Apple Launches Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 With New Retailer Deals

Apple launched the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 on September 18, alongside new pricing, expanded band options, and a redesigned Health app. The updated lineup brings upgraded sensors, longer battery life, and cellular upgrades without an initial price hike across the standard models.

Pricing, Configurations, and Launch Availability

Shoppers can order both smartwatches through major retailers and carriers, including the Apple Store, Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, Visible, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Walmart carries the Apple Watch Series 12 in both its 42mm configuration priced at $399 and its 46mm configuration priced at $449, offering promotional bundle freebies like up to three free months of Apple Arcade and Apple Fitness, up to two free months of Apple Music and News, and up to one free month of Apple TV.

Neither flagship device received a price hike compared to previous generations. The Ultra model continues to include standard cellular connectivity, while cellular is an optional $100 upgrade on select Series 12 case styles, depending on the case style. Carriers and retailers are running various promotional trade-in incentives, with discounts reaching up to $430 when trading in older devices at select outlets like the Apple Store, Best Buy, and Verizon. Purchases made directly through the Apple Store also yield 3% cash back when using an Apple Card. Best Buy includes up to four free months of Apple Fitness and three months of Apple Music with its $399 purchase of the 42mm Apple Watch Series 12. AT&T and T-Mobile offer savings of up to $300 when buying two watches and choosing an eligible data plan.

S11 Chip, Health Sensing, and Audio Intelligence

Both smartwatches run on the new S11 chip and include a new Health Sensing System with improved sensors. Apple stated that this system captures more accurate, continuous heart rate data and provides a Readiness score that indicates how intensely the user should exercise based on recent activities. The Readiness score tries to predict your bandwidth for future workouts.

The S11 chip also enables Audio Intelligence features that utilize the watches’ built-in microphones. Coming later this year, these include Sound Recognition alerts and Live Rewind conversation transcriptions. To address privacy concerns, Apple said the watches do not record or store audio. The Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 will both work with Apple’s newly redesigned Health app for iPhones, which also launches later this year.

Battery Performance and Specialized Designs

Battery endurance varies significantly between the two flagships. The Series 12 is rated for up to 24 hours of battery life, whereas the premium rugged Apple Watch Ultra 4 can last up to 50 hours per charge, which jumps to a whopping 84 hours in low power mode. Apple calls the Ultra 4 the ultimate sports and adventure watch.

Apple Launches Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 With New Retailer Deals — Photo: Mashable

The Series 12 is available with rubber, textile, and stainless steel band styles. Its case will be available in three finishes and multiple colors: Aluminum in dark bronze, light gold, black, or space gray starting from $399 with optional cellular connectivity; Titanium in radiant gold or natural starting from $699 with cellular connectivity; and a new ceramic finish in pearl white or night blue starting from $899 with cellular connectivity.

Apple Watch Series 12 & Ultra 4 Buyer's Guide – DON'T BE FOOLED!

The Ultra 4’s case just comes in black titanium or natural titanium. It can be paired with an Alpine Loop, Trail Loop, Ocean Band, or Titanium Milanese Loop, and is available for order at Amazon and Best Buy starting at $799 for the GPS and Cellular version. Best Buy includes four free months of Apple Fitness with the Ultra 4 purchase. The Apple Store is also selling special-edition Hermès variants of both smartwatches, starting at $1,399 for the Series 12 and $1,499 for the Ultra 4. The latter is available with a new extendable Grand H titanium band for $3,149.

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