According to official announcements, the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 launch on September 18, bringing advanced health-sensing systems, Audio Intelligence features, and new readiness scoring directly to consumers. Series 12 starts at 7万1800円, while the Ultra 4 begins at 14万2800円, with preorders opening immediately.
Pricing and Hardware Lineup for Apple Watch Series 12
The Apple Watch Series 12 launches with a starting price of 7万1800円. Apple builds the aluminum model with a front Ceramic Shield 2. According to company specs, this material is 60 percent more sturdy than the Ion-X glass used on previous aluminum generations.
Buyers can choose from multiple case materials and color finishes. The aluminum lineup features dark bronze, black, light gold, and space grey. Titanium versions come in radiant gold and natural finishes, while ceramic models offer pearl white and night blue options. Apple also expands its strap collection with several new colors alongside a fresh Hermès model.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Specs and Battery Performance
For outdoor adventurers and endurance athletes, the Apple Watch Ultra 4 starts at 14万2800円. It arrives in two distinct case colors: black titanium and natural titanium. Buyers can also pair the device with a new titanium Hermès strap.
Battery life remains a primary focus for the Ultra line. According to the manufacturer, the Ultra 4 delivers up to 50 hours of battery life during normal use. That figure extends to 84 hours when using the low-power mode, and supports up to 45 hours of continuous workout tracking.
Advanced Health Sensing and Readiness Scores
Both the Series 12 and Ultra 4 introduce a redesigned health-sensing system aimed at daily fitness tracking and recovery monitoring. The update refreshes heart rate measurement tools and integrates heart rate variability (HRV) into the vital app, making it easier to track changes throughout the day rather than just overnight.
Pro Tip: The new Readiness feature analyzes recent activity, vital metrics, and sleep data to generate a single daily score. Categories like “Rest,” “Take it easy,” “Ready,” and “Peak” help users gauge their daily physical condition at a glance.
Looking ahead to late 2026, Apple plans to redesign its iPhone health app. The updated app will utilize Apple Intelligence to aggregate health metrics and deliver personalized fitness advice, launching initially in US English before rolling out to other regions.
Audio Intelligence and Accessibility Updates
On-device machine learning powers a suite of new audio capabilities across both new watch models. Audio Intelligence combines the built-in microphones, Apple silicon, and AI models to recognize environmental sounds and review recent conversations.
Sound Recognition uses on-device AI to alert users to specific noises like doorbells or a baby crying, functioning even when an iPhone isn’t nearby. This capability improves accessibility, particularly for users with hearing impairments. Additionally, Live Rewind lets users read a text transcription of the previous 15 seconds of conversation, while Siri Recap generates conversation summaries. Both features arrive as betas in late 2026, starting in English.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 release?
Both models launch on September 18, with preorders starting today.
What is the starting price for each model?
The Apple Watch Series 12 starts at 7万1800円, and the Apple Watch Ultra 4 starts at 14万2800円.
What are the battery life specs for the Apple Watch Ultra 4?
The Ultra 4 offers up to 50 hours of normal use, up to 84 hours in low-power mode, and up to 45 hours during long workouts.
What is the Readiness feature?
Readiness is a new scoring system that analyzes your sleep, recent activity, and vital signs to categorize your daily physical preparedness.
Join the Discussion: Which color finish and case material are you planning to pre-order? Let us know in the comments below, and check out our related tech coverage for more wearable updates.
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