Apple Watch Series 12 review

Apple Watch Series 12 is the most complete health watch for an iPhone owner. Apple lists an ECG app that records a single-lead electrocardiogram to check for signs of AFib, a Blood Oxygen app, high and low heart rate alerts, irregular rhythm notifications, sleep score and sleep apnea notifications. New for this model line is a hypertension notification: Apple says the optical sensor feeds an algorithm that can flag patterns of chronic high blood pressure. Readiness and Vitals combine HRV, blood oxygen and other overnight data, and wrist temperature sensing supports Advanced Cycle Tracking. For daily use, Apple Pay, Fall Detection and Crash Detection are built in, and the cellular model can call, text and stream over 5G with a carrier plan. The tradeoffs are battery and lock-in. Apple lists up to 24 hours of normal use, so most people charge daily, though 15 minutes of fast charging adds up to 12 hours. The watch requires iPhone 11 or later with iOS 27, so Android owners should look at Pixel Watch 5 or Galaxy Watch9.

Who it is for

iPhone owners who want the fullest health toolkit

Price

From $399 for the 42mm aluminum model.

New Apple Watch Series 12 From $399
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 13, 2026.

Key features

• ECG app for a single-lead electrocardiogram to check for signs of AFib
• Hypertension and sleep apnea notifications
• Sleep score, Readiness and Vitals with HRV and blood oxygen
• Apple Pay, Fall Detection and Crash Detection
• Up to 24 hours of normal use; 15 minutes of fast charging adds up to 12 hours

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Hypertension notifications, which Apple Watch SE 3 does not offer
• Strength: Optional cellular model can call, text and stream music over 5G
• Strength: Aluminum, titanium or ceramic cases in 42mm and 46mm
• Weakness: Requires iPhone 11 or later with iOS 27 or later
• Weakness: Up to 24 hours of battery means charging most days
• Weakness: Live Rewind and Siri Recap need an Apple Intelligence iPhone 16 or later and arrive in beta in late 2026

Key facts

• Starting price: $399
• Phones: iPhone 11 or later, iOS 27 or later
• Battery: Up to 24 hours, 38 in Low Power Mode
• Payments: Apple Pay
• ECG app: Yes

Where it ranks

Apple Watch Series 12 is No. 1 in our Best Smartwatches verdict.