Do the Apple Watch Series 12’s New Health Features Live Up to the Hype?

Nutrition

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    September 18, 2026

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Credit: Beth Skwarecki

Tabulation


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    I now have the Apple Watch Series 12 in my hands-- or, rather, on my wrist-- and have actually invested the previous 24 hours putting it through as numerous tests as I can handle. I'm happy with the action counting and the schedule of "recovery HRV" ( rather than the cardiac-health-focused HRV that the Apple Watch formerly utilized )however I'm unsure if the heart rate precision is measuring up to the buzz. I'll be putting this gadget to more strenuous tests, however here are my very first ideas. 

Action counting is whatever I hoped it would beApple waited permanently to include action counting as a quickly viewable metric on the watch, however it’s lastly here. I can open my wise stack (with a double pinch of my fingers, not even touching the watch screen )and see my actions right on top. I’ve likewise included an action count problem to my watch face. You can discover this issue under ActivityThe choice to see your rings as a problem is still there, however you can now likewise include actions or wheelchair presses.

Action counts work well. They upgrade rapidly, and appear to be precise in my casual counting– 9 actions from my desk to the door signs up as 9 actions. I’ll do more extensive screening quickly, to appropriately assess Apple’s claim that it now has the most precise action suspending there.

What’s frustrating is that it took so long– which action counting is not concerning the Series 11 or any earlier watch. Apple’s action counting utilizes an unique pedometer design that’s developed into its brand-new processor. Older Apple watches do not have the hardware to determine your actions as specifically, leading Apple to leave the function off those watches. That is wild to me, thinking about that every other wearable has actually had action depend on the watch since the very first caveman strapped a rock to their wrist.

I’m unsure I purchase these”most precise heart rate”declares

Apple declares the Series 12 has the most precise heart rate in a wearable, and I’ve currently discussed that that’s a strong claim offered what I ‘ve seen in the past from Apple and from other gadgets. Now that I have a Series 12 in my hands, I had the ability to do some initial screening.

To be completely clear, these are not comprehensive tests, and I’m not making a definitive conclusion based upon simply a couple of days’screening. I’ll reveal you what I’ve attempted so far.

As constantly, I’m checking the gadget versus my heart rate as checked out by a chest strap (the gold requirement for heart rate contrasts). I did:

• A treadmill period keep up the Series 11 and a chest strap

• A similar treadmill period keep up the Series 12, a chest strap, and the Garmin Forerunner 570 for excellent procedure

• An outside run that consisted of consistent running, periods, and strolling, with the Series 12, a chest strap, and && the 570.

I’m consisting of the 570 in these tests since it has what I would think about the most precise heart rate sensing unit in a wearable. In my previous screening it’s reported numbers that equaled or almost similar to the chest strap. That stated, there’s constantly variation from day to day, and it didn’t shine rather also in these current tests compared to some I’ve performed in the past.

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            What do you believe up until now?

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Apple Watch Series 11, leading, and 12, bottom. Red dots are the Apple Watches; gray is the chest strap for recommendation.
Credit: Beth Skwarecki

Here are the indoor runs with the Series 11 on the top, and the Series 12 on the bottom, both in red and both compared to a chest strap. The Series 11 was currently doing a respectable task, and to be truthful I’m unsure if the Series 12 is any much better. I’m dissatisfied that the Series 12 is still just tasting heart rate every 5 seconds throughout exercises. Other gadgets, like the chest strap and the Garmin, sample every second. That suggests Apple is taking 12 information points every minute while these other gadgets are taking 60.

Here’s the outside run. The chest strap remains in gray, Garmin in blue, and Apple in red. Once again, the sporadic information points of the Apple watch aren’t outstanding. I see a couple of locations where Apple missed out on the peak of a little spike, however then once again the Garmin had a hard time in a couple of areas. I’ll do more screening and report back when I’ve had the ability to try the watch in a higher range of activities and conditions.

What I can’t evaluate yet

Live Rewind and Siri Recaps aren’t offered. Live Rewind is the function where you can request for a text transcription of whatever was stated around you in the last 15 seconds. Wrap-ups manage a longer timeframe– for instance, to sum up a conference. These functions are coming later on this year, and aren’t in the variation of watchOS 27 that included the watch. (I have actually not set up any beta software application on the watch.)

Preparedness is another huge function coming quickly, however I have not logged enough nights of sleep to get my ratings yet– it requires about a week of information. As a sneak peek, I am seeing my “healing HRV” noted with my sleep information. Last night my HRV was 45 according to Apple, and 50 according to my Oura ring. HRV readings from various gadgets might differ, depending upon precisely when they take their measurements, so I’ll be searching for patterns instead of particular information points. If both gadgets settle on what is a high or a low reading for me, offered my standard, I’ll call that a success for Apple.

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