Apple unveils Watch Series 12 with new S11 chip and health sensor upgrades

Apple announced the Watch Series 12, which incorporates a new S11 chip and an upgraded health-sensing system. The lineup includes aluminum, titanium and ceramic models available in several colors, with the aluminum versions receiving a Ceramic Shield front cover. The health sensor redesign adds a larger electrode surface for better ECG contact, a ring of photodiodes for more efficient light capture, and larger, power-efficient green LEDs for heart-rate monitoring. These changes enable more frequent readings in the Heart Rate app and new watch-face complications. A new Readiness feature will assess recent activity, vitals and sleep each morning to provide a score that suggests whether users should recover, maintain pace or increase activity. Apple also plans a redesign of the Health app that will include a Health Age metric, a Longevity tab and the ability to add lab results or sync medical records. In the United States, a Quest blood panel covering over 50 biomarkers will be offered for $119. The S11 chip powers Audio Intelligence capabilities such as Sound Recognition, which can identify alarms, doorbells or a baby crying, and Live Rewind, which shows a transcript of the prior 15 seconds of conversation. Siri Recap, another audio feature, will generate titles, summaries and key points from recent dialogues; it will launch in beta later this year, initially in English. The Watch Series 12 starts at $399, is available for preorder today and will begin shipping on September 18.