Apple Watch Series 12 Review: The Heart Rate Fix We've Been Waiting For

Every September, Apple updates its wearable lineup, and it can be tricky to figure out if the new features justify an upgrade. This year, the Apple Watch Series 12 introduces a radically overhauled Health Sensing System and lays the groundwork for a new era of AI with Audio Intelligence.

I've been wearing the 46mm Black Aluminum Apple Watch Series 12 the Black Sport Band every single day since mid-September (a perk of the tech review world is getting these gadgets slightly ahead of the on-sale date). I haven't babied it. I've taken it on trips, synced it with my gym equipment, and tested Apple's claims about overall durability.

The Apple Watch Series 12 improves on previous generations, but no need for FOMO if you've just upgraded your watch in the last year or three. Let's dig into what makes the Apple Watch Series 12 special so you can figure out if it's worth it for you.

One Paragraph Review: Apple Watch Series 12

The Apple Watch Series 12 is a refinement of an already excellent smartwatch. The big changeis the upgraded heart rate sensor that finally delivers real-time, uninterrupted BPM data consistenly, even during the height of an intense workout. Powered by the new S11 chip, it introduces an easy-to-understand daily Readiness scores. While the highly discussed Audio Intelligence features are promising, they're still not here, which means this is best viewed as a supreme fitness and lifestyle tracker today, and an AI powerhouse tomorrow (if that's something you even want).

Apple Watch Series 12

The Series 12 brings Apple's most advanced Health Sensing System yet, polling your heart rate every 5 seconds for unmatched workout accuracy. With a tough new Ceramic Shield 2 display and the powerful S11 chip, it is the ultimate health and connectivity companion.

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Design & Durability: Ceramic Shield 2 and New Finishes

At first glance, the Series 12 looks comfortably familiar. It remains incredibly thin at just 9.7 mm for the aluminum and titanium models.

However, the real story is durability. Apple ditched the older Ion-X glass on the aluminum models in favour of Ceramic Shield 2, which they claim is 60 percent tougher. I can validate this: I have worn my Black Aluminum test unit daily, brushing against doorframes and gym equipment. The screen and housing still look pristine.

While I've been rocking the sleek Black finish, I was able to see the full lineup at the Apple Fall event. The new Dark Bronze aluminum is, without a doubt, my favourite finish this year. If you are on the fence about colours, go with the Bronze. Apple also introduced stunning new Ceramic models in Pearl White and Night Blue, which look exceptionally premium in person.

A quick note on fit: My unit shipped with the Black Sport Band in size M/L. Even with an average-sized wrist, it is borderline too big for me. I have to wear it on the absolute smallest notch. If you are ordering online, measure carefully, or lean toward the S/M band.

Fitness Tracking: The Heart Rate Fix We Needed

For me, the biggest selling point of the Series 12 isn't the AI, it's the redesigned Health Sensing System.

My biggest historical gripe with the Apple Watch has been the heart rate sensor dropping out during key workout moments. There is nothing worse than being mid-sprint, glancing down to check if you're in your target zone, and seeing a greyed-out heart icon with no BPM listed.

Apple fixed it. The redesigned photodiodes and larger green LEDs now allow the watch to poll your heart rate every 5 seconds, all day. In my testing, the BPM dropouts are straight up gone.

I've also been using the custom alerts that tap your wrist when you dip above or below specific heart rate zones (which I'll admit, I'm not sure if this was a feature that only recently became available in WatchOS or if it was around for awhile and I only just now discovered it, but for anyone doing targeted training for specific heart rate zones, it's great).

As expected, being able to use the Series 12 alongside gym equipment is flawlessl. I've been using the Series 12 with my Peloton Tread+ Vision, and the heart rate broadcasting has been seamless and issue-free (you just open the Peloton app on the watch and you're good to go).

Readiness & Recovery: Training Load Made Simple

In my ripe old age of 40, I've only just started to buy into the idea that fitness isn't just about closing your rings, it's about knowing when to rest. And figuring out which days to go hard or take it easy has never been simpler.

Apple has made training load vastly easier to understand. Instead of digging through complex charts, the Readiness app gives you a daily score from 0 to 10. It uses your sleep, overnight vitals, and recent activity. A high score (8-10) tells you to "Go For It," while a lower score gently suggests you "Pace Yourself". It's a brilliantly simple translation of dense biometric data.

Smart Features, Practical Magic & Audio Intelligence

Under the hood sits the new S11 chip, which houses a Secure Exclave dedicated specifically to processing microphone data for Audio Intelligence.

Because Audio Intelligence is processed securely on-device, it allows for ambient listening without privacy concerns. One feature available now is Sound Recognition. I set my watch up to recognize the sound of my doorbell. If you are hard of hearing, or simply have noise-cancelling headphones on while working from home, getting a haptic tap on your wrist when the doorbell or a smoke alarm rings is pratcial and smart.

However, the flagship Audio Intelligence features Live Rewind (which lets you double-click the Digital Crown to transcribe the last 15 seconds of missed conversation) and Siri Recap (which summarizes daily conversations) are rolling out in beta later this year. I've seen the demos, and they look...interesting, but it would be premature to judge the watch solely on promised software.

Having said that, the practicality of Live Rewind seems a little suspect to me. If you missed what a waiter said the special was when you're at a restaurant, why not ask them to repeat instead of tapping on your watch and then scrolling back through a transcript while they're standing right next to you? But I'm trying to keep an open mind until I try it first, so that's all for now on Live Rewind.

Everyday Practicality For "Real" Households

The Apple Watch remains the ultimate practical lifestyle tool. Using it as a viewfinder monitor to frame family group shots on my iPhone is something I do weekly (and so many people who own both an iPhone and an Apple watch seem surprised that this exists....do it people, super helpful).

It is also the best Apple TV remote replacement when the actual remote gets swallowed by the couch cushions. Though I haven't tried the new Siri Remote or Apple TV yet, so maybe I will be able to track down the remote easiser in the future.

Though a quick note that Siri AI (which IS in Beta) sometimes is fine but almost as often struggles on simple commands like "Find my iPhone, or "Add a reminder to start writing Watch Article at 2:00 this afternoon." I will cut it some slack because it is the Beta version, but this seems to be a lateral or even downgrade from "old" Siri.

One other cool feature, you can turn on the Noise app to monitor the volume of your surroundings. I'm not so worried about this when I'm working at a Winnipeg Jets Game (I do the announcements and fan games for the Winnipeg Jets) but if I'm at a concert or an event with my kids, its something I'm more aware of.

Spec Table: Apple Watch Series 12

The Verdict: Is the Apple Watch Series 12 Worth It?

If you care deeply about fitness tracking, the Apple Watch Series 12 is a monumental upgrade. The sheer reliability of the new Health Sensing System and the durability of the Ceramic Shield 2 glass make it the best iteration of the watch to date.

I haven't felt like battery life is an issue with Apple Watch, but this battery easily lasts all day and you can throw it on the charger for 30 mins when you're having a shower and getting ready for the day and you'll have 80& battery life.

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Apple Watch Series 12

The Ultimate Fitness Companion

The Apple Watch Series 12 completely overhauls its Health Sensing System, polling your heart rate every 5 seconds for flawless workout tracking. Encased in incredibly tough Ceramic Shield 2 glass and powered by the new S11 chip, it handles everything from pinpoint city GPS navigation to upcoming Audio Intelligence features with ease. It is a highly recommended upgrade for anyone who wants the most accurate heart rate sensor in an Apple watch, or someone who wants to shape up their sytle with the new bronze finish or ceramic casing.

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However, context is everything. If you currently own an Apple Watch Series 10 or 11, the core daily experience remains largely identical. Furthermore, since the hyped Audio Intelligence features aren't fully baked into the public release just yet, there is no reason to experience FOMO if you have a recent model.

But if you are rocking a Series 9 or older? The leaps in processor speed, display brightness, health tracking accuracy, and battery fast-charging make this the perfect year to upgrade.