{"id":85860,"date":"2026-09-18T08:53:59","date_gmt":"2026-09-18T00:53:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=85860"},"modified":"2026-09-18T08:53:59","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T00:53:59","slug":"apple-watch-series-12-ultra-4-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=85860","title":{"rendered":"Apple Watch Series 12 &#038; Ultra 4 review"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Unless you spend time to study them, it can be difficult to tell what\u2019s new with this year\u2019s Apple Watches. After all, they look just like last year\u2019s watches. But if you look harder, you\u2019d find that they actually boast numerous hardware and software improvements that have the potential to have a profound impact on the Apple Watch experience, and perhaps your health and fitness.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">As I\u2019ll explain below, many of the improvements require time to set up and test, so this will be a stream-of-consciousness type review. I\u2019ll update this article with my findings as I experience the watches. First, let\u2019s start with what\u2019s new in this year\u2019s watches.<\/p>\n<section class=\"_expanded_lwxdk_22\"><button class=\"_title_lwxdk_1\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">What\u2019s new<\/p>\n<p><default:svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"18\" height=\"9\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\"><default:path d=\"M1 1L9 8L17 1\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"\/><\/default:svg><\/button><\/p>\n<ol class=\"_list_lwxdk_28\">\n<li class=\"_listItem_lwxdk_71\">1. <!-- -->The S11 chip<\/li>\n<li class=\"_listItem_lwxdk_71\">2. <!-- -->New finishes and materials<\/li>\n<li class=\"_listItem_lwxdk_71\">3. <!-- -->All-new Health Sensing System<\/li>\n<li class=\"_listItem_lwxdk_71\">4. <!-- -->Faster charging and longer battery life<\/li>\n<li class=\"_listItem_lwxdk_71\">5. <!-- -->Audio Intelligence<\/li>\n<li class=\"_listItem_lwxdk_71\">6. <!-- -->First impressions<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<h2 id=\"the-s11-chip\" class=\"_subHeading1_1k87u_111 _base_1k87u_1\">The S11 chip<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"_figure_wioo3_1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"_base_1sb7q_1\" alt=\"Apple S11 chip\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto\" width=\"2000\" height=\"920\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/6e499a322718a6e036251bc802ca6a6df775165acada2b82e33735390850fe9a?w=500&amp;q=85 500w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/6e499a322718a6e036251bc802ca6a6df775165acada2b82e33735390850fe9a?w=800&amp;q=85 800w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/6e499a322718a6e036251bc802ca6a6df775165acada2b82e33735390850fe9a?w=1000&amp;q=85 1000w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/6e499a322718a6e036251bc802ca6a6df775165acada2b82e33735390850fe9a?w=2000&amp;q=85 2000w\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/6e499a322718a6e036251bc802ca6a6df775165acada2b82e33735390850fe9a?w=1000&amp;q=85\" style=\"--custom-aspect-ratio:2.1739130434782608;contain-intrinsic-size:2000px 920px\"\/><figcaption class=\"_figureCaptions_wioo3_158\">\n<p class=\"_imageCaption_wioo3_165\">The new S11 chip is derived from the A20 Pro chip in the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo.<\/p>\n<p>Photo: Apple<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 will be powered by the new S11 chip. This chip is derived from the A20 Pro in the new iPhones and is also built on a <b>2nm process<\/b>. It features a more powerful CPU and GPU, and also a Neural Accelerator and a quad-core Neural Engine.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">In normal use, I can\u2019t tell it\u2019s any faster. The new Series 12 and Ultra 4 feel just as fast and fluid as last year\u2019s Series 11 and Ultra 3 watches. Scrolling through apps feel the same, and double-tapping to bring up the Smart Stack feels just as responsive.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"_figure_wioo3_1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"_base_1sb7q_1\" alt=\"Apple Watch Readiness app\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/f34c9cc21ad77582939ccab929e1f031e9a5117a9e43c7b9b36bf972b77e3d12?w=500&amp;q=85 500w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/f34c9cc21ad77582939ccab929e1f031e9a5117a9e43c7b9b36bf972b77e3d12?w=800&amp;q=85 800w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/f34c9cc21ad77582939ccab929e1f031e9a5117a9e43c7b9b36bf972b77e3d12?w=1000&amp;q=85 1000w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/f34c9cc21ad77582939ccab929e1f031e9a5117a9e43c7b9b36bf972b77e3d12?w=2000&amp;q=85 2000w\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/f34c9cc21ad77582939ccab929e1f031e9a5117a9e43c7b9b36bf972b77e3d12?w=1000&amp;q=85\" style=\"--custom-aspect-ratio:1.8518518518518519;contain-intrinsic-size:2000px 1080px\"\/><figcaption class=\"_figureCaptions_wioo3_158\">\n<p class=\"_imageCaption_wioo3_165\">The faster chip, coupled with a new sensor, enables new features and experiences like Readiness.<\/p>\n<p>Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">The always-on processor also has a redesigned pedometer model that more accurately tracks your steps, particularly for activities where your arms aren\u2019t moving around so much, such as when you are pushing a stroller or holding a coffee while walking. You can see this in action by enabling the new Steps complication on your watch face.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">What\u2019s most interesting, however, is that there\u2019s <b>a secure exclave on the chip that was designed solely for the purpose of processing audio data<\/b> for Audio Intelligence features that I\u2019ll touch on later.\u00a0This exclave is interesting because it\u2019s supposed to be a \u201chardware-isolated\u201d part of the chip whose sole purpose is to process audio data and then delete it, thereby ensuring privacy and security.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"new-finishes-and-materials\" class=\"_subHeading1_1k87u_111 _base_1k87u_1\">New finishes and materials<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"_figure_wioo3_1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"_base_1sb7q_1\" alt=\"Apple Watch Series 12 ceramic\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1099\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/a083731af1a19fe07c5cb65a06b63c682716a8112a10fafe396fa264f98715fa?w=500&amp;q=85 500w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/a083731af1a19fe07c5cb65a06b63c682716a8112a10fafe396fa264f98715fa?w=800&amp;q=85 800w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/a083731af1a19fe07c5cb65a06b63c682716a8112a10fafe396fa264f98715fa?w=1000&amp;q=85 1000w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/a083731af1a19fe07c5cb65a06b63c682716a8112a10fafe396fa264f98715fa?w=2000&amp;q=85 2000w\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/a083731af1a19fe07c5cb65a06b63c682716a8112a10fafe396fa264f98715fa?w=1000&amp;q=85\" style=\"--custom-aspect-ratio:1.8198362147406733;contain-intrinsic-size:2000px 1099px\"\/><figcaption class=\"_figureCaptions_wioo3_158\">\n<p class=\"_imageCaption_wioo3_165\">Those who love exotic materials will be happy to know that ceramic is back.<\/p>\n<p>Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">In terms of case materials, the big news is that <b>ceramic cases are making a comeback in Series 12<\/b> in the form of Pearl White and Night Blue. There are also new finishes: Dark Bronze finish in aluminium and Radiant Gold in polished titanium. Unfortunately for fans of the Ultra, the Ultra 4 still only comes in Black and Natural titanium.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">I had the chance to play around with the Pearl White ceramic version after the keynote, and it is a very pure and striking shade of white. It reminds me of freshly fallen snow. I have the Dark Bronze aluminium Series 12 for review, and it\u2019s certainly an uncommon colour. I think its name is apt, and it reminds me of patinated bronze watches.<\/p>\n<p><iframe class=\"_base_1pos7_1 _tiktok_1pos7_32\" title=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed\/v2\/7683619214623657237?lang=en\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.5625\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">After years of using Ion-X glass, Apple is switching to <b>Ceramic Shield 2<\/b> as the glass on the aluminium models. Having experienced the toughness of Ceramic Shield 2 in last year\u2019s Pro iPhones, this is a good thing. The titanium and ceramic Series 12 watches, as well as the Ultra 4, all have sapphire crystal glass.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"all-new-health-sensing-system\" class=\"_subHeading1_1k87u_111 _base_1k87u_1\">All-new Health Sensing System<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"_figure_wioo3_1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"_base_1sb7q_1\" alt=\"Apple Watch Series 12 health sensing system\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1005\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/b627f62620990a1caa549b8e1ee8f6c8e4dc358c262da67221acc176b76a57d5?w=500&amp;q=85 500w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/b627f62620990a1caa549b8e1ee8f6c8e4dc358c262da67221acc176b76a57d5?w=800&amp;q=85 800w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/b627f62620990a1caa549b8e1ee8f6c8e4dc358c262da67221acc176b76a57d5?w=1000&amp;q=85 1000w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/b627f62620990a1caa549b8e1ee8f6c8e4dc358c262da67221acc176b76a57d5?w=2000&amp;q=85 2000w\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/b627f62620990a1caa549b8e1ee8f6c8e4dc358c262da67221acc176b76a57d5?w=1000&amp;q=85\" style=\"--custom-aspect-ratio:1.9900497512437811;contain-intrinsic-size:2000px 1005px\"\/><figcaption class=\"_figureCaptions_wioo3_158\">\n<p class=\"_imageCaption_wioo3_165\">The sensor has been thoroughly redesigned to provide more frequent readings while remaining extremely power efficient.<\/p>\n<p>Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Perhaps the most obvious physical change in this year\u2019s watches is the new <b>Health Sensing System<\/b> \u2013 Apple\u2019s name for its optical heart rate reader. It\u2019s been thoroughly re-engineered so that it can not only take more accurate readings, but also take them more regularly to enable certain health features. Apple says it\u2019s \u201cthe most accurate heart rate sensing in a wearable\u201d, and both the Series 12 and Ultra 4 get this new sensor.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">If you turn the watches on their backs, you can see that the sensor is considerably more intricate and complex. It\u2019s been designed to increase skin contact and to emit and capture light more efficiently. With this new design, Apple says <b>it can measure your heart rate every 5 seconds, all day long<\/b> \u2013 which is 60 times more frequent than last year\u2019s watches. It can also take your background heart rate every 5 seconds even when you are active. These higher frequency readings mean the Apple Watch can now more accurately detect your activity levels and calorie estimates. And to take advantage of it, there\u2019s a new heart rate complication that shows your live heart rate on your watch face.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"_figure_wioo3_1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"_base_1sb7q_1\" alt=\"Apple Watch Ultra 4 Recovery HRV\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1222\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/6ae1e072bb0f237989a47f367cb559f8b4bc0b649d6bf264055c73a26a1ae7f5?w=500&amp;q=85 500w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/6ae1e072bb0f237989a47f367cb559f8b4bc0b649d6bf264055c73a26a1ae7f5?w=800&amp;q=85 800w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/6ae1e072bb0f237989a47f367cb559f8b4bc0b649d6bf264055c73a26a1ae7f5?w=1000&amp;q=85 1000w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/6ae1e072bb0f237989a47f367cb559f8b4bc0b649d6bf264055c73a26a1ae7f5?w=2000&amp;q=85 2000w\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/6ae1e072bb0f237989a47f367cb559f8b4bc0b649d6bf264055c73a26a1ae7f5?w=1000&amp;q=85\" style=\"--custom-aspect-ratio:1.6366612111292962;contain-intrinsic-size:2000px 1222px\"\/><figcaption class=\"_figureCaptions_wioo3_158\">\n<p class=\"_imageCaption_wioo3_165\">The improved sensor enables this year\u2019s watches to show your recovery HRV.<\/p>\n<p>Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Aside from heart rate readings, the improved sensor also allows the watch to sample your heart rate variability (HRV) more frequently. <b>It now samples your HRV every 5 minutes instead of every two hours<\/b>, allowing the watch to provide a new reading called Recovery HRV, which can give a sense of how you are coping with aspects like stress and fatigue.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">The Vitals app has been improved too to take advantage of the new Recovery HRV readings. Apart from incorporating HRV into its measurements, the app now consists of daytime and overnight vitals. Apple says this can alert wearers if something is off even before it shows up in their overnight vitals. This feature requires the owner to wear it to sleep for about a week to get some baseline readings, so I\u2019m afraid I can\u2019t comment on it now.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"_figure_wioo3_1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"_base_1sb7q_1\" alt=\"Apple Watch Readiness\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto\" width=\"2000\" height=\"857\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/3b70a5d3eaad06819f8272866333143f710320eec2b649f007008e23e2a1d0f9?w=500&amp;q=85 500w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/3b70a5d3eaad06819f8272866333143f710320eec2b649f007008e23e2a1d0f9?w=800&amp;q=85 800w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/3b70a5d3eaad06819f8272866333143f710320eec2b649f007008e23e2a1d0f9?w=1000&amp;q=85 1000w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/3b70a5d3eaad06819f8272866333143f710320eec2b649f007008e23e2a1d0f9?w=2000&amp;q=85 2000w\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/3b70a5d3eaad06819f8272866333143f710320eec2b649f007008e23e2a1d0f9?w=1000&amp;q=85\" style=\"--custom-aspect-ratio:2.3337222870478413;contain-intrinsic-size:2000px 857px\"\/><figcaption class=\"_figureCaptions_wioo3_158\">\n<p class=\"_imageCaption_wioo3_165\">Readiness requires the wearer to wear the watch to sleep for a few nights before it can generate a score.<\/p>\n<p>Photo: Apple<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">These enhanced readings also enable a new app called <b>Readiness<\/b>. This analyses your recent activity, vitals, and sleep to give you a score (out of 10) on your body\u2019s general state of being. The idea is that it can tell you how prepared you are to tackle the day, whether you should push yourself or take it easy.\u00a0This requires a baseline reading, so I\u2019m going to have to wear the watch for a couple more days before it can give me a Readiness score.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"faster-charging-and-longer-battery-life\" class=\"_subHeading1_1k87u_111 _base_1k87u_1\">Faster charging and longer battery life<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"_figure_wioo3_1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"_base_1sb7q_1\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto\" width=\"2000\" height=\"986\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/282de5c8f6d0362f5e9bde8cc687005524095d1ec71c21d254405a0998a4f545?w=500&amp;q=85 500w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/282de5c8f6d0362f5e9bde8cc687005524095d1ec71c21d254405a0998a4f545?w=800&amp;q=85 800w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/282de5c8f6d0362f5e9bde8cc687005524095d1ec71c21d254405a0998a4f545?w=1000&amp;q=85 1000w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/282de5c8f6d0362f5e9bde8cc687005524095d1ec71c21d254405a0998a4f545?w=2000&amp;q=85 2000w\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/282de5c8f6d0362f5e9bde8cc687005524095d1ec71c21d254405a0998a4f545?w=1000&amp;q=85\" style=\"--custom-aspect-ratio:2.028397565922921;contain-intrinsic-size:2000px 986px\"\/><figcaption class=\"_figureCaptions_wioo3_158\">\n<p class=\"_imageCaption_wioo3_165\">This year\u2019s watches can fast-charge better. The Ultra 4 also has better battery life.<\/p>\n<div class=\"_imageDescription_wioo3_189\">\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Apple Watch Ultra 4 case back<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">One of my ongoing gripes about Apple\u2019s watches is that they require pretty frequent charging, and that charging them requires a special puck. Happily, Apple has made some improvements. These watches still require the puck to charge, but they now support faster charging.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">For Series 12, you can get an additional 12 hours of battery life in just 15 minutes. And as for the Ultra 4, the same 15 minutes will get you an additional 18 hours of battery life. This means a charge while you make your coffee or shower in the morning should be sufficient to get you through the day. However, note that this requires the puck that comes in the box \u2013 this faster charging will not work with older charging pucks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">The Ultra 4 also gets a slightly larger battery, so it now gets up to <b>50 hours of battery life<\/b> (up from 42 hours). It also gets up to 18 hours of full workout tracking with GPS and heart rate (up from 14 hours), and 45 hours in Max Extended Workout tracking mode (up from 35 hours). The Series 12 battery life is unchanged, which means up to 24 hours with \u201cnormal use\u201d. Stay tuned as I put these two watches to the test and report with my findings.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"audio-intelligence\" class=\"_subHeading1_1k87u_111 _base_1k87u_1\">Audio Intelligence<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"_figure_wioo3_1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"_base_1sb7q_1\" alt=\"Apple Audio Intelligence\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1100\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/638f8cbfa166c31dae23961ee52f3aab3d8cb7ab0b460a6d88ccb7582636b82f?w=500&amp;q=85 500w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/638f8cbfa166c31dae23961ee52f3aab3d8cb7ab0b460a6d88ccb7582636b82f?w=800&amp;q=85 800w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/638f8cbfa166c31dae23961ee52f3aab3d8cb7ab0b460a6d88ccb7582636b82f?w=1000&amp;q=85 1000w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/638f8cbfa166c31dae23961ee52f3aab3d8cb7ab0b460a6d88ccb7582636b82f?w=2000&amp;q=85 2000w\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/638f8cbfa166c31dae23961ee52f3aab3d8cb7ab0b460a6d88ccb7582636b82f?w=1000&amp;q=85\" style=\"--custom-aspect-ratio:1.8181818181818181;contain-intrinsic-size:2000px 1100px\"\/><figcaption class=\"_figureCaptions_wioo3_158\">\n<p class=\"_imageCaption_wioo3_165\">Audio Intelligence enables some interesting but somewhat controversial audio-related features.<\/p>\n<p>Photo: Apple<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Arguably the biggest update to the Series 12 and Ultra 4 is a suite of sound-related features called Audio Intelligence. There are a couple of aspects to this, so let me run them through individually.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\"><b>Sound Recognition (available now)<\/b> \u2013 This feature notifies you if it detects \u201cimportant sounds\u201d like alarms, doorbells, or crying babies. So far, I\u2019ve tried seeing if it can identify my iPhone\u2019s alarms, but so far it hasn\u2019t worked. And as for doorbells and crying babies, I haven\u2019t had the chance to test it on these sounds yet. I\u2019m going to need more time for this one.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\"><b>Faster music recognition (available now)<\/b> &#8211; Music lovers will be happy to know that Shazam now works even faster. If it detects music in the background, it will automatically display the title in the Smart Stack, so it\u2019s there for you the moment you want to scroll through your Smart Stack. In my brief time with the watches, I didn\u2019t find this feature to work reliably. It didn\u2019t automatically detect the song, but when it does and starts identifying the song, that process is a lot quicker.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\"><b>Live Rewind<\/b> <b>(coming later this year)<\/b> \u2013 This feature isn\u2019t available now, but it\u2019s coming later this year. What it does is provide a transcription of what was said in the last 15 seconds. According to Apple, you can opt into this feature when you set up your watch, and you can enable or disable it anytime.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\"><b>Siri Recap<\/b> <b>(coming later this year)<\/b> \u2013 This uses Apple Intelligence to create what Apple calls \u201chigh-level summaries\u201d of your conversations throughout the day. Essentially, it creates a summary of your conversations with others. What\u2019s important to note is that this isn\u2019t a transcription, speakers aren\u2019t identified, and there\u2019s no accompanying audio recording. Like Live Rewind, Siri Recap is coming later this year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Live Rewind and Siri Recap are certainly interesting features that have the potential to be helpful, <b>but they also raise questions about privacy<\/b>. This is a discussion for another day, but my initial feel is that I\u2019m not sure if the controversy and uneasiness around these features is a worthwhile thing for Apple to pursue as a feature for its watches. Already, people are convinced that their phones are listening to them to send them ads, so I\u2019m not sure how these same people will take to a watch that is tacitly admitting to being always tuned in to conversations. Certainly, there\u2019s more to unpack and consider, but I want to learn the specifics of how these features work and experience their utility in the real world before passing judgment on them.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"first-impressions\" class=\"_subHeading1_1k87u_111 _base_1k87u_1\">First impressions<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"_figure_wioo3_1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"_base_1sb7q_1\" alt=\"Apple Watch Series 12 Bronze\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto\" width=\"2000\" height=\"994\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/fe83d819cf0b0890b6f18ea13430c1aa6d4c5540bc7dcd520beb183476bc2205?w=500&amp;q=85 500w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/fe83d819cf0b0890b6f18ea13430c1aa6d4c5540bc7dcd520beb183476bc2205?w=800&amp;q=85 800w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/fe83d819cf0b0890b6f18ea13430c1aa6d4c5540bc7dcd520beb183476bc2205?w=1000&amp;q=85 1000w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/fe83d819cf0b0890b6f18ea13430c1aa6d4c5540bc7dcd520beb183476bc2205?w=2000&amp;q=85 2000w\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/fe83d819cf0b0890b6f18ea13430c1aa6d4c5540bc7dcd520beb183476bc2205?w=1000&amp;q=85\" style=\"--custom-aspect-ratio:2.0120724346076457;contain-intrinsic-size:2000px 994px\"\/><figcaption class=\"_figureCaptions_wioo3_158\">\n<p class=\"_imageCaption_wioo3_165\">This year\u2019s watches have some interesting new features, but how much will they improve the Apple Watch experience? I\u2019m going to need more time to test them to know for sure. Stay tuned to find out.<\/p>\n<p>Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">While we didn\u2019t get any significant design changes, this year\u2019s watches actually pack pretty significant enhancements under the hood. The new S11 chip and health sensing system are important upgrades and enable a bunch of compelling and interesting new features such as more detailed heart readings, the Readiness score, and the suite of Audio Intelligence features. As I said, I\u2019ll need more time to fully test these features, but even now, I can see how they might be useful to some people. I\u2019ll continue to update this article with my findings, but be sure to stay tuned by bookmarking this page.<\/p>\n<div class=\"_tableOverflow_ag6jz_1\">\n<table class=\"_tableStyles_ag6jz_5\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"_tableHeadRow_ag6jz_18\">\n<th class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9 _fontBold_ag6jz_14\">Model<\/th>\n<th class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9 _fontBold_ag6jz_14\">Apple Watch Series 12<\/th>\n<th class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9 _fontBold_ag6jz_14\">Apple Watch Series 12 Titanium<\/th>\n<th class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9 _fontBold_ag6jz_14\">Apple Watch Series 12 Ceramic<\/th>\n<th class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9 _fontBold_ag6jz_14\">Apple Watch Ultra 4<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr class=\"_tableBodyRow_ag6jz_22\">\n<th class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9 _fontBold_ag6jz_14\">Starting price<\/th>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">S$599<\/td>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">S$1,049<\/td>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">S$1,319<\/td>\n<td class=\"_cellStyles_ag6jz_9\">S$1,199<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\"><b><i>Note:<\/i><\/b><i> You can pre-order the Apple Watch now from <\/i><i>Lazada<\/i><i>, <\/i><i>Shopee<\/i><i>, and the <\/i><i>Apple Online Store<\/i><i>. The watches will be available in retail on 18 September.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<center><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hardwarezone.com.sg\/mobile\/wearables\/apple-watch-series-12-ultra-4-review-features-singapore-price-buy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><br \/>\n<center\/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Unless you spend time to study them, it can be difficult to tell what\u2019s new with this year\u2019s Apple Watches. After all, they look just&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":85861,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[156,28,318,158,157],"class_list":["post-85860","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tech-gadgets-reviews","tag-apple","tag-review","tag-series","tag-ultra","tag-watch","wpcat-32-id"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85860","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=85860"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85860\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/85861"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=85860"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=85860"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=85860"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}