligence features coming later this year, but I’ll get into that below. I’ve been wearing it for the past week, and I’m impressed — read my full Apple Watch Series 12 review to find out more.

Apple Watch Series 12: Quick facts

• Same 24-hour battery life: Despite the addition of continuous heart rate monitoring, the Apple Watch Series 12 has the same 24-hour battery life as the Series 11
• New S11 chip: Faster, more efficient processing with support for Siri AI features
• Redesigned holistic sensors: Apple says this is the most accurate heart rate sensor on a wearable; heart rate and HRV are sampled more frequently than before; HRV insights are now more readily displayed in the Health app
• New health metrics: Series 12 supports a new Readiness score and Health Age metric
• Siri AI features: The watch ships with support for Siri AI voice assistance; new "Audio Intelligence" features help you better remember life's important details

Apple Watch Series 12: Specs

Apple Watch Series 12 review: Price and availability

The Apple Watch Series 12 is available for preorder starting September 9, with units expected to arrive on September 18. The Series 12 has the same starting cost as the Series 11 — $399.

In addition to the standard aluminum and upgraded titanium case options, the Apple Watch Series 12 is also available in two ceramic finishes: Pearl White and Night Blue.

See a full breakdown of pricing for all the case options and sizes below:

• Apple Watch Series 12, 42mm, GPS (Aluminum): $399
• Apple Watch Series 12, 42mm, GPS+5G (Aluminum): $499
• Apple Watch Series 12, 46mm, GPS (Aluminum): $449
• Apple Watch Series 12, 46mm, GPS+5G (Aluminum): $549

• Apple Watch Series 12, 42mm, GPS+5G (Titanium): $699
• Apple Watch Series 12, 42mm, GPS+5G (Titanium): $749

• Apple Watch Series 12, 42mm, GPS+5G (Ceramic): $899
• Apple Watch Series 12, 42mm, GPS+5 (Ceramic): $949

Apple Watch Series 12 review: Design and display

Design-wise, the Apple Watch Series 12 looks pretty identical to the Apple Watch Series 11: it comes in two different sizes, 42mm and 46mm, but with the newer watch, there are more color and casing options to choose from. The Apple Watch 11 came in rose gold, silver, space gray, and jet black in an aluminum case, and gold, natural, or slate in titanium. You get more choices with the Apple Watch 12, which comes in dark bronze, light gold, black, and space gray in the aluminum case, radiant gold and natural in the titanium case, and pearl white or night blue in the ceramic case.

I’ve been wearing the 42 mm dark bronze aluminum Apple Watch, and I love how lightweight and comfortable it is on the wrist. In real life, the light gold Apple Watch looks like jewelry, and the ceramic cases really are beautiful.

The biggest difference, design-wise, is on the back of the watch — the heart rate sensor has been completely redesigned, but more on that below. The Apple Watch Series 12 also has that built-in microphone I mentioned above for all of the audio intelligence features coming later this year.

Apple Watch Series review: Health and fitness tracking

There’s no doubt about it: as a fitness tracker, the Apple Watch Series 12 is more accurate than its predecessor, and that’s down to the new heart rate sensor. When looking at the two monitors side-by-side, the Series 12 and Ultra 4 have a “32-petal design,” whereas the older watches had a two-petal design. This refers to the spoke-like lines coming out of the electrode. The green LED lights, which measure your heart rate by shining light into the skin, are bigger and more powerful.

If you’ve ever worn an Apple Watch to bed and woken up in the night to a harsh green glow underneath your wrist, you’ll love this update. That glaring light is finally gone — and so is the feeling that you’re about to be abducted by a UFO.

But more than that, heart rate data lies at the heart of a lot of health features on the Apple Watch, including HRV, workouts, and ovulation prediction, so a better heart rate sensor means the watch is doing all of these, well, better. Apple also said the new heart rate monitor works better on certain skin tones, though it will still likely struggle to read heavily tattooed wrists. Your heart-rate complication can update every five seconds, 60 times more frequently than it did on the Apple Watch Series 11. Inside the Heart Rate app, there's a rolling two-minute chart. And HRV, including overnight and recovery data, is much easier to surface directly from the watch.

Previously, Apple only allowed continuous heart rate monitoring during a workout, so this is a huge step in the right direction. On the Apple Watch Series 12, you’ll be able to see your Recovery HRV score, which shows signs of stress and recovery, as well as your overall HRV, which offers insights into your overall health. You can now see from your wrist if your heart rate suddenly spiked, and through the new daytime Vitals app, you're getting a much more immediate picture of what's happening, rather than having to wait till you’re asleep.

I’ve been testing the new heart rate sensor alongside a Garmin chest strap, and have found the Apple Watch Series 12 to be pretty much spot on. Here’s a graph from my recent run:

The new sensors also feed into the new daily Readiness score, which is only available on the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4. Readiness provides a single score out of ten with one of four different recommendations: Recover, Pace Yourself, Ready, or Go For It. Readiness updates throughout the day as new data comes in, and is based on your overnight vitals, sleep score, recent physical activity, and training load.

To get a Readiness score, you need to wear the watch for seven nights and get at least four hours of sleep per night. I have done that, but sadly, my Apple Watch 12 got as confused as my internal body clock was on my flight back from Cupertino, and only registered two hours of sleep for my night of travel. I’ll update this review as soon as I get a score.

There are also new changes coming to the Health app later this year, including a new Health Age score that compares your physical fitness to the average for your age range, and a greater emphasis on things like sleep trends, heart data, and longevity metrics. Again, I’ll be testing them as soon as they drop.

One very minor, but exciting update I’ve found during my testing is the Steps watch face compilation you can now get on the Apple Watch 12. Again, Apple isn’t reinventing the wheel, but you can now see your daily step count from your watch face, without the need for any third-party app. Unfortunately for folks with an older Apple Watch, this is a hardware thing, as Apple says it relies on the more accurate S11 chip, so older watches won’t get the updated pedometer.

Apple Watch Series 12 review: Audio Intelligence

Now to address the elephant in the room — the Audio Intelligence features launching on the Series 12 and Ultra 4. Here’s everything you need to know about the new Audio Intelligence features, but in a nutshell, the two features everyone is talking about are Live Rewind and Siri Recap.

Neither are available for me to test just yet; they are coming later in the year, but essentially, Live Rewind allows you to double-click on the Digital Crown of your Apple Watch and get a 15-second recap of what was just said around you. The Watch will play an audible chime even if your watch is on silent and puts a microphone indicator on screen, so people around you will know you’re recording. The example Apple gave was if you’d missed the specials at a restaurant, or missed a colleague's name, you could read it from your watch. I think there’s a compelling reason here, say, if you have ADHD or struggle with auditory processing.

The trickier sell, for me and most people I’ve spoken to, is Siri Recap. This records ambient audio every 15 minutes to create an itemized summary of your day. Yep, you heard that correctly. Apple put a lot of stress on privacy when demoing this new feature — raw audio isn’t saved, uploaded, or retrievable, and Siri Recap doesn’t identify individual speakers. It’s also designed to exclude sensitive information or hate speech.

However, even with these features, there’s still the slightly blurred line around the fact that my conversation could, in theory, appear on someone else’s Siri Recap without my consent to being recorded. Although this isn’t an Apple problem, it’s a living-in-2026 problem, as the same questions are being leveled at the ambient AI, cameras, and microphones in smart glasses and other wearable devices.

Personally, I can’t think of a situation where I’d need a computer to give me a summary of my day, but I’ll reserve judgment until I’ve been able to go hands-on with the features later in the year. I’d also add that these are all features that you have to opt in to — they are automatically disabled when you unbox the watch.

Apple Watch Series 12 review: Battery life

The Apple Watch Series 12 has the same 24 hours of battery life as the Series 11, but Apple has given us faster charging as well as a bunch of new sensors. You can now get up to 80% charge in about 30 minutes, 15 minutes for up to 12 hours of normal use, and 5 minutes for up to 10 hours of sleep tracking.

If, like me, you’re a runner, you will get slightly longer GPS-mode battery life — 10 hours instead of 8 on the Series 11.

I’ve found Apple’s battery life claims to be pretty accurate, and, as someone who frequently forgets to charge her watch before bed, I have definitely noticed how much faster the Series 12 charges.

Apple Watch Series 12 review: Should you buy?

A week later, I can confidently say that it wasn’t just the jet lag making me emotional in the keynote — as someone who writes about health and fitness for a living, this is the best Apple Watch on the market for most people. In fact, it’s the first year since the Ultra launched in 2022 that I’d be torn about which to shop for.

Between the upgraded heart rate sensor, the new Readiness score — because knowing when to rest is just as important as closing your rings — and an actual dedicated step-counting app, this watch completely outclasses the Series 11. I know other brands have been doing all of the above for years, but none of them are also like having an extension of your iPhone on your wrist, and that’s why when Apple does it, it feels different.

Audio Intelligence is the flashy upgrade and Siri Recap is going to generate headlines, but personally, I think it’s the continuous heart-rate sensing and better recovery information that have changed the day-to-day feel of the Apple Watch on my wrist when testing the Series 12. Buy the Ultra 4 if you want 50 hours of battery life, you’re into diving, or you just want to make a statement, but if you’re looking for a smartwatch that’ll help you make actionable changes to your health, the Apple Watch Series 12 is a good place to start.

At last, an AI-powered version of Apple's Siri voice assistant is available for the Apple Watch thanks to the public release of watchOS 27, the newest Apple Watch software.

In my experience so far, Siri AI is more natural in its tone, making conversing less awkward. More importantly, the feature is much better at answering complex, context-based questions with a reasonable degree of reliability.

Here's how to load Siri AI on your Apple Watch and add a dedicated Siri AI widget to your watch face in seven easy steps. Plus, a list of eligible models.

How to enable Siri AI on your Apple Watch

1. Make sure your Apple Watch and iPhone are compatible with Siri AI
2. Update your phone to iOS 27; update your Apple Watch to watchOS 27
3. Turn on Siri in your phone’s settings and join the Siri beta waitlist
4. Turn on Siri in your Apple Watch’s settings
5. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, tap Display and Brightness > Face Gallery
6. Tap “New Watch Faces” and/or search for the “Siri Modular” face
7. Customize the Siri Modular face to your liking and tap “Add to Watch” when finished

Read on to see full illustrated instructions for each step.

And there you have it. Siri AI is now enabled on your Apple Watch, and the Siri AI assistant app is now fixed on your watch face for easy access. Of course, you can also open Siri by double-tapping the Digital Crown or using a gesture control like wrist raise.

Siri AI is still in beta, so your experience with the AI assistant might not be as smooth as the final product. Moreover, getting off the Siri AI beta waitlist can take anywhere from a few minutes or hours to several days. So, be patient.

More from Tom's Guide

• Apple Watch Ultra 4 first impressions: 5 reasons to buy and 2 reasons to skip Apple’s new rugged model
• We asked 368 people what they want from the Apple Watch Ultra 4. Here’s the resounding answer (and it’s not AI)
• I’ve been writing about the Apple Watch for the past decade: Here’s the rumored update I’m most excited about for the Apple Watch Ultra 4

Apple’s latest watchOS 27 software is officially out and available for free download, as long as you have a compatible Apple Watch (more on that below). The new operating system adds all sorts of new health and fitness features, AI tools, and usability improvements.

I’ve been exploring watchOS 27 all day — loaded up on my Apple Watch Series 11 — and it’s a modest yet welcome improvement to watchOS 26. That said, there is one notable downside to upgrading.

Read on for everything you need to know about watchOS 27, including compatible models, installation steps, the seven coolest new features to try first, and more.

Which Apple Watches support watchOS 27?

Apple is generally pretty good about supporting older Apple Watch models with new software. Unfortunately, this time around, the list of models compatible with watchOS 27 is frustratingly short. It includes the latest Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 (duh), along with:

• Apple Watch SE 3
• Apple Watch Series 9
• Apple Watch Series 10
• Apple Watch Series 11
• Apple Watch Ultra 2
• Apple Watch Ultra 3

Most notably missing from the list is 2022’s original Apple Watch Ultra model

How to update to watchOS 27

To update your Apple Watch to watchOS 27, you’ll first need to update your paired iPhone to the latest iOS 27 software. After that, navigate to the Settings menu, either on your Apple Watch or via the Watch app for iPhone, and open General> Software Update.

You might need to reload the update screen a few times by swiping down, but an option to download the latest watchOS 27 should eventually appear. When it does, tap Download, punch in your passcode if prompted, accept the TOS, and wait…

Depending on your internet connection, the whole installation process could take up to several hours. One more thing: Ensure your Apple Watch is on its charger during the update process and keep your paired phone close.

7 new watchOS 27 feature to try first on Apple Watch

With watchOS 27 up and running on your Apple Watch, now it's time for the fun part: exploring all the cool new features. Here's what I recommend checking out first.

1. Siri AI with dedicated Siri app

Ladies and gentlemen, a true-blue AI-powered Siri is finally available on the Apple Watch. With watchOS 27, your Apple Watch now has a dedicated Siri AI app that supports a more conversational style of interaction. The voice is also more natural and expressive, making interactions feel less awkward.

Perhaps most importantly, Siri is now actually good at answering even complex, context-based questions. The question is, can Apple's on-wrist Siri AI compete with Google Gemini AI voice assistant (as found on the latest Pixel Watch 5)? I look forward to testing both head-to-head in a coming article.

2. The Dynamic App Grid

Meet your new default home screen, the Dynamic App Grid. When you press the Digital Crown once, your Apple Watch will automatically display your five most frequently used and/or relevant apps, saving you the effort of scrolling around. As the name suggests, these update dynamically throughout the day.

But what if the app you want isn't one of those five? Simply swipe down/scroll to view the full app view.

3. New Siri Modular watch face

Apple's latest Siri Modular watch face is a personal favorite. Highly customizable, it automatically displays a complication for quick access to the most recently used widget in your Smart Stack. Best of all, this complication also updates dynamically. The new watch face additionally offers a complication to open the Siri app with a tap.

Of course, users can further customize the appearance of the Siri Modular watch face to their heart's delight with the complications and time format of their choosing.

4. Single-tap gesture control to open Smart Stack

The latest watchOS 27 introduces a handy new way to open the Apple Watch's Smart Stack and select one of the dynamic widgets: The Single Tap gesture control. Apple launched the Double Tap gesture in 2026, where users press their index finger and thumb together twice on their watch-worn hand to perform an action, like answering a call.

The new Single Tap gesture works exactly the same way, minus the second tap.

5. Call Context and Smart Stack suggestions

Apple's AI-powered Siri shows up in more places than just the dedicated Siri app. For instance, two new features, Call Context and Smart Stack suggestions, use Siri to automatically surface relevant information on the watch display when it might be useful.

The Call Context feature is designed to display relevant details when brought up during a phone call. For example, if I casually mention an upcoming flight while chatting with my mom, Call Context should then show my itinerary on the Apple Watch screen for me to reference (stay tuned for testing).

Smart Suggestions, meanwhile, generates reminders in your Smart Stack for things you might otherwise overlook/miss, like a friend's birthday, a low balance on a transit card, changes to an upcoming flight departure, and more.

6. New Find My app

One of my favorite watchOS 27 improvements is the updated Find My app, where people, objects, and devices are all consolidated into one easy-to-navigate map view.

I love to travel and use AirTags to keep tabs on all my luggage and bags. Now, instead of having to pull out my phone to make sure that my suitcase actually made it back home to Seattle and isn't still chilling in Amsterdam, I simply need to tap on my Apple Watch a few times and glance down at my wrist.

7. Improved indoor workout tracking

Last but not least, workout tracking accuracy for indoor activities like walking and running should be improved with the latest watchOS 27 release. While I'm not much of a treadmill guy — I prefer to walk and run outdoors, weather be damned — you can count on us fully testing these claims in the coming weeks.

As a big fan of Apple's overall approach to on-wrist fitness tracking, any accuracy improvements are welcomed with open arms.

Now, if only Apple would provide individual step counts for logged workouts...

watchOS 27: Goodbye Walkie-talkie app

With the good comes the bad. While watchOS 27 is brimming with a lot of cool, new features and design improvements, Apple sadly killed off one fan-favorite app in the latest release: the Walkie-Talkie app for Apple Watch.

What are your thoughts on the new watchOS 27 software, and what features are you most excited to try? Let me know in the comments below.

More from Tom's Guide

• Apple Watch Ultra 4 first impressions: 5 reasons to buy and 2 reasons to skip Apple’s new rugged model
• We asked 368 people what they want from the Apple Watch Ultra 4. Here’s the resounding answer (and it’s not AI)
• I’ve been writing about the Apple Watch for the past decade: Here’s the rumored update I’m most excited about for the Apple Watch Ultra 4

If you’re like me and sometimes struggle to remember names and other small bits of information on the fly, despite your best attempts, this article is for you.

At best, this shortcoming can lead to awkwardness; at worst, utter embarrassment. But what if some magical bit of tech solved this issue once and for all? Enter: Apple’s new Live Rewind feature for the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4.

I’ve long dreamed of being important/wealthy enough to have a team of assistants that follow me around, whispering crucial details in my ear before I need them… like names of acquaintances. Unfortunately, rather than pursuing a career in politics or entertainment, my calling was journalism, an occupation where you’re very much your own assistant (and editor, photographer, etc.).

No worries; Apple has my back. Here’s why I’m super-excited to try out the Live Rewind Audio Intelligence feature on the new Apple Watch 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4.

At last, a smartwatch feature for the short-term memory-challenged

The whole concept behind Live Rewind is to allow users to easily and discreetly relisten to short snippets of conversations they may have missed, immediately after-the-fact. When active, Live Rewind continuously records the past 15 seconds of ambient sound from your wrist.

When you want to rewind and listen in on something that was just said, you simply need to double-tap the digital crown and hold your smartwatch to your ear (or simply listen if you’re wearing paired Bluetooth headphones).

Not only do I see this feature being useful when meeting new people and trying to remember names, but also in the presence of fast-talking servers at restaurants, when asking for directions from strangers, or when trying to recall book/movie/TV recommendations from friends.

How does Live Rewind actually work?

How exactly does Live Rewind on the Apple Watch work? The Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 sport an upgraded S11 processor, which unlocks the ability to continually buffer up to 15 seconds of audio capture, day and night.

In addition to being able to play back 15 seconds of audio at a moment’s notice, the feature can generate a transcription of the audio — something I appreciate as a visual learner — as well. Users can even save said transcription for later.

Privacy isn’t an afterthought

The idea of having your smartwatch continuously record your surroundings 24/7 might seem a bit unsettling, and frankly, it is. However, Cupertino has put several actions in place to guarantee the privacy of anyone recorded by the latest Audio Intelligence tools.

For starters, the latest Apple Watches don’t actually save any audio files, on the device or in the cloud. Every 15 seconds of buffered audio is continuously replaced by new audio. Furthermore, the feature never identifies individual speakers (for better or worse). Finally, all the data used for this feature is encrypted end-to-end.

So, what are your thoughts on Apple’s new Live Rewind feature for the Apple Watch 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4? Is this something you might benefit from? Do you have any hesitations? Let me know in the comments.

More from Tom's Guide

• Apple Watch Ultra 4 first impressions: 5 reasons to buy and 2 reasons to skip Apple’s new rugged model
• We asked 368 people what they want from the Apple Watch Ultra 4. Here’s the resounding answer (and it’s not AI)
• I’ve been writing about the Apple Watch for the past decade: Here’s the rumored update I’m most excited about for the Apple Watch Ultra 4

The Apple Watch Series 12 just dropped, and you might be wondering whether to buy an Apple Watch Series 11 on sale or wait and pre-order the new watch. Both watches will run the new watchOS 27 software, both have the same battery life, and both look pretty much identical, but there are some key differences. We’ll dive into them below, so read this before adding either watch to your cart.

Apple Watch Series 12 vs Apple Watch Series 11: 6 biggest differences

Heart rate monitor

They might look the same, but flip the watches over and you’ll spot the biggest difference from a health and fitness-tracking perspective: the newer watch has a completely redesigned heart rate monitor. Apple says it’s the most accurate heart rate sensor in a wearable, with larger, more power-efficient green LEDs that measure your heart rate every five seconds, compared to every five minutes in the Apple Watch Series 11.

But why does this even matter? Continuous heart rate monitoring lets the watch provide more accurate heart rate variability (HRV) data. On the Apple Watch Series 12, you’ll be able to see your Recovery HRV score, which shows signs of stress and recovery, as well as your overall HRV, which offers insights into your overall health.

The new heart rate monitor also allows you to use Apple’s new Readiness score. More on that below.

Daily Readiness score

Readiness provides a single score out of ten with one of four different recommendations: Recover, Pace Yourself, Ready, or Go For It. Readiness updates throughout the day as new data comes in, and is based on your overnight vitals, sleep score, recent physical activity, and training load.

Charging speed

Even with continuous heart rate monitoring, both watches have the same 24-hour battery life in smartwatch mode. That said, the Apple Watch Series 12 offers faster charging and slightly longer GPS-mode battery life — 10 hours instead of 8 on the Series 11.

With the Series 12, 15 minutes of charging gives you 12 hours of battery life, making it easier to ensure you don’t miss any sleep-tracking data.

Audio Intelligence features

The third huge difference between the two devices is that the Apple Watch Series 12 has Apple’s Audio Intelligence features on board. This uses Apple Intelligence to tell you what song is playing in the background in real time, detect important sounds you might have missed, get a transcript of the last 15 seconds of conversation with Live Rewind, and take notes of your conversations throughout the day with Siri Recap.

These features will drop later in the year, and you can read more about the Audio Intelligence features on the Apple Watch here.

Processor

The Apple Watch Series 12 has the new S11 chip. As well as the features above, Apple says this chip has redesigned algorithms to improve the distance accuracy of indoor walk or run workouts, as well as a more accurate pedometer. With the Apple Watch Series 12, you’ll also be able to see how many steps you’ve taken each day from your home screen.

Durability and cases

While the two watches look pretty much identical, the Apple Watch Series 12 watches with aluminum cases have a tougher screen.

Finally, you’ll also get new finishes with the Series 12 — there’s a new radiant gold titanium casing, as well as two new ceramic casings in pearl white and night blue.

Which should you pick?

So, should you pre-order the Apple Watch Series 12, or save your money and buy the Series 11 when it goes on sale? We’re yet to fully test the Series 12, so stay tuned for our full review dropping later this month, but from the heart rate sensor alone, this seems like a worthy upgrade from a health and fitness tracking standpoint.

More from Tom's Guide

• We asked 368 people what they want from the Apple Watch Ultra 4. Here’s the resounding answer (and it’s not AI)
• Apple Watch Series 12 hands-on: A new heart rate sensor and a readiness score (at last)
• Apple Watch Ultra 4 is official: All the upgrades explained

We've just seen a host of new Apple products announced, from the iPhone Duo to the AirPods 5. But new Apple tech can get seriously expensive, so I'm mostly interested in scooping up savings on previous models — where you can score some huge discounts.

Right now, you can shop deals on AirPods, iPads, MacBooks, accessories and more. One of the most useful deals for Apple fans is definitely the AirTag 2nd Gen (4-Pack) on sale for $79. This is the lowest price ever for this bundle, and these keyfinders are extremely handy for keeping tabs on your important items using the Find My app on your iPhone.

Meanwhile, if you do want the newest iPhones, you can get the iPhone 18 for free when you trade-in and opt for an unlimited plan at T-Mobile.

There are lots more deals up for grabs, so keep scrolling to see my favorites.

Quick Links

• shop all Apple deals on Amazon
• Apple EarPods (Lightning): was $19 now $14
• Apple AirTag: was $29 now $24
• AirPods Max 2: was $549 now $449
• MacBook Neo: was $699 now $679
• 15" MacBook Air (M5): was $1,499 now $1,399
• iPhone 18 Pro: free w/ trade-in + unlimited

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If you’re a fan of the best smartwatches, you’ve been treated in recent weeks with the launch of the latest models of the Garmin Fenix and Apple Watch Ultra.

The Garmin Fenix 9 line-up launched in late August, with the top-of-the-range Fenix 9 Pro being Garmin’s most advanced sports watch yet.

A couple of weeks later the Apple Watch Ultra 4 was announced at Apple’s September event, boasting new features like continuous heart rate tracking and a readiness score.

We’ll thoroughly test both watches and compare them in our full reviews, but for now here’s a breakdown of how the pair stack up with regards to their key specs, features and price.

Apple Watch Ultra 4 vs Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: Specs compared

Apple Watch Ultra 4 vs Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: Price

The price is simple when it comes to the Apple Watch Ultra 4; it will set you back $799, the same price as its predecessor. There’s also only one model of the watch, which comes in either black or natural titanium,

Things are a lot more complicated with the Garmin Fenix 9 line-up, with three sizes, two display options and standard and Pro models to consider.

The standard Garmin Fenix 9 costs from $999, whereas the Fenix 9 Pro costs from $1099 and has a full titanium case and the option to add inReach connectivity as its key upgrades. I’m going to focus on the Fenix 9 Pro for this comparison, because it’s the top model in Garmin’s line-up.

Whatever Fenix you opt for, however, the Apple Watch Ultra 4 is going to be the more affordable option, and it’s $400 cheaper than a Garmin Fenix 9 Pro with inReach.

Apple Watch Ultra 4 vs Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: Design and display

Both watches have rugged, durable designs with full titanium cases and sapphire crystal displays. The Apple Watch Ultra has a square 49mm case, whereas with the Fenix 9 Pro you can choose between circular 43mm, 47mm and 51mm case sizes.

Another choice you get with the Fenix 9 Pro is the display type, because there is a memory-in-pixel Fenix 9 Pro Solar with solar panels on its face to boost battery life.

The standard Fenix 9 Pro has a 3,000 nit AMOLED display, matching the brightness of the Apple Watch Ultra 4’s Retina display.

Both watches stick with their classic button layouts — the Ultra 4 has three buttons, one of which is a digital dial, while the Fenix 9 Pro has five buttons.

They have equivalent waterproof ratings and both can be used for diving to depths of 40m.

A big design advantage for the Fenix 9 Pro is its built-in flashlight, which has white, red and green modes and is brighter and more useful than the flashlight option on the Ultra 4, which uses the watch face itself to light the way.

Apple Watch Ultra 4 vs Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: Health and fitness features

Both watches are packed with useful sports and activity tracking features, and the Apple Watch Ultra 4’s new continuous heart rate monitor and readiness feature are two big improvements that bring it into line with features that have been available on Garmin watches for some time.

We’ll be testing Apple’s claims that the new heart rate monitor on the Ultra 4 and Apple Watch Series 12 is the most accurate on the market, but I have been impressed by the heart rate accuracy on the Fenix 9 Pro so far in testing, and on past Apple Watch models.

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 has more health tracking features, like alerts for signs of an irregular heart beat and hypertension, whereas the Garmin’s strengths are in more extensive training analysis, with additional metrics rating your overall endurance and predicted race times.

Both watches have all the sports modes and stats you need to track workouts, and are also comprehensive daily activity and sleep trackers.

Apple Watch Ultra 4 vs Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: Smart features and connectivity

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is a true smartwatch and offers more useful day-to-day features than the Fenix 9 Pro, especially with its new Siri AI-based features, like Live Rewind, Sound Recognition and Siri Recap.

There’s also a wealth of useful third-party apps available for the Apple Watch, whereas Garmin’s Connect IQ app store is much more limited, and Apple Pay is easier to set up and use than Garmin Pay.

The Fenix 9 Pro’s smart features do include music storage and the ability to link up with streaming services including Spotify, but the Apple Watch Ultra 4 is certainly smarter all round.

Both watches offer LTE and satellite connectivity though, which can be useful for staying in touch with others when you don’t have your phone, or to send SOS alerts if you get into trouble when adventuring off-the-grid.

This feature is only available on the more expensive Fenix 9 Pro model with inReach connectivity, and you will need a subscription with both watches to use these services, except for SOS alerts, which are free on both (for one year with the Fenix 9 Pro, for two years on the Apple Watch Ultra 4).

Apple Watch Ultra 4 vs Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: navigation

Garmin’s on-watch navigation tools are the best in the business, and you can quickly create and follow routes on the Fenix 9 Pro thanks to its routable maps, as well as getting specific info on what’s ahead of you when tackling long climbs or descents.

You can also view and use these maps with your sports modes, so you can see your activity stats and a map at the same time, unlike on the Apple Watch Ultra 4, which has its maps and routing features in a separate app to Workouts (though you can use third-party apps to shows maps during an activity).

Apple Watch Ultra 4 vs Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: Battery life

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 got a battery life bump that means it now offers up to 50 hours on a charge with the always-on display enabled, and 18 hours of GPS tracking in its most accurate mode.

However, this is an area where the Garmin Fenix 9 Pro certainly has the edge, no matter what size of the watch you opt for.

The Fenix 9 Pro 43mm lasts up to 10 days in watch mode and has 18 hours of GPS tracking. The 47mm watch lasts up to 18 days in watch mode and has 32 hours of GPS tracking, and the biggest 51mm watch I’m testing can last a whopping 31 days in watch mode and has 56 hours of GPS tracking.

Both watches can extend these ratings by using various low-power modes during activities, but if it’s battery life you want, the Fenix is the watch to go for.

Apple Watch Ultra 4 vs Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: Which should you buy?

The Garmin Fenix 9 Pro is built to be the ultimate adventure and sports watch and focuses more on battery life and training features than the Apple Watch Ultra 4, and it also offers more design choices and the flashlight, which I find invaluable.

For its part the Apple Watch Ultra 4 looks to be a very capable sports watch with more smarts and health features than the Fenix 9 Pro, and it also comes in a lot cheaper.

Both are among the best options in their category, but which suits you better will largely depend if you’re mainly looking for a sports watch, or a smartwatch.

More from Tom's Guide

• Apple Watch Ultra 4 first impressions: 5 reasons to buy and 2 reasons to skip Apple’s new rugged model
• Apple Watch 11 vs Apple Watch Ultra 3 — which one should you buy?
• We asked 368 people what they want from the Apple Watch Ultra 4. Here’s the resounding answer (and it’s not AI)

Apple has once again launched new Apple Watches, including the flagship Apple Watch Series 12 and premium Apple Watch Ultra 4. The question is, which one is right for you?

I'm here to help you answer that. Below, I've compared the Apple Watch Series 12 vs. Apple Watch Ultra 4 across seven categories, including cost, design, display, health and fitness, safety, AI, and battery life. Here's everything you need to know before you buy.

Apple Watch 12 vs Apple Watch Ultra 4: Specs compared

Apple Watch 12 vs Apple Watch Ultra 4: Price

This is an easy one; the Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399, half the $799 cost of the Apple Watch Ultra 4. Even the priciest Series 12 configuration, 46mm with 5G+GPS, is $250 less than the latest Ultra model.

That said, if you opt for the Series 12 with an upgraded ceramic case (vs standard aluminum), it surpasses the Ultra 4 in cost: $899 for the 42mm and $949 for the 46mm. Note: there is no ceramic Apple Watch Ultra 4.

Both the Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Apple Watch Series 12 are available for preorder from September 9 with a September 18 ship date.

Apple Watch 12 vs Apple Watch Ultra 4: Design and durability

Even though the Apple Watch Series 12 features an upgraded Ceramic Shield 2 screen coating — which is 60% tougher than the Ion-X glass used on the Series 11 — the Apple Watch Ultra 4 is hands-down the more rugged model.

The Ultra 4, like those before it, boasts 100 meters of water resistance, enough for scuba diving and double that of the Series 12. Additionally, the Ultra 4 sports a sapphire crystal display, which is more scratch-resistant than even Ion-X glass.

From a usability standpoint, the Ultra 4's design includes an additional, customizable "Action" button on the side of the case opposite the digital crown and side button.

Apple Watch 12 vs Apple Watch Ultra 4: Display

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Apple Watch Series 12 each use the same display as their respective predecessors. Ultimately, the Ultra 4's display offers slightly more real estate than the 46mm Apple Watch Series 12, and a noticeable amount more than the 42mm model.

You'll find LTPO3 wide-angle OLED panels with 326 pixels per inch of resolution in both the latest flagship and Ultra models, but the latter's display is more powerful than the former's.

While the Series 12 maxes out at a respectable 2,000 nits, which is generally bright enough for viewing in bright sunlight, the Ultra 4 reaches 3,000 nits of max brightness. In my experience, that's bright enough to read the screen in even direct sunlight.

Apple Watch 12 vs Apple Watch Ultra 4: Health and fitness features

When it comes to onboard health and fitness tech and features, the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 are essentially a match. They both have Apple's new, redesigned holistic sensor array, which promises far more accurate heart rate tracking, ECGs, and heart rate variability insights compared to prior Apple Watches.

Both watches support a wide range of trackable workout types, along with onboard GPS for logging outdoor activities without a paired phone, but the Ultra 4 has a more advanced dual-band antenna compared to a single-band GPS on the Series 12.

Translation: In settings with obstructed skies, like cities or forests, the Ultra 4 will likely generate slightly more accurate location-based data than the Series 12.

Apple Watch 12 vs Apple Watch Ultra 4: Safety features

Apple's latest smartwatches are each jam-packed with useful safety features, including fall and crash detection, high/low heart rate alerts, Hypertension Alerts, and sleep apnea notifications. However, the Ultra 4 (and Ultra 3) have one unique safety tool not found on any other Apple Watch: Emergency SOS via satellite.

This feature allows users to connect to a satellite, even without a paired smartphone and/or a cellular signal, and send a message to friends and/or emergency responders with location and other details.

Apple Watch 12 vs Apple Watch Ultra 4: AI features

The Apple Watch 12 and Ultra 4 support the latest, greatest Siri AI-based features, including the onboard voice assistant itself, along with Live Rewind (lets you ‘go back in time’ up to 15 seconds), Sound Recognition(alerts users to sounds like sirens and alarms), and Siri Recap (takes high-level notes of conversations and generates summaries).

Some are concerned about potential privacy issues, but Apple stresses that Live Rewind only activates when you deliberately double-press the Digital Crown. In addition, audio is not recorded or stored for either feature and Siri Recap offers only AI summaries and not transcripts or speaker names.

Apple Watch 12 vs Apple Watch Ultra 4: Battery life

If you want the best battery life in an Apple Watch, your best bet is the Apple Watch Ultra 4, which is rated to last up to 50 hours per charge, more than double the 24-hour rating of the Apple Watch Series 12.

Apple Watch 12 vs Apple Watch Ultra 4: Which should you buy?

Apple has long been careful to differentiate the flagship Apple Watch series from the pricier Ultra series, and that's still the case in 2026. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is tougher-built with double the water resistance, twice the battery life, a brighter screen, better GPS, and more impressive safety tools.

On the flip side, the Apple Watch Series 12 is much more affordable than the Ultra 4, with all the same cutting-edge health and fitness tools, AI features, and nearly the same-size screen (in the 46mm model). Oh, and it's also more comfortable on the wrist thanks to a slimmer case.

For most of us, the Apple Watch Series 12 is going to be the more sensible option. But if you fancy yourself to be a rugged, outdoor adventurer or hardcore athlete, then the extra cost of the Apple Watch Ultra 4 may be worth it.

Which new Apple Watch would you rather rock? Let me know in the comments.

More from Tom's Guide

• Apple Watch Ultra 4 first impressions: 5 reasons to buy and 2 reasons to skip Apple’s new rugged model
• Apple Watch 11 vs Apple Watch Ultra 3 — which one should you buy?
• We asked 368 people what they want from the Apple Watch Ultra 4. Here’s the resounding answer (and it’s not AI)

Shiny and new, shiny and new, we all love things that are shiny and new. Then again, just because something is fresh on the scene doesn’t necessarily mean it’s meaningfully better than its predecessor.

Hi, I’m Dan, and I review smartwatches. I’ve been covering the Apple Watch Ultra series ever since the first model launched. As you might expect, I had a long wishlist of upgrades for the fourth generation, many of which came to fruition!

Of course, not all my desires were fulfilled by the cult of Cupertino. With that in mind, here are the five biggest reasons I’m excited about the new Apple Watch Ultra 4 (i.e., the five biggest reasons to buy it).

And for all the contrarians out there, I've also included the two biggest letdowns, aka why you might want to skip the Ultra 4.

Buy: Better heart rate tracking

Apple went ahead and completely overhauled every aspect of the on-wrist holistic sensor array, including making the heart rate tracking LEDS more powerful and increasing the size of the electrode surface used for ECG readings.

Moreover, after extensive internal testing against the competition and a traditional chest-mounted heart rate monitor, Apple says that the Ultra 4 and Series 12 (which share the new holistic tech) are the most accurate heart trackers in any wearable on the market.

That’s not all; the new tech now takes heart rate readings every five minutes (60x times more frequently than the Ultra 3) and HRV readings every 15 minutes (24x more frequently than its predecessor) to better understand your long-term health trends.

Buy: New ‘Live Rewind’ feature

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Apple Watch Series 12 are the first two Apple Watch models to ship with true-blue Siri AI features built-in, including my personal favorite, Live Rewind.

Are you someone who forgets names moments after they're told to you? Did you just zone out while the server read off tonight’s specials? Live Rewind allows you to discreetly listen back to the past 15 seconds of audio at any given moment with a double-tap of the digital crown.

Essentially, the watch is constantly buffering 15 seconds of ambient audio from your wrist. However, actual recordings are never saved, individual voices aren’t identified, and all of the data used for the feature is encrypted end-to-end.

Buy: Improved battery life

This is a biggie and an upgrade that tends to top my wishlist for pretty much every anticipated smartwatch release. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is now rated to last up to 50 hours per charge, a noteworthy increase over its predecessor’s 42-hour rating.

For extreme athletes, there’s also a new Max Extended workout tracking mode that increases longevity from around 18 hours with full-time GPS and continuous heart rate tracking to a whopping 45 hours without sacrificing cardiovascular and location insights.

Buy: More accurate distance and step count tracking

As one of TG’s resident smartwatch walk testers, I couldn’t help but smile when I saw that the Apple Watch Ultra 4’s onboard pedometer software has been completely overhauled for better step count and distance tracking accuracy, thanks in part to machine learning.

Stay tuned for countless head-to-head walk test comparisons with the Ultra 4 versus the competition; let me know in the comments which smartwatch I should test it against first!

Buy: No price increase

Unlike those nerds over at Google and Samsung, Apple opted to keep its pricing for the 2026 line of smartwatches exactly the same as before, inflation and RAM crisis be damned!

This is commendable and, frankly, not very Apple-like. But, hey, there’s a new CEO in charge, so maybe the Apple of today and tomorrow will be a little more budget-minded than the Apple of yesterday.

Skip: Same display

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 sports the same exact display as its predecessor. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a fantastic panel that’s easy to read at just about any angle. It also boasts an impressive max brightness of 3,000 nits.

That said, the Apple Watch Ultra 4’s nearest competitor, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, boasts a max screen brightness of 5,000 nits. Ultimately, it would’ve been nice to see some sort of upgrade to the display in the Ultra 4, if only to keep up with its rivals.

Skip: It’s still gigantic

Every year, come late August, I close my eyes and pray to Steve Jobs, asking him for the one thing that would make the latest Apple Watch Ultra a total slam-dunk: A smaller size option. And every year, I’m disappointed.

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is the same dimensions as its predecessor, and even though it isn’t quite as chunky as the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, it still wears rather large on my fairly average-sized 6.5-inch wrist.

Ultimately, in addition to the 49 x 44mm standard Ultra model, I’d loooove to see a second 45 x 40mm offering for those who prefer smaller wrist candy and/or have daintier extremities.

What are your thoughts on the new Apple Watch Ultra 4? What do you love, and what do you hate? Let me know below.

More from Tom's Guide

• I went hands-on with the Apple Watch Series 12: A new heart rate sensor, ceramic colors and a readiness score, at last
• We asked 368 people what they want from the Apple Watch Ultra 4. Here’s the resounding answer (and it’s not AI)
• I’ve been writing about the Apple Watch for the past decade: Here’s the rumored update I’m most excited about for the Apple Watch Ultra 4

"Your heart tells a story of your health, and it’s a story worth hearing," said Apple, as it announced the updated Apple Watch Series 12, with the most accurate heart rate sensor yet. It's not often a tech keynote makes me emotional, but as a health writer, this one did. Maybe I'm jet-lagged, or maybe I believe that these huge health updates might make this the best smartwatch on the market.

I spend my days writing about how the best prediction of longevity is how healthy your heart is. With a new heart rate sensor, the Apple Watch Series 12 gives you a heart rate reading every five seconds, 60 times more frequent than the Apple Watch Series 11. This supports HRV readings, a new readiness score that gives you deeper insights into when to push and when to recover, and new longevity features in the updated Health app.

With a built-in microphone for audio intelligence features and new ceramic colors, there's a lot to like about this new watch. Read my hands-on review of the Apple Watch Series 12 below to find out more.

Apple Watch Series 12: Quick facts

• Same 24-hour battery life: Despite the addition of continuous heart rate monitoring, the Apple Watch Series 12 has the same 24-hour battery life as the Series 11
• New S11 chip: Faster, more efficient processing with support for Siri AI features
• Redesigned holistic sensors: Apple says this is the most accurate heart rate sensor on a wearable; heart rate and HRV are sampled more frequently than before; HRV insights are now more readily displayed in the Health app
• New health metrics: Series 12 supports a new Readiness score and Health Age metric
• Siri AI features: The watch ships with support for Siri AI voice assistance; new "Audio Intelligence" features help you better navigate life's fine details

Apple Watch Series 12 hands-on: Specs

Apple Watch Series 12 hands-on review: Price and availability

The Apple Watch Series 12 is available for preorder starting September 9, with units expected to arrive on September 18. The Series 12 has the same starting cost as the Series 11 — $399.

In addition to the standard aluminum and upgraded titanium case options, the Apple Watch Series 12 is also available in two ceramic finishes: Pearl White and Night Blue.

See a full breakdown of pricing for all the case options and sizes below

• Apple Watch Series 12, 42mm, GPS (Aluminum): $399
• Apple Watch Series 12, 42mm, GPS+5G (Aluminum): $499
• Apple Watch Series 12, 46mm, GPS (Aluminum): $449
• Apple Watch Series 12, 46mm, GPS+5G (Aluminum): $549

• Apple Watch Series 12, 42mm, GPS+5G (Titanium): $699
• Apple Watch Series 12, 42mm, GPS+5G (Titanium): $749

• Apple Watch Series 12, 42mm, GPS+5G (Ceramic): $899
• Apple Watch Series 12, 42mm, GPS+5 (Ceramic): $949

Apple Watch Series 12 hands-on review: Design and display

Design-wise, the Apple Watch Series 12 looks pretty identical to the Apple Watch Series 11. That said, with Series 12, Apple has released some new colors: there's now a dark bronze in the aluminum case, radiant gold in the titanium case and all-new ceramic cases in pearl white and night blue.

The ceramic pearl white looks beautiful in person, and the radiant gold is a close runner-up in my eyes.

The biggest difference design-wise is on the back of the watch: the heart rate sensor has been completely redesigned. More on that below.

Apple Watch Series 12 hands-on review: Health tracking

Both the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 feature a completely new heart rate monitor, which Apple says offers the most accurate heart rate tracking in a wearable.

When looking at the two monitors side-by-side, the Series 12 and Ultra 4 have a “32-petal design,” whereas the older watches had a two-petal design. This refers to the spoke-like lines coming out of the electrode. The green LED lights, which measure your heart rate by shining light into the skin, are bigger and more powerful. This supposedly makes the heart rate tracking more accurate.

Heart rate data lies at the heart of a lot of health features on the Apple Watch, including HRV, workouts, and ovulation prediction. The new sensors all feed into the new daily Readiness score that is based on your recent workouts, sleep quality, and vitals. There's also a new Health Age score that compares your physical fitness to the average for your age range.

I will, of course, be testing the readiness score, and the heart rate tracking over the next week. You need a week's worth of data, including seven nights of sleep longer than four hours to recieve a readiness score. The readiness score will not roll out to older models, as it relies on the continuous heart rate monitoring offered on the Apple Watch Series 12.

Later this year, a redesigned Health app is expected to launch with a greater emphasis on long-term trend reporting and actionable Siri AI-powered insights and advice.

Apple Watch Series 12 hands-on review: AI features

The Apple Watch Series 12 ships running watchOS 27, which means that it's one of the very first Apple Watch models to support Apple's Siri AI voice assistant, which is trained to answer queries and provide context-based guidance tailored to the individual user.

Siri AI also powers a handful of new "Audio Intelligence" features like Live Rewind, which lets you go back and listen to the past 15 seconds of ambient sound at any given time by double-pressing the digital crown.

Not the best note-taker? Siri Recap can listen into your conversation or meeting and automatically generate a report highlighting key topics, along with an overall summary of what was discussed.

Finally, Series 12 supports Apple's Sound Recognition technology, which can automatically alert users when common sounds like a doorbell or fire alarm are observed.

Apple Watch Series 12 hands-on review: Battery life

The Apple Watch Series 12 has the same 24 hours of battery life as the Series 11, but Apple have given us faster charging as well as a bunch of new sensors. You can now get up to 80% charge in about 30 minutes, 15 minutes for up to 12 hours of normal use and 5 minutes for up to 10 hours of sleep tracking.

I will, of course, be testing the battery life claims.

Apple Watch Series 12 hands-on review: Should you buy?