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AI chatbots are not your doctors. That's the advice out of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress, which has found that in up to a third of cases AI wrongly reassures sleep apnea patients that their symptoms don't require specialist help.

“I think it is concerning that people are turning to AI for diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders," says Dr. Carleara Weiss, Ph.D., MS, RN, and Sleep Science Advisor for Aeroflow Sleep. "AI is not a trained medical professional; therefore, people should not rely on it for advice on sleep apnea treatment or symptoms.”

Symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), including snoring and fatigue, often go overlooked, resulting in under-diagnosis. Left untreated, OSA increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.

Study finds AI chatbots are wrongly reassuring sleep apnea patients

Research presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Barcelona, Spain, found that when presented with sleep apnea symptoms, AI chatbots would at times discourage patients from seeking specialist help.

Obstructive sleep apnea is suspected to affect roughly 1 billion members of the population, yet it's thought that 80% of cases are undiagnosed. Diagnosis relies on referrals, with experts noting that patients tend to underreport their symptoms.

During the study, researchers found that when dealing with cooperative people, chatbots correctly advised finding specialist help.

But when patients pushed back or downplayed their symptoms, the AI model would change course. Instead of suggesting referral, they would offer lifestyle changes. This happened in over a quarter of conversations.

Researchers worry that when chatbots refuse to disagree, it will cause a delay in treatment.

4 signs of sleep apnea you should never ignore

Symptoms of OSA are rarely clean cut.

“Symptoms may look different across the lifespan, such as in children, women during pregnancy, or during the menopausal transition,” explains Dr. Weiss. “Thus, if you have concerns about your sleep, please seek medical advice from a specialist.”

However, there are some common signs that often indicate sleep apnea.

1. Loud snoring

Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by the soft tissue in your throat relaxing and blocking the airway. This results in breathing difficulties and often causes loud, persistent snoring.

If you share a bed, your partner is most likely to pick up on this symptom. If you sleep alone, keep an eye out for a dry mouth, morning headaches, and bad breath — common indicators of snoring.

2. Multiple nighttime awakenings

When the airway is blocked as a result of OSA, it causes oxygen levels to drop. This sends a panic signal to your brain, waking you up. These nighttime awakenings are often brief but they can sometimes result in a significant disturbance to your sleep.

3. Daytime sleepiness

If you go to bed on time, wake up eight hours later and still feel tired, it’s likely your sleep quality is suffering. OSA might be the culprit. Even short disruptions caused by OSA can prevent you from cycling through the sleep stages, meaning you miss out on the restorative sleep you need.

As a result, you spend the next day yawning, struggling to concentrate and feeling irritable.

4. Persistent fatigue

If you're experiencing long-term sleep deprivation with no clear cause, OSA may be the culprit.

“Speak with a healthcare professional and get a referral to a specialist as soon as possible," says Dr. Weiss. "Especially if symptoms such as daytime sleepiness, fatigue, brain fog, and irritability persist for more than 4 weeks, despite attempts to improve sleep.”

Can AI chatbots provide sleep health guidance?

For many, AI has become a tool to answer any question. And Dr. Weiss notes that these powerful systems can have benefits in certain medical settings.

“AI has specific, reliable uses in sleep research and clinical practice when medical, engineering, and computer science professionals with years of experience develop it,” she explains.

That’s not the same as asking Gemini for advice on your snoring. If you want to chat with a bot about your medical queries, Dr. Weiss urges caution.

“These platforms are not developed by sleep researchers; therefore, they lack medical accountability,” she explains.

“Their algorithms were not built to perform medical assessments or interpret nuanced signals of severe symptoms or other complications.”

Dr. Weiss further explains that an AI platform should never be the final word in health.

"The FDA-approved AI for sleep research and clinical treatment does not rule out the need for in-person treatment with a trained provider."

“AI should complement, not replace, medical consultation.”

I will always have a soft spot for the Saucony Triumph line because it was the shoe I used most when I first started running myself around 11 years ago.

However, the past few versions of the Triumph haven’t really hit the spot, lacking the energetic and fun feel of the best running shoes.

A significant update was needed, and that’s what has happened with the Saucony Triumph 24, which uses a new midsole foam called IncrediLUX that creates a much livelier ride than I experienced with the Triumph 22 and 23.

It’s still not as soft and springy as the Nike Vomero Plus or as smoothly-rockered as the Hoka Clifton Pro, but the Triumph 24 is a great cushioned option for daily training, and its balanced, traditional ride will suit a wide variety of runners well.

Saucony Triumph 24 review: Price and availability

The Saucony Triumph 24 launched in June 2026 and costs $170 in the U.S. and £170 in the U.K., which is a $10 price rise over the Triumph 23. Its price is in line with other cushioned favorites, though, like the Asics Gel-Nimbus 28, Hoka Clifton Pro and Nike Vomero Plus.

Saucony Triumph 24 review: Design and fit

The Saucony Triumph 24 is currently available in 10 colors in the men’s shoe and 14 in the women’s. Along with the standard shoe, there’s a wide model and a GTX version with a waterproof upper.

I found that the Triumph 24 fit me well in my normal running shoe size, the same size I’ve used for every version of the shoe I’ve tested.

The Triumph 24 weighs 9.6oz in my US men’s size 10, which is a 0.3oz drop in weight on the Triumph 23 despite the fact that the new shoe has a 6mm higher stack height of 43mm at the heel and 33mm at the forefoot. It sticks to the same 10mm drop.

Upper

The Triumph 24 has a mesh upper with padding on the tongue and collar, and an internal heel counter to add more structure at the back of the shoe.

It’s a pretty standard cushioned shoe upper all round, and I found it comfortable on all my runs, though not the most breathable, particularly under the thick tongue.

Midsole

The big update to the Triumph 24 is in the midsole, which is now made from a supercritical aliphatic TPU foam called IncrediLUX, instead of the PEBA-based PWRRUN PB foam used in the Triumph 22 and Triumph 23.

This new foam is lighter and softer than PWRRUN PB and delivers more energy return as well. It also feels less dense underfoot than PWRRUN PB and improves the ride of the Triumph 24 greatly compared with its predecessor.

Outsole

The Triumph 24 uses Saucony’s XT-900 carbon rubber to cover the forefoot and heel of the shoe, leaving the midfoot exposed.

I had no problems with grip during my testing, and the thick rubber covers the main impact areas on the bottom of the shoe, so it should be durable.

Saucony Triumph 24 review: Running performance

I used the Saucony Triumph 24 for a few weeks during my marathon training, racking up a lot of easy runs in the shoe along with a progression run and a 15-mile long run. I’ve tested the past 10 models of the Triumph, and I think the Triumph 24 is the best yet.

That’s all down to the IncrediLUX midsole, which delivers a great balance of comfort, control and energy return. It’s not as soft and springy as some shoes, but the Triumph 24 cushions landings nicely at the heel, then puts a bit of pep in your step as you roll through to the forefoot.

Although it’s pretty light for a cushioned shoe, it’s not ideal for speedwork — I’d use the Triumph 24 in a running shoe rotation with faster options for workouts. That’s not unusual for a cushioned shoe like this, though, which is primarily built for easy, steady training runs.

I was using the Triumph 24 during relatively high-mileage weeks as I ramped up my marathon training and often turned to it for recovery runs the day after a workout; it’s great for those recovery runs, providing enough comfort for tired legs while still ticking over nicely.

Should you buy the Saucony Triumph 24?

If you’re in the market for a comfortable daily trainer, the Triumph 24 ranks among my top options, especially if you prefer a more traditional, straightforward ride.

Rivals include the Nike Vomero Plus, which has a wilder, bouncier feel that I love on easy runs, and the Hoka Clifton Pro, which is more rockered than the Triumph and very smooth, rolling you from heel to toe.

I’d also consider the Asics Novablast 6 as a lighter, cheaper and more versatile daily trainer that’s also highly cushioned if you’re looking for one shoe to handle all your runs, because the Triumph 24 is a bit sluggish for speed sessions.

If you need more support on the run but like the sound of the Triumph, the Saucony Hurricane 26 is the equivalent stability shoe in the brand’s line-up, and it also uses IncredLUX foam.

Overall, it’s great to see the Triumph return to form, and it manages to bring in a modern-feeling superfoam to its midsole without straying too far from the ride feel that made it so popular in the first place.

Age comes for us all. In my case, it came in the form of a very active 7-year-old, who insisted that I lift her up by her arms each time a wave rolled in at the beach. As I lifted her up, she would jump and raise her legs in the air, so the water would flow safely beneath, and only then would she splash down into the sea.

It was all part of a delightful few days at the Jersey shore in the waning days of August. The sun wasn’t too hot, the water was warm, and the wind was gentle. However, those hours spent lifting my daughter up above the waves came with a price.

Back at the house, I bent down to pick up my beach towel, and that’s when everything went to hell. My lower left back suddenly gave out, and I felt pain like I hadn’t felt since I smashed my foot against my dresser in the middle of the night.

I had a hard time straightening my back, and any time I tried to move from sitting to standing, my muscles just wouldn’t cooperate. I didn’t walk so much as shuffle, and my back felt like it was bent more than an elderly grandmother with a walker.

Over the following days, I did a number of back stretches to alleviate the pain, and they helped somewhat. It wasn’t until I got back home that I found the real answer.

A year or two ago, I picked up the Theragun Prime Plus massage gun, but hadn’t really used it much. I know massage guns work well, but I always considered them an extravagance and never incorporated them into my post-workout routines. But, in my desperation, I pulled it out of its dust-flecked case and trained it on my back.

Friends, I tell you that it delivered instant relief. On its lowest setting, the Prime Plus went to work on my back, and immediately, I started to feel things loosen up. I then switched to the Prime Plus heated head, which made things oh so much better. It was like getting a massage and a heating pad in one. I made some pretty weird sounds as the pain in my back magically dissolved.

Because of the location of my aches and pains, it was a bit tricky for me to reach my lower back myself. I ultimately asked my spouse for help while I lay on my stomach, and she ran the massage gun over the affected areas. A few sessions over the next day or so, the pain in my back was completely gone. I can now see why Theragun's devices rank well on our list of the best massage guns.

The Theragun Prime Plus is the company's mid-tier full-body massage gun. If you can live without the heated bit, the Theragun Prime is on sale as of this writing for $249, down from its regular price of $329. At the higher end is the Pro Plus, which not only has a heated percussive head but also has a near-infrared LED light to really get your healing on. However, it costs $599 (regularly $649), so it's a bit more of a spend.

Yes, I need to follow the advice of our wonderful fitness team and do more core exercises to strengthen my lower back, plus there's this 90-second stretch recommended by physical therapists. Still, it’s good to know I have an option if things go awry again.

Follow Tom's Guide fitness on Instagram for more workouts, routines, tips, and tricks.

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With a slew of Hollywood blockbusters and an Oscar nomination under his belt, Austin Butler’s star continues to soar. However, not even he is immune to the common sleep issues that plague the rest of us.

After admitting to once going to bed around 2-3 a.m. (or going to bed early only to wake up at 3 a.m. with anxiety) the actor has cleaned up his sleep habits in order to maximize his rest and recovery. The top of his sleep hygiene hit list? Dark showering before bed and sticking to a consistent sleep schedule.

Dark showering is a popular wellness trend that involves (you guessed it) showering in low or no light. Intrigued by how this habit helped supercharged Butler's sleep, I decided to give it a go. Scroll down to read about how I got on, plus I take a closer look at Butler's nighttime routine.

Inside Austin Butler’s nighttime routine

Erratic filming schedules means that a regular nighttime routine can be difficult to stick to for a busy A-list actor. However, consistently good sleep appears to be exactly what Butler's striving for.

There one thing that Butler does every night as part of his nighttime routine — and that's taking a shower. “I love taking a shower before bed,” Butler revealed during a taping of The Drew Barrymore show. “It’s really simple but I just love getting into bed clean.”

When asked by Coveteur magazine what he was manifesting for 2026, “prioritizing sleep” was his answer.

“I tend to be a night owl, but lately I’ve been trying to find a healthier balance,” he told the lifestyle mag. “On a really good night, I’m asleep by nine or ten.

"Historically, it’s been more like two or three in the morning. But I like the idea of the sun going down, winding down with it, eating dinner, and going to bed early. I always feel better when I do.”

If you’re imagining a stark overhead light in a bright bathroom, think again. When asked by Coveteur to describe his home’s aesthetic,“cozy” was his response.

“I never turn on overhead lights at night,” Butler admits, indicating that his nightly shower is of the ‘dark’ variety — a popular wellness trend that can promote sleep.

“Once it starts getting dark, I turn the fireplace on and light a bunch of candles. I just like it so much more. It feels calmer. Softer.”

A consistent sleep schedule with a regular bedtime that Butler aims for is an excellent way to improve sleep quality. However, occasional late night shoots can throw a spanner in the works, he tells Men’s Health.

Despite admitting that he finds it hard to sleep after working late into the night, he has found a solution that works for him — a 30 minute incline walk on a treadmill, then a sauna closely followed by a cold shower.

Then, when he wakes up, he likes to get plenty of natural sunlight, which experts rate as an excellent way to anchor your circadian rhythm. “I’m just trying to find little things like that,” Butler tells the mag.

Does dark showering before bed help you fall asleep faster? I put it to the test

There aren't many things I can say I have in common with Hollywood stars, but I do share Butler's desire to clean up my sleep habits. As someone who has previously reported on how our relationship with artificial light at night can impact our ability to sleep, I was keen to try dark showering.

Does it work? In short, yes. I found it to be an excellent way to wind down and prepare brain and body for sleep, and found myself nodding off within minutes of getting into bed (that's fairly unusual for me).

Below Dr. Shelby Harris, PsyD, DBSM, a licensed clinical psychologist and sleep specialist at Better Sleep, outlines how three specific ways that dark showering can improve sleep quality and help you fall asleep faster.

1. Lowers stress

I hate a harsh bright light at night, so swapping the main overhead light for a cozy candle immediately set the scene for relaxation in my bathroom. After a busy day, I could feel my nervous system start to decompress under the stream of warm water.

While showering under bright lights can be overstimulating, a dark shower — combined with the warmth of the water — can help lower cortisol levels for better relaxation.

"The combination of a warm shower, lower light and a consistent routine can create a nice transition from the busy day into bedtime," explains Dr. Harris, a clinical psychologist who specializes in behavioral sleep medicine.

"It’s less about the shower needing to be completely dark and more about creating a calming, low-light environment before sleep."

2. Promotes melatonin production

If I'm honest, showering by a single candlelight initially feels too dark. But then my eyes begin to adjust to the low level of light and I begin to feel pleasantly drowsy.

That's because levels of the sleep hormone melatonin begin to steadily rise in the run up to bedtime, helping you to feel tired at the right time. However, exposure to stark, bright lights can inhibit this natural rise, which stops you from feeling as tired.

"Dark showering may be helpful because it reduces your exposure to bright light in the evening, which can make it easier for your body to transition toward sleep," explains Dr. Harris, who is board-certified in Sleep Behavioral Medicine.

"Light is an important signal for your circadian rhythm, so dimming the lights as bedtime approaches can support that natural wind-down process."

3. Triggers a core body temperature drop

Dark showering helped me feel tired and relaxed, but it also helped trigger a core drop in my body temperature when I got out — and that's crucial for sleep.

However, Dr. Harris warns against taking a shower that's too hot right before bed as it will raise your core temperature instead.

In order to fall asleep, your body temperature needs to drop around 2°F / 1°C (that's why you often feel cold when you're tired). When you step out of a warm (not hot) shower, your body temperature naturally dips, which signals to your brain that sleep is imminent.

How a consistent sleep schedule boosts longevity

When combined with a consistent sleep schedule like the one Butler aims for, dark showering is an excellent way to prepare your body for sleep. Think of it as a two-pronged attack.

A regular sleep routine helps optimize the production of key sleep hormones required for quality rest. However, a regular bedtime can also help you live longer. Here's how...

A ground breaking study published earlier this year by Vitality and The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) found that those who stuck to a consistent sleep schedule could potentially increase their life expectancy by up to four years.

Researchers analysed the wearable devices of 105,000 individuals, equating to 47 million nights of sleep data. They found that those who went to bed within the same one hour window and achieved at least seven hours of sleep at least five times a week could increase their longevity by 24%.

Instead of focusing solely on sleep duration, researchers found that a regular sleep pattern — sometimes referred to as Sleep Regularity Index (SRI) — helps anchor our circadian rhythms.

As well as helping us feel tired and alert at the right time, your circadian rhythm, which acts as your body's internal clock, also controls other bodily functions, including core temperature, digestion and hormone production.

When you stick to a regular sleep schedule, your circadian rhythm runs optimally, which reduces physiological stress on the body. However, if your current sleep schedule is a little erratic, the best way to fall into consistency is by establishing a regular wake time.

"If there's one thing you can do tonight to improve your sleep, it's to choose a consistent wake-up time and stick to it, even after a rough night's sleep," Dr. Jessica Meers, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist at Rhythm Wellness has previously explained.

Increasing awareness of sleep regularity means that some of the best sleep trackers, including the Oura Ring, Garmin Index Sleep Monitor, Whoop MG and Apple Watch include consistency as a key sleep metric.

Products we love to create a similar sleep routine

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.

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I am lucky enough to travel for work, and recently, I flew out to Olea All Suite in Zakynthos for a work fitness trip. As a trainer, fitness editor and all-round fitness nerd, I like to keep my routine up while I'm away, plus exercise helps me boost mindfulness when I'm very busy, so I was curious about what facilities would be available.

Luckily, I had more than enough gym equipment to play with, but that's not the case for everyone, everywhere, all the time, so I decided to create a short but effective three-move bodyweight workout you can do with just one of the best yoga mats and nothing else.

I teach a lot of people in their 50s and 60s, and while some of these clients love the gym, others want to exercise at home with little gym equipment, so building functional strength can take a "back to basics" approach, which is exactly what this workout does.

Ready? Me too, let's get stuck in.

Watch: 3-move bodyweight workout you can try anywhere

Resistance training is your anti-aging weapon for healthier joints and stronger muscles as you get older. Plus, with hormonal shifts, your metabolism can also take a bit of a dive later in life, so the more lean muscle mass you have, the faster your resting metabolism can become.

These tried-and-tested bodyweight exercises can be made more beginner-friendly or challenging, and you can add weights if you have them to further increase the load. If you don't have equipment, adjust the reps, sets, or tempo to add more work.

If you experience pain at any time, stop and rest. If you're working with an injury or health condition, I recommend seeking advice before starting these exercises.

The routine

Reps: 2/4/6/8/10...

Timer: 10 minutes.

Set a timer, then complete 2 reps of each exercise back-to-back. Rest for no more than 10 seconds, then repeat for 4 reps per exercise. Move through as many rounds, adding 2 reps to each move each time.

• Pike push-ups: Start in a downward dog, then walk your feet a few inches closer to your hands. Engage your core and softly bend your knees if you have tight hamstrings. Shift your weight forward slightly, then bend your elbows and lower the crown of your head until it touches the ground just in front of your hands. Press up and push back into the downward dog position. To begin with, you could place a cushion or some blocks in front of your hands to make things easier.
• Push-ups: Start in a high plank position with your shoulders directly over your wrists. You could place your knees down for extra support. Engage your core, then bend your elbows and lower your chest toward the mat. Pause at the bottom, then press the ground away to return to your starting position. For an extra challenge, release your hands from the ground at the bottom of the push-up, while keeping your stomach, hips and thighs lifted.
• V-ups: Lie on your back with your arms and legs extended. Engage your core and tuck your chin slightly. Lift your arms and legs into the air to touch overhead, peeling your shoulders away from the mat with control. Pause, then lower to the ground again. If this feels too challenging, bend your knees and tuck them toward your chest as you sit up, or alternate with one arm and the opposite leg, then switch sides.

What are the benefits?

Here are some benefits:

Pike push-ups imitate an overhead press without weights. Instead, you create a vertical downward position for your body, then use your body weight and resistance against gravity to create load. This move works your upper body and core hard, particularly your shoulders, upper chest, upper back and triceps. You might not think it, but you could actually start on your knees and practice the pike, or elevate them if you prefer.

Push-ups are perhaps the most well-known upper-body bodyweight exercise. You'll work your pecs, triceps and shoulders and use your core for stability. You can use your knees to begin with, but before you try full-range push-ups, ensure you can lower your chest to the ground for full range of motion. This keeps the muscles under tension for longer and helps build functional upper-body strength.

V-ups are primarily a core exercise, working the deeper stabilizing muscles of your core, as well as your abs and obliques. However, you'll also feel this move in your hip flexors, quads and hamstrings. Some people feel this move a little in the arms and upper back as well. You'll need an existing amount of core strength and mobility to drive this exercise, so if you find it too difficult, alternate with one arm and leg or bend your knees to crunch instead.

I don't subscribe to the idea that the exercises or routines you enjoy must change just because the number on your birthday card does. I still train my dad in the gym, and he's deadlifting 100kg at 72 years old. However, what matters are your levels of fitness, any health conditions, injuries, or illnesses, and your preferences.

Firstly, compound exercises that are both functional and progressive should be a top priority. Think your standard overhead press, squats, push-ups, bench presses, lunges and step-ups. Resistance training can be done using your bodyweight and weights, but whichever you choose, aim for an intensity that feels close to failure with the last few reps challenging to finish.

Try to move your joints through their range of motion in a variety of patterns while loading muscles using any form of resistance. Motion is lotion, so keeping your body moving in ways that feel natural will help improve functional strength and mobility.

The more you move throughout the day, the better you can also balance and stabilize; the more you load your bones and muscles, the stronger they get. You might still enjoy some higher-intensity exercise in your 50s and beyond, but low-impact movement can offer brilliant benefits. Think of the strength, flexibility and power you can build in yoga, or the core stability, posture and balance Pilates offers.

Before you consider adding weights, focus on the fullest range of movement and really squeezing the working muscles at the top of each rep. Control is essential, so prioritize your form and speed. And remember, you might not notice the progress straight away, but over time, you'll see huge benefits in how your body moves, adapts and responds.

Follow Tom's Guide fitness on Instagram for more workouts, routines, tips, and tricks.

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One of my favorite aspects of being a technology journalist is getting to cover the debut of exciting new products at events like the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, and most recently the Internationale Funkausstellung show, aka Innovation for All (IFA) in Berlin.

With no shortage of ground to cover at each of these tech conferences, I’ve made a habit of treating each day as a marathon of sorts, tracking my stats via one of the best fitness trackers or top smartwatches I can find.

For IFA 2026, I opted to log my efforts using the new Garmin Cirqa, a screen-free tracker that’s comfortable, long-lasting, and discreet. Ultimately, it proved to be a competent wearable for the task, with one notable exception (more on that below).

With that said, here are the five biggest takeaways from logging my steps at IFA 2026 on the Garmin Cirqa.

I logged 28k steps at IFA in Berlin on the Garmin Cirqa

1. I covered way more ground than expected, especially on day 1

Much to my surprise, I walked nearly 18,000 steps on my first day of IFA, which was technically a day before the show opened to the public (the press tends to get early access).

To be fair, the Berlin Messe is an absolutely sprawling conference complex, with no shortage of seemingly secret passages and tucked-away halls that are easy to stumble upon by accident but virtually impossible to find again when you’re actually looking for them.

This partially explains why my day one step count was so much higher than day two: I spent considerable time on the ground day one simply trying to get a lay of the land (in an admittedly very jet-lagged state). Day two, I had meetings scattered throughout the complex, and I didn’t want to be wandering around like a ding-dong.

2. I logged more steps on day 1 of IFA than any single day covering MWC

At 17,902 steps, my day one of IFA coverage in Berlin beat my step count for any individual day of coverage at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona back in March. That said, I spent a total of five days covering MWC compared to just two days covering IFA, for a total step count of 67,398 steps in Spain.

3. But CES day 1 was more intense than both

While day one of IFA may have been a leg-burner, it falls a bit short of my total step count from day one of the Consumer Electronics Show held in Las Vegas back in early January, where I logged a dog-barking 20,253 steps, more than double my everyday average back home.

Then again, as anyone who has been to CES likely knows, things are very spread out in Las Vegas, which also just might be the least pedestrian-friendly city in the U.S... want to cross the street? You'll need to walk another half-mile down the strip and wander through multiple casinos to do so.

4. Commuting on the U-Bahn seemingly skewed Garmin's distance and pace data

I didn’t include my distance or pace totals in the table above because it’s clear these figures are skewed. Both days of the show, I fired up a walking workout in the Cirqa upon leaving my hotel, trekked about half a mile to the nearest U-Bahn station — I am a nerd for experiencing public rail transit in new cities — and rode the metro roughly two miles to the show grounds.

Unfortunately, the Garmin Cirqa clearly interpreted this time spent riding the train as me moving at near-superhuman speed. For example, my average moving pace on day one of the show, according to Garmin, was 8 mins 41 secs per mile. Sure, I can maintain that pace when running a mile, but covering a trade show? Def not.

Garmin also said I walked 14.14 miles on day one, which would equal 1,266 steps per mile, way less than what I normally average, which is closer to 2,000 steps per mile.

5. I mostly forgot the Garmin Cirqa was even there, but might not wear it again

Ultimately, I opted to wear the Garmin Cirqa for two primary reasons. First, it’s comfortable and lightweight, so much so that I pretty much forgot it was even there. Second, I wanted to wear a mechanical watch on my left wrist to keep a constant eye on time; the nine-hour time difference between Seattle (where I live) and Berlin was my main rationale (also, I got a cool new watch I wanted to show off).

So, will I be wearing the Garmin Cirqa the next time I cover a major tech show? Honestly, probably not. While I appreciate how wrist-friendly it is, the lack of GPS means it has to piggyback off my smartphone’s signal, which isn’t necessarily ideal. Moreover, I’d rather opt for a wearable that’s capable of discerning time spent walking from time spent riding a subway.

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As someone who reviews all kinds of running and fitness products, durability is both the easiest and hardest thing to test. All I have to do is keep using something to see if it’s long-lasting, but the rapid turnover of running products means there’s always something new to test.

That’s especially true with the best running shoes, watches and headphones, which are updated yearly, but I do get more of a chance to test running apparel over the long-term, and there are some items that have really stood out for their durability in my time as a runner.

I’ve used all of the products below regularly for several years, which means they’ve withstood hundreds of miles of running and frequent washing. Thousands of miles, in some cases. So while they're expensive up front, there's no doubt I've gotten great value from them in the long run. No pun intended.

You can extend the life of your products with good care — I always wash my running gear on a cold, fairly short cycle — but largely, durability depends on the quality of the goods, and I happily guarantee these five products stand up to the long-term run test.

Saysky Pace 2 in 1 Shorts 5”

I have a few pairs of these shorts that I’ve used weekly for several years and they’re just as comfortable as ever and show almost no signs of wear and tear.

They’re my go-to shorts for easy and long runs thanks to the supportive inner layer, which has a couple of handy drop-in pockets that can take a phone, keys and a couple of gels.

The upfront cost is pretty high, but as one of Saysky’s most popular products the 2 in 1 shorts are often featured in the brand’s sales, and they’re certainly built to last.

Soar All Weather Jacket

A healthy percentage of my longest-lasting running apparel is made by British brand Soar, and durability is certainly demanded given the high prices you do pay for Soar’s stuff.

The All Weather Jacket I have is the original version, and it has been updated since, but I have little doubt it remains just as durable as the one I’ve used myself for several winters' worth of running. My jacket still feels soft and comfortable, and aside from some fraying around the cuffs, it’s held up perfectly to regular use in inclement weather.

It’s windproof, water-resistant enough to fend off rain without being as hot and sweaty as a full waterproof, and has a close fit that allows for freedom of movement. The last point is important, because it means I can wear the jacket for fast runs in the winter, whereas many jackets feel too bulky.

There are certainly great running jackets available for less, but the All Weather Jacket lives up to its name in being warm enough for snow but breathable enough for mild, wet days, and it’s still my go-to after years of use.

Stance Run Crew Socks

I’ve been a big fan of Stance’s running socks since I first slipped a pair on many years ago, and I’ve amassed a sizable collection of the Run Crew socks in particular, with some that have lasted me more than five years.

While they’re not quite as soft and flexible as they were when new, these long-lasting socks are still comfortable after years of regular runs and washes, and none have developed holes or frayed at all.

Darn Tough is another running sock brand that has impressed me with their durability, and this is an apparel area where I’ve definitely found it’s worth paying a little more upfront to get a longer lasting product.

Tracksmith Van Cortland Tee

Tracksmith is another premium running brand that I found does offset the high initial price of its products with better-than-average durability, and the Van Cortland Tee has been a staple of my training wardrobe for several years.

It’s a loose-fitting tee that’s breathability in hot conditions, even if it’s not the thinnest and lightest option, and comes in a variety of designs that all feature Tracksmith’s trademark sash.

I use it mainly for easy and long runs as I personally prefer something tighter and lighter for sessions, though in winter the relaxed fit of the Van Cortland is handy as I can fit it over a base layer easily.

Under Armour Performance Tech Boxerjock

I prefer to wear underwear under my running shorts as I find this more supportive than relying on the liners in shorts alone, and these Under Armour Boxerjocks are both highly comfortable — I never get chafing with them — and unbelievably durable.

Frankly, I wasn’t sure whether to put them in this article, because it’s a little embarrassing to say you’ve been using the same underwear for almost 10 years, but they’ve stood up so well to regular use and washes I had to highlight them.

They’re good value too, and often appear in Amazon sales. Make sure you get the Tech version though, as the cotton ones won’t be as suitable for running.

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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

As we get older, strength training becomes more important than ever as a way to slow down and even reverse the physical effects of aging. Yet if you’re a complete beginner, or you’re returning to exercise following an extended break or injury, it can be difficult to know where to start.

To find out more, I spoke to Mellisa Leach, a yoga instructor and strength and conditioning coach. Below, she shares three exercises to help you build better mobility over the age of 40. All you’ll need is a long resistance band (you can check out the best resistance bands for working out at home here). Resistance bands are a fantastic way to build strength without putting stress on the joints.

As a reminder, if you’re currently recovering from an injury, this workout might not be right for you and your body. Always seek personalized advice from a qualified professional if you are unsure.

What is the workout?

1. Standing resistance band row

“This exercise strengthens the upper and mid-back, as well as your shoulders and biceps, while improving posture and shoulder stability,” says Leech.

How to do it:

• Secure a resistance band around a stable surface at chest height in front of you
• Stand tall with your feet hip-width apart and hold the ends of the band with both hands
• Extend your arms in front of your body
• Pull the band towards your torso, driving your elbows back and squeezing your shoulder blades together
• Slowly return to the starting position
• Perform 2-5 sets of 10-15 repetitions

2. Standing resistance band reverse fly

“Perfect for targeting rear deltoids, rhomboids, and upper back muscles, this move helps improve posture, shoulder health, and upper-body stability,” Leech says.

How to do it:

• Secure a resistance band around a stable surface at chest height in front of you
• Stand tall and hold the ends with your hands extended in front of your chest
• Keeping a slight bend in your elbows, open your arms out to the sides
• Squeeze your shoulder blades together as your arms form a ‘T’ shape
• Slowly return to the starting position
• Perform 2-5 sets of 10-15 repetition

3. Standing resistance band overhead press

“Overhead press helps maintain shoulder mobility, upper-body strength, and the ability to perform everyday activities, such as reaching overhead, more easily.”

How to do it:

• Stand with your feet hip-width apart
• Hold each end of the resistance band in each hand at shoulder height with elbows bent
• Press your arms overhead until they are fully extended
• Hold briefly at the top
• Slowly lower back to the starting position
• Do 2-5 sets with 8-12 repetitions

What are the benefits?

“Mobility exercises are one of the most effective ways to maintain independence as we get older,” says Leech. “By regularly moving our joints through their full range of motion, we can improve strength, balance, coordination, and flexibility, all of which play an important role in staying active later in life.

“Over time, mobility training helps the joints and muscles work together more efficiently, which in turn helps reduce the risk of injury and falls by strengthening key stabilising muscles, as well as improving pain relief and making everyday tasks such as carrying shopping, climbing stairs, or even getting out of bed easier.”

Resistance band exercises like these place constant tension on the deep stabilizer muscles in the upper body and core. Strengthening these small stabilizer muscles can help improve your overall balance and stability, as well as improve your mobility.

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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)

One of the big revelations at yesterday's Apple event was the new Siri AI features, and in particular, what these features mean for the new Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4. The two new watches have built-in microphones and can now automatically detect music playing in the background and silently take notes on your conversations throughout the day to give you a recap.

Let's dive into all the new audio features coming to Apple Watch:

Sound recognition

Arguably the most helpful feature — especially for anyone hard of hearing or deaf — is the sound recognition feature. This allows your watch to detect important sounds like sirens, alarms, and doorbells and alert you, even if you don’t have your iPhone nearby.

Automatic music recognition

If you’ve ever tried to Shazam a song and not been fast enough to catch it, this feature is for you. Music recognition automatically detects the song playing in the background and displays the name of the artist and the title in the Smart Stack.

Live Rewind

Live Rewind allows you to double click on the Digital Crown and receive a transcript of what was said in the last 15 seconds. It’s designed to allow you to catch something you missed in a conversation, or to save yourself from awkwardness when you immediately forget your colleague’s name. Once recalled, you can ask Siri for more information, or save it to the Siri app.

When you press the Digital Crown for this feature, a chime will sound, even if your watch is on silent or you’re wearing headphones. Apple says this is to alert those nearby that you are using the feature.

Siri Recap

Finally, when turned on, Siri recap will take notes of your conversations throughout the day and create Apple Intelligence-generated summaries you can use later. Summaries auto-delete after seven days if you haven’t saved them and you can set Siri recap to only record in certain locations, like at work, or during particular times of the day.

If all of this sounds like something you’d rather not use, Apple have stressed that each Audio Intelligence feature is automatically disabled on the watch: you have to opt-in to the ones you want to use.

The company also stressed that any data collected using Live Rewind or Siri Recap will be encrypted — you won’t be able to see who said what, and it doesn’t store voice recordings. Siri Recaps will also omit potentially harmful content, such as language promoting self-harm or hateful speech, and sensitive information, such as financial data.

These features will be available later in the year, and we’ll be sure to test them and bring you our verdict.

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

I would encourage any of my clients to build a sustainable, consistent mobility routine into their weekly exercise program, but it doesn't always need to be 30 minutes or longer for the benefits to show. You can benefit from instant relief using this 60-second "hip release" reset, consisting of just three moves and a lot of love for stiff hips.

This is perfect for anyone who needs to stand up after hours spent at a desk or behind a laptop, and it can take as little as 60 seconds, or more if you have the time.

One of the best yoga mats is recommended, and that's all. You could do it from anywhere, including joining me by finding some space while abroad, and below, I show you exactly how to follow, plus the benefits.

Watch: 3-move hip mobility release

Trying to improve mobility and flexibility and strengthen your body using your body weight will help you move better and with more freedom.

Later in life, you'll be thankful for strong bones, muscles and ligaments that help you maintain an active lifestyle, and a consistent, progressive routine will help you do just that.

If you experience pain at any time, stop and rest. If you're working with an injury or health condition, I recommend consulting your physician or a yoga instructor before starting these exercises.

• "World's Greatest Stretch": Step your left leg into a low lunge with your back knee supported on the mat. Raise your left arm toward the ceiling and twist gently to open your chest, shoulder and hip, then drop your elbow toward your ankle. Bind your left arm under your left leg, with your hand just outside the left foot. Return to center, repeat for reps, then switch sides. Why? This move stretches your hips, opens your chest and shoulders and even gently mobilizes the spine.
• Downward dog to knee curl: Start in a downdog position with your butt lifted, heels drawn down toward the mat and shoulders pulled down away from your ears. Ripple forward into a high plank and curl one knee toward your chest. Pause, then return to downdog and switch legs. Why? Your hips work to help lift your leg, so strengthening them is vital if you enjoy walking and running. Knee curls also strengthen your core muscles, which are vital for protecting your spine and pelvis.
• Hip rolls: Start on your hands and knees with your shoulders stacked over your wrists. You can place a prop like a yoga block next to you, but you don't need one. Roll your hips by drawing your leg in circles around the block in both directions. Switch sides. Why? Hip rolls move your hips through rotation, building range of motion. Using a block is useful for testing your range. Try to keep your weight even between your left and right sides without leaning to one side to assist the movement. Working the left and right sides independently is also great for identifying and fixing any imbalances.

Just 20 seconds of each of these moves is a great start, but spend longer on them if you want or need to.

Unilateral work is great for working on both sides of your body without your stronger muscles taking over. I like to include unilateral movements during every session if I can.

Rotational work is ideal if you want to increase overall range of motion, but remember to externally and internally rotate the hips, working in both directions to target the stabilizing muscles and joints properly.

Knee lifts and core activation strengthen your hips, which is great if you sit for long periods. Weak, underused hips contribute heavily to back pain over time. Squeeze your glutes, pull your knee forward and slightly curl your spine by pressing through your hands to create space beneath your body.

For someone new to exercise, build up slowly and spend a few breaths on each move per side.

Follow Tom's Guide fitness on Instagram for more workouts, routines, tips, and tricks.

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Alo Yoga is one of the most popular names in the activewear world — which is why it's no surprise the brand rarely has sales. However, right now, their sale section is packed to the brim with fitness apparel deals up to 40% off.

I'm personally a huge fan of Alo apparel. It's quickly become one of my go-to brands for working out, getting my steps in and even just lounging around the house. Their prices aren't considered cheap, but their clothes are comfortable, versatile and most importantly, they're durable.

If you're ready to upgrade your fall activewear apparel, keep scrolling to check out my tried-and-true favorites from the sale. Sizes are very limited on select items, so I recommend looking at sizes first. Otherwise, below I've picked the best deals for both men and women.

Quick Links

• shop all men's Alo Yoga
• shop all women's Alo Yoga
• Airlift Intrigue Bra: was $78 now $46
• Triumph Long Sleeve Tee: was $68 now $54
• Airlift Redefine Bra: was $88 now $61
• Conquer Reform Mock Neck Long Sleeve: was $98 now $68
• Airlift Tennis Skirt: was $88 now $70
• Alosoft Courtside Tennis Dress: was $118 now $82
• Latitude 1/2 Zip Pullover: was $178 now $124

Best Alo Yoga Deals

Shop More Deals

Nike is one of the best footwear brands on the market — and while its running sneakers can come with a hefty price tag, there are still plenty of deals worth checking out. Right now, the retailer is slashing prices on top-rated sneakers, walking shoes and recovery sandals by up to 40%.

If you’re looking to refresh your footwear lineup for fall, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve rounded up the best Nike deals I could find, and every pair is under $50. Keep scrolling to score a new pair of stylish, affordable kicks before they’re gone.

Note: prices vary depending on the size and color you choose. To find the best deals, check out any different color options available in your size. For more, see our Nike promo codes.

Quick Links

• shop all Nike deals under $50
• Nike Victori One Slides (Men's): was $37 now $29
• Nike Calm Slides 2.0 (Women's): was $55 now $33
• Nike Run Defy (Women's): was $65 now $42
• Nike Flex Experience Run 12 (Women's): was $75 now $47
• Nike Promina Walking Shoes (Women's): was $70 now $48
• Nike Downshifter 14 (Men's): was $80 now from $49
• Nike Flex Train Workout Shoes (Men's): was 80 now from $49
• Nike Waffle Nav (Men's): was $80 now $49
• Nike Precision 7 Basketball Shoes (Men's): was $80 now $49

Nike Footwear Deals

Shop More Deals

I'm a huge fan of Adidas. Out of the major sneaker brands, my favorite deals usually come from Adidas because of their affordability, reliability and performance. There's a huge range to choose from, including budget-friendly picks as well as some of the fastest racing shoes we've ever tested. Right now Amazon is offering tons of discounts on Adidas running shoes, and you'll also find up to 40% off in Adidas' fall sale.

One of my favorite discounts is the Adidas Adizero Evo SL running shoes on sale for $75 — we rank them as one of the best women's running shoes because our testers loved their super lightweight design and bouncy-feeling foam.

Note: Prices can vary based on the size and color you choose. To find the best deal for you, check out any different color options available in your size. For more deals, check out our Amazon promo codes coverage.

Quick Links

• shop all Adidas deals at Amazon
• Adidas Adilette Shower Slides: was $30 now from $21
• Adidas Galaxy 7 Running Shoes (Women's): was $60 now from $36
• Adidas Lite Racer Adapt 7.0 (Men's): was $70 now from $41
• Adidas Zenboost Running Shoes (Women's): was $100 now from $60
• Adidas Duramo Speed 2 Running Shoe (Men's): was $90 now from $67
• Adidas Terrex Anylander Rain.Rdy Hiking Shoes (Men’s): was $85 now from $63
• Adidas Adizero Evo SL ATR (Men's): was $160 now from $136

Adidas running shoe deals

Shop more deals

Sometimes we mistake high intensity for direct results, but you don't need to blast your core with HIIT workouts and repetitive sit-ups and crunches to build a strong and stable core. Consistency, progressive overload, the right exercises and managing overall body fat levels as you get older will get you results in the gym.

But what are those exercises? Well, there's no one-size-fits-all approach, but as a trainer, I find compound exercises (multi-muscle moves) are effective for achieving overload, and I like to keep things as low-impact as possible while switching up equipment.

Recently, I designed this three-move core workout to build a strong, stable, injury-resistant core while targeting multiple muscle groups in your core network responsible for supporting your pelvis and spine.

Below, I show you how to do three of the best low-impact exercises for functional strength and stability. One of the best yoga mats is useful to have.

If you experience pain at any time, stop and rest. If you're working with an injury or health condition, or you're currently pregnant or postnatal, I recommend seeking advice before starting these exercises.

Watch: 3 low-impact moves to try anywhere

These strengthening exercises load the muscles to work through resistance. The result? A stronger core. Add weight when you feel comfortable with the moves.

The routine: 50 seconds on, 10 seconds off, 5 rounds. Add or reduce rounds depending on your ability.

• Up and overs: Sit with your legs extended in front of you and place a block slightly to one side. Place your hands by your hips for extra support or behind your head for an extra challenge. Engage your core and draw your navel in, keeping your chest proud and back straight. With control, lift your legs up and over the blocks, then back again. Slightly rotate as you move up and over the block or weight, engaging your waist.
• Plank-downward dog taps: Start in a high plank position with your shoulders stacked over your wrists and your butt aligned with your shoulders. Keep your core engaged and navel drawn in. Lift your hips up and back into a downward dog, then tap one hand to the opposite ankle. Come back to plank, then repeat on the other side.
• Hollow hold leg raises: Lie on your back and extend your arms and legs. Engage your core, then slowly raise your arms and legs into the air to create a banana shape with your body. Keep your chin tucked, try to peel your shoulders away from the mat, point your toes and tuck your pelvis slightly under. Avoid arching your lower back. Hold the position and breathe toward your stomach. Once you feel ready, begin slowly lifting and lowering your legs without touching the ground.

What are the benefits?

Each of these exercises brings something slightly different to the table.

The up-and-over exercise is brilliant for targeting your obliques, deeper core muscles like the transverse abdominis (a belt of stabilizing muscle), abs and hip flexors. As you lift and lower your legs, your core must work hard to help move, along with your hips, without hurting your back. Rotational motion is an effective way to strengthen your waist, which will help your body resist unwanted motion and impact. Try to avoid your hips completely taking over the exercise.

Plank and downward dog tapping provide a full-body workout, hitting the arms, shoulders, chest, upper back, posterior chain (back of the body), core and hips. As you lift up and back, notice the stretch while the plank builds strength using isometric muscular contraction. Tapping improves balance and stability and forces your body to resist unwanted rotation while gently engaging the obliques.

Hollow holds with leg raises are one of my favorite exercises to train core stability. Again, isometric contraction means strengthening while remaining low-impact on the spine, as you focus on holding tension without arching your back and while maintaining your breath. When you feel comfortable, leg raises are a great addition for targeting the hips and the deeper belt of core muscles.

Really control these movements and make the most of them, rather than rushing. Play around by adding weights or equipment. I usually add dumbbells, but if this damages the quality of your reps, stick to using your bodyweight. You have plenty of time to progress through the exercises as you get stronger.

Focus on finding length through your spine rather than hunching, and keep your chest proud. Any time your hands are behind your head or next to your hips, try to knit both shoulder blades together to help open your chest and activate the mid and upper back.

Give these a try, and let us know how you get on in the comments.

Follow Tom's Guide fitness on Instagram for more workouts, routines, tips, and tricks.

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The dead bug is a great core exercise that builds both strength and endurance in your midsection while being approachable to most fitness levels. It’s a hard move to improve on, in fact, but it turns out the best way to upgrade a dead bug is to move onto bigger creatures.

I’d never heard of the dying turtle until a few weeks ago, when I did the move as part of attempting a pro runner’s 12-minute core workout. While I love turtles and the idea of them dying fills me with sadness, I immediately marked the exercise down as one to include in future workouts. It's also known as the dead bug press, which is a slightly less horrifying name.

That’s because it builds on the benefits of the dead bug by making the move more challenging. As an obsessive runner I’m always looking for moves that boost core endurance, which helps me to maintain my running form deep into long events like marathons, and if they work one side of the body at a time then all the better.

The dying turtle fits the bill perfectly, and I think it’s an especially good core move for runners and other sportspeople as a result, but really almost anyone can benefit from adding it to their training routine.

How to do the dying turtle

The dying turtle is a floor that you do while lying on your back, so if you might want to roll out one of the best yoga mats to do it. In the video above you can see it demonstrated by Brian Kinslow, Doctor of Physical Therapy at Evolve Flagstaff.

1. Lie back on the floor and press your lower back into the floor — think about pulling your belly into your spine to help with this, and keep your lower back on the floor throughout the move.
2. Bring your knees up into tabletop position and raise your arms above you.
3. Firmly push on your left knee with your right hand — resist this push with your knee so it stays in tabletop position.
4. Keep pushing as you lower your left arm behind you and extend your right leg out in front so both limbs are hovering just above the floor.
5. Bring both limbs back up, then lower them again. Do 5-10 reps on this side, then switch and do the same on the opposite side, or work to time, doing 20-30 seconds on each side.

I found that pushing on one knee while you lower the opposite limbs really engages your core during the movement and forces you to hold a tough position while moving, making the dying turtle a great progression for those comfortable with dead bugs.

It’s important to keep your lower back imprinted on the floor throughout the move, so if you feel it starting to lift up, then you might need to shorten the reach of the arm and leg that you’re lowering.

Benefits of the dying turtle

Like the dead bug, the dying turtle works pretty much all the muscles in your core, including the deep stabilizing muscles. The upper and lower abs are engaged by the move, as well as the obliques, and it also targets the hip flexors.

Along with strengthening the target muscles, it also helps to build endurance because you are holding the engaged position by pushing your hand into your knee while moving.

I find that the move also exhausts my core muscles much more quickly than just doing dead bugs, making it more time efficient — doing 20 seconds on each side is enough to get my muscles burning when doing the dying turtle.

The act of pushing on your knee also makes you engage more with the exercise in general I find, and it means I stay focused on pushing my lower back into the floor. With dead bugs I can get a bit complacent about this and fail to spot I've lifted my back up.

It is a more challenging move than the dead bug, but you can easily switch back to the dead bug from the dying turtle by releasing the pressure on your knee, so it's a move that I think anyone can try, so give it a go in your next core workout.

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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.

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“It doesn't just isolate the abs; it engages the hip flexors, glutes, pelvic muscles, and back all at once,” yoga instructor and strength and conditioning coach Melissa Leach says when answering my question. I’m looking for a single yoga pose to build deep core strength and balance. I wish I had the time for a 20-minute daily yoga practice to build mobility as I train for my seventh marathon, but if there’s one pose I should prioritize, what is it?

According to Leach, it’s the boat pose. "This is part of why it can outperform traditional exercises like sit-ups, as they target a much narrower range of muscles,” she tells me. “A sit-up is a repetitive, single-plane movement, whereas boat pose asks your entire core to work together to keep you balanced and lifted, which is a much greater test of strength and control.”

Read on to find out more about how to do a boat pose and its benefits. As a reminder, what works for me might not be right for you and your body. If you’re pregnant or postpartum, or you’re currently recovering from an injury, it’s always best to seek personalized advice from a qualified professional before trying something new.

How to do the boat pose

“There are different ways to perform boat pose. Traditional holds usually consist of staying in the pose for a total of 25 breaths, broken into five sets, while others add movement by hinging the upper body upwards and downwards,” says Leach.

“This version is a more accessible entry point for beginners, starting with bent knees and shorter, more manageable holds.”

• Sit on the floor with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor
• Lean your torso back slightly while keeping your spine long and your chest lifted
• Engage your core and slowly lift your feet off the floor, bringing your shins parallel to the ground
• Balance on your sit bones, avoiding rolling onto your tailbone
• Once stable, extend your arms in front of you, with your palms facing each other at shoulder height
• If you feel comfortable, you can slowly extend your legs to create a ‘V’ shape with your body
• Hold for 20-30 seconds, and repeat 2-4 times

What are the modifications for beginners?

“For beginners, keeping your legs bent in a half boat pose instead of straight can help reduce the core strain and effort required at the start. Lightly gripping the backs of your thighs can also provide support to help you balance,” Leach says.

“If you struggle with balance and maintaining a straight spine, you can either sit on a folded blanket or cushion to help tilt the pelvis forward, or sit with your back a few inches from the wall for reassurance.

“The most important thing is to get a hold of the technique first, so start slowly, only holding for as long as it's comfortable and slowly increasing the length as your core strength improves,” she adds.

Form mistakes to look out for include slumping back or arching your lower back — this is a sign you’re not properly engaging your deep core. You also want to make sure you’re not hunching your shoulders — think about rolling your shoulder blades down your back, and keep your gaze soft, focused on your toes to keep your neck long and neutral.

If it’s too much to straighten your legs as you have tight hamstrings, don’t force it. If you do, you’ll probably notice your lower back collapsing and your back arching. Holding the pose with bent knees and a flat back will work your core harder than straight legs with a rounded back.

Finally, make sure you’re not holding your breath as you hold the pose.

What are the benefits?

"Boat pose also helps build stability rather than just endurance,” says Leach. “Holding the position forces your deep core muscles, the ones that support your spine and pelvis, to switch on and stay engaged throughout. Over time, this can translate into better posture, a stronger lower back, and a core that supports your everyday movement."

I’ve been doing the boat pose every day for the past week, and while physically I, of course, look the same (if only building abs was that simple), after holding the pose for a few minutes a day, I’ve already noticed an improvement. My hip flexors don’t feel quite as tight, and I’m getting better at embracing the deep core shake I feel towards the end of my hold. Give it a go and let me know how you get on in the comments.

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• After 60, this is the 10-minute routine I use with my clients to stay strong, mobile and independent
• 'I’m a Pilates instructor, and I recommend these 5 core exercises to help older clients build strength and improve posture'

"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?

It's too soon for me to say yes, you should buy this watch over the Apple Watch Series 11, but based on my brief experience with the watch, the ceramic casing is beautiful.

While the Siri AI elements are cool, what's more impressive, in my opinion, is the heart rate sensor.

My full review of the Apple Watch Series 12 will be dropping later this month, so stay tuned.

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The new Apple Watch Ultra 4 is here, and while it may look identical to its predecessor, I assure you it is not. Under the hood, the Ultra 4 sports a new, speedier processor, a more accurate/robust health sensor array, better battery life, and lots of cool AI tools.

Here's everything you need to know about the new Apple Watch Ultra 4 smartwatch based on our hands-on experience with the device at the official "Surprise and Shine" launch event in Cupertino, California.

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 navigate life's fine details

Apple Watch Ultra 4: Specs

Apple Watch Ultra 4 hands-on 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 hands-on 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.

Apple Watch Ultra 4 hands-on review: Health and fitness upgrades

Apple totally redesigned the health sensor array on the Ultra 4 to make its heart rate data more accurate, efficient, and frequently sampled. The new health sensing system now samples your heart rate every five seconds, 60x more frequently than its predecessor.

It also reads your heart rate variability every 15 seconds, a 24x increase in frequency over the Ultra 3. Apple also completely reworked the pedometer algorithm for improved step count accuracy and more precise distance data when logging an outdoor workout.

Apple is also adding several handy new metrics to the Health app, including a 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.

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 Ultra 4 hands-on review: AI features

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 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 relisten 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, the Ultra 4 supports Apple's Sound Recognition technology, which can automatically alert users when common sounds like a doorbell or fire alarm are observed.

Apple Watch Ultra 4 hands-on review: Battery life

The Apple Watch Ultra series has always been the brand's longest-lasting, and the latest Ultra 4 sees a welcome battery life rating increase from 42 hours per charge to 50 hours per charge.

When recording outdoor workouts with full heart rate and GPS data, the Ultra 4 is rated for roughly 18 hours per charge. However, a new Max Extended tracking mode increases that rating to an impressive 45 hours of use per charge.

Apple Watch Ultra 4 hands-on review: Should you buy?

Without thoroughly testing the improved battery life, health tracking, and outdoor workout logging claims, it's impossible to say for certain whether the Apple Watch Ultra 4 is a must-buy. The same goes for all the new holistic tools and AI features.

Furthermore, some of the advertised upgrades won't be available right at launch; the redesigned Health app with improved longevity insights and custom-tailored holistic advice won't be ready until later this year.

This is to say, it's probably best to hold off on dropping serious dough on the Ultra 4 until our full review is live later this month.

It’s official: Apple has unveiled the latest additions to its wearables lineup — Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4. Announced today at Apple’s “Surprise and Shine” event, both devices are set to launch on September 18.

Introduced alongside the new iPhone 18 Pro, the Apple Watch 12 is Apple's latest flagship smartwatch, with its price starting at $399 — the same starting price as the Series 11. Apple says the new watch will deliver "the most accurate heart rate sensing in a wearable," alongside a suite of advanced health and fitness features. It's powered by Apple's new S11 chip, which enables new Audio Intelligence features set to arrive later this year.

Also revealed at today's event, the Apple Watch Ultra 4 will start at $799 (also the same price as its predecessor). The ultimate sports and adventure watch includes all the same advanced features as the Apple Watch 12, except it offers a longer battery life of up to 2 days.

Ready to upgrade to Apple's latest wearable? Apple Watch 12 and Ultra 4 preorders start today at Apple, Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart. There are also opportunities to trade in an old smartwatch and save up to $430 on your new watch. (For more ways to save, make sure to check out our Apple Store coupons coverage).

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• Apple Watch 12: from $399 @ Apple
• Apple Watch 12: from $399 @ Best Buy
• Apple Watch 12: from $399 @ Amazon 
• Apple Watch 12: from $399 @ Walmart
• Apple Watch Ultra 4: from $799 @ Apple
• Apple Watch Ultra 4: from $799 @ Best Buy
• Apple Watch Ultra 4: from $799 @ Amazon

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Apple just announced the Apple Watch Ultra 4 alongside the Apple Watch Series 12, iPhone Duo, and iPhone 18 Pro at the September 9th "Surprise and Shine" event in Cupertino, California.

Boasting loads of new wellness tools, improved heart rate tracking, better battery life, an upgraded processor, and a handful of cool AI features, here's everything you need to know about the Apple Watch Ultra 4.

Apple Watch Ultra 4: Upgrades cheat sheet

• Price and release: The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is available for preorder starting today and will be available on September 18; the price is $799, the same as the Ultra 3
• Design: The Apple Watch Ultra 4 looks similar to its predecessor; available in Black or Natural Titanium
• Health features: Updated health sensing system; improved heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) tracking; HRV reflected in Vitals app; new Readiness metric; new Health Age score; redesigned Health app with improved recovery insights and personalized AI health/fitness guidance that updates dynamically; Health app now supports personal health data and lab results
• AI features: Support for Siri AI voice assistant; Live Rewind lets you ‘go back in time’ up to 15 seconds; Sound Recognition can auto-alert users to common sounds like sirens and alarms; Siri Recap takes high-level notes of conversations and generates summaries
• Under-the-hood: Upgraded S11 processor
• Battery life: Improved battery performance lasts up to 50 hours per charge; up to 18 hours when recording a workout with heart rate and GPS tracking

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is a substantial upgrade over the Apple Watch Ultra 3, which is currently one of the best smartwatches you can buy.

Apple Watch Ultra 4: Price and availability

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 costs $799 / AU$1,349, the same as all the Apple Watch Ultra models that came before it. Available for preorder on launch day (September 9), the Apple Watch Ultra 4 will be available globally starting on September 18 in your choice of Black or Natural Titanium.

Apple Watch Ultra 4: Health upgrades

Improved heart rate tracking

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Series 12 boast “the most accurate heart rate tracking in wearables.” That is, of course, according to Apple’s own internal testing. To be fair, Apple completely overhauled the sensor array on the underside of the watch, making a number of significant improvements to its functionality.

Both the optical and electrical components have been reworked for more precise, efficient performance. More powerful LEDs measure your heart rate every five seconds, a 60-fold increase in sampling frequency over prior models.

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is now measured every 15 seconds, a 24-fold increase compared to before. Speaking of HRV, users can now view that dynamic metric from the Heart Rate app. HRV is also logged in your overnight vitals report.

Dynamic Readiness score

Apple is finally adding a daily Readiness metric to the Health app, something nearly every other smartwatch brand has long offered. Based on a scale from one to ten, your Readiness Score updates dynamically and is based on recent workouts, sleep quality, training load, and vitals.

The score is accompanied by a brief, actionable, AI-generated recommendation for how to best tackle the day.

Improved step count tracking

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 should be Cupertino’s most accurate step counter, thanks to a completely overhauled pedometer that uses machine learning to more accurately log your steps and distance covered. There’s also a new step count complication to more easily stay on top of your efforts.

Redesigned Health app focused on trends and actionable advice

A totally overhauled Health app is expected to debut later this year with a greater focus on long-term health trends and personalized wellness and fitness advice, courtesy of Siri AI. The refreshed app is expected to offer new Longevity and Insights tabs. The former features a new Health Age feature that compares your physical fitness to others in your age range.

The Insights tab, meanwhile, is where you’ll find dynamic Siri AI-generated health briefings, workout suggestions, and more.

Finally, the updated Health app will better support the integration of a user’s personal health data, including notes from doctor’s visits and lab test results.

Siri AI with Siri Recap

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 supports Apple Siri AI voice assistant, but AI integration powers much more than just that. Siri Recap, for example, can be set up to listen in on important conversations and meetings, and then automatically generate a report with an overall summary along with key talking points. User control when this feature is active, either manually, via a schedule, or based on location.

Apple Watch Ultra 4: New AI features

Live Rewind and Sound Recognition

One of the more exciting new Siri AI features is Live Rewind. Let’s say you just met someone new at a dinner party, but their name “went in one ear and out the other.” With Live Rewind, I can double-tap the digital crown on the Ultra 4 and relisten to the past 15 seconds of ambient audio anytime I like.

It’s worth noting that Apple doesn’t identify people when using this feature or save any recording. Moreover, any logged audio is end-to-end encrypted.

Finally, the Ultra 4 supports Apple’s Sound Recognition feature, which can alert those who are hard of hearing when sounds like fire alarms, doorbells, sirens, or crying babies are registered.

Apple Watch Ultra 4: Battery life

Battery life on the Apple Watch Ultra 4 has been increased to 450 hours per charge, up from 42 hours per charge for the Ultra 3. When using the Ultra 4 to log an outdoor workout with continuous GPS and heart rate tracking, users can expect about 18 hours of use.

Extended workout tracking mode bumps that number to 25 hours per charge, while a new Max Extended mode increases battery life to an impressive 45 hours per charge.

The Ultra 4 charges a little faster than its predecessor. Apple says a 15-minute charge should provide up to 18 hours of use.

Apple Watch Ultra 4: Outlook

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 isn’t exactly a massive upgrade over the Ultra 3 —externally, the two are identical — but the combination of better health tracking tech, new AI features, improved battery life, and updated holistic tools galore… all for the same price as before, is pretty darn compelling.

Stay tuned for my full Apple Watch Ultra 4 review, coming soon. Until then, what new Apple Watch Ultra 4 features are you most excited about? Let me know in the comments.

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)
• 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
• Leaked Apple Watch 12 design change is the opposite of an upgrade — and that has me worried

Move over, Apple Watch Series 11; there's a new flagship Apple Watch in town. Apple just announced the Apple Watch Series 12 alongside the Apple Watch Ultra 4 during Cupertino's September 9 "Surprise and Shine" event (we also got the new iPhone 18 series and the iPhone Duo).

Boasting a completely redesigned health sensor array, upgraded processor, and tons of new wellness tools, here's everything you need to know about the Apple Watch Series 12.

Apple Watch Series 12: Upgrades cheat sheet

• Price and release: The Apple Watch Series 12 is available for preorder starting today and will be available on September 18, with a starting price of $399, the same as the Series 11
• Design: The Series 12 looks similar to the Series 11; available in Space Grey, Black, Light Gold, and Dark Bronze (aluminum case); Pearl White and Night Blue (ceramic case); Polished Gold and Polished Silver (titanium case)
• Health features: Updated health sensing system; improved heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) tracking; HRV reflected in Vitals app; new Readiness metric; new Health Age score; redesigned Health app with improved recovery insights and personalized AI health/fitness guidance that updates dynamically; Health app now supports personal health data and lab results
• AI features: Support for Siri AI voice assistant; Live Rewind lets you ‘go back in time’ up to 15 seconds; Sound Recognition can auto-alert users to common sounds like sirens and alarms; Siri Recap takes high-level notes of conversations and generates summaries
• Under-the-hood: Upgraded S11 processor
• Battery life: Up to 24 hours per charge, same as Series 11

Last year's Apple Watch Series 11 currently tops our best smartwatch list; will the new Apple Watch Series 12 take its place? Maybe! Here's what's new and exciting about the latest model.

Apple Watch Series 12: Price and release

Unlike Google and Samsung, which increased pricing across their respective smartwatch lines this year, Apple kept the pricing of the Series 12 consistent with last year’s model. The Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399 for the smaller, non-cellular 42mm model.

You can preorder the Apple Watch Series 12 starting today. The device is expected to be available on September 18th.

Apple Watch Series 12: Design

Like the Apple Watch Series 11, the new Apple Watch Series 12 comes in 42mm or 46mm. While the basic design and display remain unchanged, the Series 12 features Apple's Ceramic Shield 2 screen coating, which is 60% tougher than the Ion-X glass used on the Series 11.

Apple has also added some exciting new case options, including two ceramic models in your choice of Pearl White or Night Blue.

The Series 12 is additionally available in Polished Silver titanium and Polished Gold titanium.

Apple Watch Series 12: Health and fitness

The most notable upgrades to the Apple Watch Series 12 are related to health and fitness. Cupertino completely redesigned the sensor array on the bottom of the device for improved accuracy and efficiency.

The electrode surface, used for ECG, has been increased in size for more precise readings. The photodiodes, meanwhile, have been rearranged in a ring, resulting in improved efficiency, and the LEDS, used for monitoring heart rate, are more powerful than before.

The heart rate sensor on the Series 12 now takes a reading every five seconds, day and night, a 60-fold increase in sample frequency compared to the Series 11. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is now sampled every five minutes, or 24 times more frequently than before.

According to Apple’s internal testing, the brand’s latest smartwatches have the “most accurate heart rate tracking in a wearable.”

Meanwhile, a new Heart Rate Variability meter, which lives in the Vitals app, provides dynamic stress and recovery advice. Apple has also added a dynamic Readiness Score, similar to what the competition offers, based on recent activity, sleep quality, and vitals.

Later this year, Cupertino will also be rolling out an updated Health app with a much cleaner design. It also adds a new “Insights” tab where users can view AI-generated summaries of their recent health trends. Speaking of AI, the app also generates custom-tailored workout and recovery suggestions.

There’s also a new “Longevity” tab where users can follow guided assessments to learn how their physical fitness compares to other users in their age range. Apple is additionally adding a new Health Age metric, similar to Garmin’s Fitness Age, which similarly compares your workout habits, VO2 Max, sleep trends, heart health, and more, to the averages for your age group.

Finally, the updated Health app will support the integration of personal health data, like lab results and medical stats. This feature is, of course, optional.

Apple Watch Series 12: AI features

The Apple Watch Series 12 supports Apple's Siri AI voice assistant, but that’s not all. There are a handful of new audio-based AI features that sound (pun intended) promising, like Live Rewind, which lets you relisten to the past 15 seconds of ambient sound at any moment with a double-press of the digital crown.

I’m admittedly bad with names, so I could definitely see this feature being useful at my next social outing. Like the latest iPhones, the Series 12 also supports Sound Recognition, which is designed to alert those who are hard of hearing to common noises like fire alarms, doorbells, and even a crying baby.

Finally, Siri Recap is designed to listen in on your important conversations and create digestible notes with summaries and key points. Users can set when this feature is active or not, either manually or via a schedule/geolocation.

It’s worth noting that when using these audio AI features, no actual audio is saved, speakers aren’t identified, and everything gets end-to-end encrypted. Unfortunately, you’ll need to wait a while to test Live Rewind and Siri Recap out; they won’t be released until later this year (in beta).

Apple Watch Series 12: Outlook

While improved battery performance or a brighter screen topped my upgrade wish list, the Apple Watch Series 12 still seems to be a noteworthy improvement over its predecessor, thanks to a faster processor, better health tracking tech, new wellness metrics galore, and support for some genuinely useful-sounding AI features. I'm also beyond pleased to see no price increases across the Series 12 line.

Stay tuned for our full Apple Watch Series 12 review. In the meantime, what are your thoughts on the new model? Are you excited for its debut, or less than impressed? Let me know below.

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)
• 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
• Leaked Apple Watch 12 design change is the opposite of an upgrade — and that has me worried

If you’re already looking ahead to fall, chances are your wardrobe could use a refresh. My suggestion? Vuori. It’s no secret that the brand’s high-quality performance and lounge apparel can come with a pretty hefty price tag, but luckily, REI is making it more affordable than ever.

Vuori's latest sale at REI is overflowing with deals on everything from tank tops and tees to joggers and leggings. Right now, you can score up to 50% off some of the brand's best-selling styles for both men and women. I’ve hand-picked my top deals worth investing in, including Vuori's AllTheFeel Leggings down by 41% and these Sunday Performance Joggers at $20 off.

Keep scrolling to shop these rare Vuori deals that are perfect for your fall wardrobe refresh.

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The Apple Watch Series 12 is expected to be announced at today's 'Surprise and Shine' event, and insiders report several upgrades that will benefit sleep tracking. As a sleep tech writer, my heart should be aflutter (a problem the Series 12 will pick up on). So why am I feeling... underwhelmed?

The best sleep trackers offer detailed insight into your rest and there's no doubt the Apple Watch is among the best for accuracy. But the sleep tech market is fast evolving and the bulky, passive Apple Watch is starting to look like yesterday's news.

We're still learning just what the Series 12 will encompass (alongside the Apple Watch Ultra 4) and perhaps nestled somewhere in the metrics will be something that will completely change my mind. Until then, here's why the new Apple Watch Series 12 won't be at the top of my Christmas wish-list.

Apple Watch 12 improves sleep tracking features

The Apple Watch 12 rumor mill suggests several upgrades are coming that might benefit sleep tracking capabilities. Including better battery life, meaning you won't miss out on data because your watch drifted off before you did.

We're also expecting to see a readiness score — a new way of exploring and understanding your data. Readiness scores bundle several data points to assess how prepared you are for the day. It's a feature we're seeing from many fitness trackers already. My Oura Ring always (and accurately) notes I should ease back on physical activity when my sleep score is low.

This comes alongside (rumored) improved Siri AI voice support and (possibly) a wellness concierge. So the Series 12 should be putting your sleep score to good use.

Sleep tracking has moved beyond bulky wearables

Watches were once the first word in sleep tracking. (Okay, second after doctor-approved PSG.) But in recent years have these cumbersome devices started to look, whisper it, out of date?

The future of sleep tracking isn't on your wrist. It's on your finger, or perched on your head, or sitting on your nightstand — a sleep tracking sunrise alarm clock, anyone? And it doesn't just track your sleep. In some cases, these smart devices can intervene, in real time, to improve your sleep quality.

That's a step beyond the passive tracking of the Apple Watch Series 12. And what's more, this bulky watch might have missed the mark when it comes to sleep comfort.

The Apple Watch Series 11 weighs between 34.6 and 43.1 grams, sits nearly 1 cm away from the wrist and measures at least 42 mm high. We don't know the exact measurements for the Series 12 just yet, but it's unlikely to be significantly smaller.

A watch that big stops being a passive sleep tracker and becomes a sleep hinderance. Two members of my team have found they lost sleep data after removing the Apple Watch while half-awake at 3 a.m. That's inaccuracy and intrusion, in one bulky package.

With devices like the Oura Ring 5 and Fitbit Air getting increasingly slimmer, do we need our sleep to be weighed down by a watch?

It's not the end for Apple Watch Series 12 sleep tracking

I'm not writing off the Apple Watch Series 12 just yet. These wearables still appeal to those who prioritize fitness tracking or want all-round health tracking in one convenient package.

And smartwatches, like the Series 12, offer the at-a-glance sleep check that screenless wearables can't provide. If you don't want the hassle of an app, a quick look at you Apple Watch screen can provide you with the latest info on your night's sleep.

If that sounds like you, then you'll want to keep a close eye on our Apple Event live blog.

The Garmin Fenix 9 is here, but who wants to spend $1,099 on a new model when a bunch of older Garmins are discounted? My favorite Garmin watches still have all the important features you need, and they cost a whole lot less.

Right now you can get up to 45% off Garmin at Amazon. From the budget-friendly Garmin Vivoactive 5 on sale for $181 to the feature-packed Garmin Fenix 8 for $749, there's something for everybody here.

Keep scrolling to see all my favorite Garmin deals. I also recommend checking out our Amazon promo codes coverage.

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• shop all Garmin deals at Amazon
• Garmin Vivoactive 5: was $299 now $181
• Garmin Instinct Crossover Solar: was $449 now $279
• Garmin Venu 3S: was $449 now $288
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