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Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Gigantum.net
Gadgets

How the new Apple Watches compare to the last-gen models

Apple’s newest watches sport new features like audio intelligence, but how do they stack up against the older models?

· 257 words

Apple rolled out the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 at the “Surprise and shine” event. The new watches feature sizable improvements to the health sensors and tracking, plus the ability to recite audio transcriptions and summaries, plus a ceramic case option for the Series 12. Despite the new features, the watches start at the same base price as their previous iterations. The Apple Watch Series 12 costs $399 for the aluminum version without cellular, and the Apple Watch Ultra 4 costs $799. The biggest differences between the models are new features powered by the S11 processor. It supports the new Apple Intelligence features as well as more detailed health and fitness programs. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 also has longer battery life, up to 50 hours on a single charge, up from 42 on the Ultra 3. All the watches are slightly heavier, with the ceramic Apple Watch Series 12 sitting at 42.8 grams for the 42mm version and 52.9 grams for the 46mm version. The heaviest Apple Watch Ultra is 63.1 grams, up from 61.8 grams on the older model. [Media: Make sure to check out our hands-on if you’re curious about the full scope of the changes. You can also scroll around in the YouTube video above to find where Victoria Song jumped into our post-event Vergecast livestream. On the other hand, if you’re more curious about how the new watches stack up to the previous versions, we’ve gathered up all the relevant information below in one handy, albeit sprawling, chart.

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