Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 open preorders ahead of Sept. 18 launch

Apple announced the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, now available for preorder starting Sept. 9, with both devices arriving in stores Sept. 18. The Series 12 starts at $399, while the Ultra 4 starts at $799. The new Health Sensing System measures heart rate every five seconds, with heart-rate variability readings up to 24 times more frequent. Both watches feature a daily readiness score from zero to 10 with recommendations like Recover or Go For It, plus a Health Age feature in a redesigned Health app. The Ultra 4 offers up to 50 hours of everyday battery life, or 84 hours in Low Power Mode, while the Series 12 retains up to 24 hours. Both use Apple’s S11 chip and support upcoming Audio Intelligence features.