The Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 bring new health sensors, a new chip, and more detailed recovery insights to Apple's smartwatch lineup, so how do they compare?


Both models feature the S11 chip, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, and the new Health Sensing System, which measures heart rate every five seconds throughout the day. They also share Readiness, Recovery HRV, daytime vitals, improved step tracking, hypertension notifications, sleep apnea notifications, Sleep Score, and more. This means that the Ultra 4's higher price does not buy you more advanced everyday health tracking.

The Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399, while the Apple Watch Ultra 4 starts at $799. The gap narrows if you want a premium case material, with the titanium Series 12 starting at $699. This year, the Series 12 also gains a ceramic option starting at $899, making it more expensive than the Ultra despite its smaller size and shorter battery life.

The Apple Watch Ultra continues to focus on durability, extended battery life, and additional capabilities for activities like diving and exploration. Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these two Apple Watches is best for you. The differences between the Apple Watch Series 12 and ‌Apple Watch Ultra 4‌ are as follows:

Apple Watch Series 12	‌Apple Watch Ultra 4‌
Rounded design with a thinner case and front glass that curves at the edges	Rugged design with a thicker case and slightly raised edges to protect the flat front crystal
Aluminum, polished titanium, or polished ceramic case	Blasted titanium case
Aluminum and titanium: 42mm and 46mm case sizes Ceramic: Marketed as 42mm and 46mm, with actual heights of 43mm and 47mm	49mm case size
42mm aluminum and titanium: 37mm case width 43mm ceramic: 37mm case width 46mm aluminum and titanium: 40mm case width 47mm ceramic: 41mm case width	49mm titanium: 44mm case width
Aluminum and titanium: 9.7mm case depth Ceramic: 9.85mm case depth	12mm case depth
Weighs 31.5 to 52.9 grams depending on case size, material, finish, and connectivity	Natural titanium: 63.0 grams Black titanium: 63.1 grams
Aluminum: Ceramic Shield 2 front glass Titanium and ceramic: Sapphire front crystal	Sapphire front crystal
42mm: 374 by 446 pixels 46mm: 416 by 496 pixels	422 by 514 pixels
42mm: 970 sq mm display area 46mm: 1,196 sq mm display area	1,245 sq mm display area
Up to 2,000 nits peak brightness	Up to 3,000 nits peak brightness
	Exclusive Wayfinder, Modular Ultra, and Orienteering faces
	Night Mode on Apple Watch Ultra faces
	Customizable Action button, including Precision Start for workouts
	86-decibel Siren to attract attention
Single speaker	Dual speakers
Single microphone with Voice Isolation	Three-microphone array with beamforming and wind noise mitigation
Aluminum: GPS or GPS + Cellular options Titanium and ceramic: GPS + Cellular	GPS + Cellular on all models
U.S. TDD cellular bands: 5G n38, n40, and n41; LTE 38, 39, 40, and 41	U.S. TDD cellular bands: 5G n38, n40, n41, and n53; LTE 38, 39, 40, 41, and 53
	Satellite communications for Emergency SOS, Messages, and Find My
Precision L1 GPS	Precision dual-frequency GPS (L1 and L5)
GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou support	GPS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou support
Water resistant to 50m	Water resistant to 100m
Suitable for swimming and snorkeling	Suitable for swimming, snorkeling, high-speed water sports, and recreational scuba diving to 40m
Depth gauge and Depth app to 6m	Depth gauge and Depth app to 40m
	Tested to MIL-STD 810H
	EN13319 certification for recreational scuba diving
Recommended ambient operating temperature of 0°C to 35°C	On-wrist operating temperature of -20°C to 55°C
Always-on altimeter	Always-on altimeter with expanded operating range from -500m to 9,000m
Operating altitude from 0m to 3,000m	Operating altitude from -500m to 9,000m
Up to 24 hours of normal use	Up to 50 hours of normal use
Up to 38 hours in Low Power Mode	Up to 84 hours in Low Power Mode
Up to 10 hours of standard outdoor workout tracking	Up to 18 hours of standard outdoor workout tracking
	Up to 25 hours in Extended Workout mode with full GPS and heart rate readings
	Up to 45 hours in Max Extended Workout mode, retaining GPS readings every second
Charge from 0 to 80% in about 30 minutes	Charge from 0 to 80% in about 45 minutes
15 minutes of charging for up to 12 hours of normal use	15 minutes of charging for up to 18 hours of normal use
Aluminum: Dark Bronze, Light Gold, Black, and Space Gray Titanium: Radiant Gold and Natural Ceramic: Pearl White and Night Blue	Natural Titanium or Black Titanium
Hermès: Silver or Radiant Gold titanium	Hermès: Natural titanium
40% recycled content in aluminum and titanium models	45% recycled content
Aluminum: Starts at $399 Titanium: Starts at $699 Ceramic: Starts at $899 Hermès: Starts at $1,399	Standard: Starts at $799 Hermès: Starts at $1,499

For most users, the Apple Watch Series 12 is the better choice. It offers the same performance, health sensors, Readiness insights, and Audio Intelligence features as the Ultra 4 in a thinner, lighter device. The aluminum model delivers these benefits for $400 less, making it the stronger option for everyday use and regular workouts.

The Ultra 4's most broadly useful advantage is battery life. Its longer endurance makes overnight wear and extended workouts easier to fit around charging. You do not need to be an endurance athlete to appreciate less frequent charging, but the premium is easier to justify if the Series 12 cannot comfortably cover your usual activities and charging habits.

For hiking away from cellular coverage, recreational scuba diving, or very long events, the Ultra has a clearer purpose. Satellite communications, dual-frequency GPS, greater water resistance, and extended workout modes address needs that the Series 12 cannot fully meet. The Action button and brighter display may also appeal to enthusiasts who simply want more capable hardware.

Size and appearance remain substantial trade-offs. The Ultra is considerably bulkier and heavier despite offering a display only slightly larger than the 46mm Series 12's. The Series 12 is more discreet and offers polished titanium and ceramic finishes, making it better suited to buyers who prioritize comfort or appearance. Try on the Ultra before buying if you are unsure about its size.

The decision becomes closer if you already want the titanium Series 12, since its starting price is just $100 below the Ultra's. At that point, paying more for longer battery life and additional hardware is reasonable if you are comfortable with the larger case. The $899 ceramic Series 12 is primarily a choice of material and finish; choose it because you prefer its appearance, rather than expecting more capabilities than the $799 Ultra.
This article, "Apple Watch Series 12 vs. Ultra 4 Buyer's Guide" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we revisit the iPhone Duo debate, early impressions of the AirPods 5, and the merits of Apple's latest iPhone and Apple Watch upgrades.


Apple's first foldable iPhone continues to divide opinion, with much of the discussion centering on whether its larger inner display justifies the compromises elsewhere. Combining an iPhone and an iPad-like device has obvious appeal, but its value depends on how often that extra screen space would actually be used.

Watching videos, reading, referencing documents, and working across multiple apps could all make the foldable display worthwhile, particularly when traveling. For users who primarily take photos, send messages, and browse social media, the benefits may be harder to justify against the device's price, weight, thickness, and camera trade-offs. The excitement surrounding a new form factor also raises the question of whether buyers will embrace it for the long term or return to a conventional iPhone.

Our discussion also addresses criticism of the ‌iPhone Duo‌'s inner display, including concerns about sharpness, color saturation, and crease visibility. Its nano-texture finish introduces a balance between reducing glare and retaining the appearance of a glossy screen, with hands-on impressions offering a different perspective from photos and videos online. Other considerations include using the wider form factor one-handed, switching from Face ID to Touch ID, and potentially replacing an iPad on some trips.

‌AirPods 5‌ emerge as a potential standout following a week of use, including on a flight. Their fit and improved active noise cancellation could make them particularly appealing to users who struggle with AirPods Pro's silicone tips. We also consider the value of the higher-end model and how iOS 27's equalizer can help adjust a sound profile that may initially seem too bass-heavy.

The Apple Watch Series 12 and redesigned Health app receive a closer look, with this year's health features forming a more substantial upgrade after several relatively modest generations. Clearer presentation of health data and new longevity information promise to make collected metrics more useful. Whether those additions justify replacing an older watch remains a separate question for owners whose basic fitness and sleep-tracking needs are already met.

Finally, we return to the iPhone 18 Pro's variable-aperture camera, smaller Dynamic Island, and new Photographic Styles. The discussion weighs how noticeable these changes will be in everyday use, with the new film-inspired styles potentially offering as much appeal as the camera hardware improvements. We also look at whether owners of recent Pro models have sufficient reason to switch, and when a discounted iPhone 17 Pro could offer better value.

The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.



You can also listen to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or other podcast apps. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your player.



If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our initial discussion about the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌, ‌iPhone Duo‌, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, and ‌AirPods 5‌.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Michael Fisher, Kayci Lacob, Kevin Nether, John Gruber, Mark Gurman, Jon Prosser, Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Sam Kohl, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

‌The MacRumors Show‌ is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also email us at podcast@macrumors.com or head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.
This article, "The MacRumors Show: Is the iPhone Duo Actually Worth It?" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's design team reveals how notebooks helped inspire the iPhone Duo, along with interface principles and expectations for future features, in a new interview with GQ.


The interview features Apple CEO John Ternus, Vice President of Industrial Design Molly Anderson, and Vice President of Human Interface Design Steve Lemay. In addition to the device's previously announced features, Anderson and Lemay discuss how Apple approached its physical design and the experience of moving between its two displays.

Anderson said familiar notebooks provided a reference for making a device that offers more space while remaining compact enough to carry comfortably.

Everyone knows what a notebook feels like in the pocket and what it feels like to carry around. So that was a big part of the inspiration: 'How do you get to something that gives you space but also feels compact?'"

The ‌iPhone Duo‌'s proportions are derived from the international A-series paper system, allowing the device to retain the same proportions when opened and closed.

Anderson also explained how Apple tuned the hinge's resistance. Its custom variable torque profile makes the device easy to open before biasing it toward remaining open and lying flat.

Lemay said that the guiding idea of the ‌iPhone Duo‌'s software was to make unfolding feel like expanding the device users were already holding. Maintaining the location and recognizability of controls was part of that approach, so users would not have to search again for a button after opening the phone. The transition animation was designed to reveal an inner display that appears to grow beneath the outer one.

It was really important to us from the beginning that iPhone Duo feels like one cohesive experience, not two different products awkwardly fused together.

Lemay explicitly identified the Mac as a key influence on the Duo's interface, alongside the iPad and existing iPhones. He characterized the result as the "greatest hits" of those products.

The interview also questioned how Apple expects the product to develop after launch. Lemay said developers will devise uses that Apple's design team has not anticipated, and suggested that some could influence the wider foldable industry and change the direction of the ‌iPhone Duo‌ itself in the future.

There are so many things the developers will come up with that we've never anticipated. Some of those will become big ideas that take over the industry and change the product in interesting ways.

The ‌iPhone Duo‌ launches on October 23, with pre-orders beginning on October 16. Pricing starts at $1,999.
This article, "Apple Designers Explain the Thinking Behind iPhone Duo" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple supplier SK Hynix's subsidiary Solidigm is considering a U.S. NAND flash memory factory, with upstate New York emerging as a leading candidate, according to Reuters. The move would reduce Solidigm's reliance on its NAND factory in China. Yesterday, it emerged that the Apple supplier is in manufacturing talks with Intel to start memory production in the U.S.
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Apple's latest iPhone upgrade cycle is showing stronger-than-expected demand, with buyers favoring more expensive models and storage configurations, according to an Evercore ISI consumer survey seen by Investing.com.


Evercore surveyed nearly 4,000 consumers in the United States. Among respondents, 67% identified their existing iPhone's age as the main reason to upgrade, a substantial increase from 48% in the previous year's survey.

The purchase preferences also suggest that buyers remain willing to spend more on Apple's higher-end devices. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max together attracted 53% of prospective buyers, with 32% choosing the Pro Max, compared with 29% a year earlier.

Evercore estimates that average iPhone selling prices could increase by approximately 28%. Its forecast combines higher retail prices with a greater proportion of purchases going toward premium models and larger storage configurations, including the reported 2TB options for the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ models and iPhone Duo.

The foldable ‌iPhone Duo‌ attracted interest from 14% of respondents. Evercore believes that figure could rise as its mid-October launch approaches, although the survey currently places it well behind the combined Pro models.

Interest extended to other Apple products, with 38% of respondents planning an Apple Watch purchase and 43% considering AirPods. Both figures increased from the previous year.

The findings reflect stated purchase intentions in the U.S., rather than completed sales or worldwide demand. Evercore nevertheless believes they support a stronger revenue outlook for Apple's fiscal 2027 than the ~7% growth anticipated by analysts.
This article, "iPhone 18 Pro Demand Stronger Than Expected" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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"Design the Next iPhone," an interactive website from developer Neal Agarwal, gives users control over a virtual iPhone's look, including the option to combine conventional smartphone components with deliberately impractical accessories.


The interactive tool starts with a bare iPhone model that can be rotated in 3D, with users able to drag and drop components onto its surface. Cameras, volume buttons, Lightning ports, Home buttons, and Apple logos can be placed wherever users want, with multiple copies of each item available for more unconventional designs.

Beyond standard smartphone features, the site offers a headphone jack, HDMI port, Apple Watch-style Digital Crown, and a hinge. Users can also add an Android or pear logo, a rotary dial, an antenna, or a classic iPod click wheel. The more absurd options include a steering wheel, a joystick, and a Mac Pro "Pro Wheel."

Users can customize the device's color and wallpaper, and give their creation a name. Selecting "Present" generates a mock Apple product presentation with a fictional price based on the components added, along with a pop-up of former Apple CEO Tim Cook praising the design. The finished iPhone can be downloaded as a rotating video.

Visit the site to try making your own.
This article, "Fan Site Lets You 'Design the Next iPhone'" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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