Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 Reviews: Look Out, Oura Ring

The Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 reviews are out, and the standout feature is a health tracking system that directly challenges the Oura Ring. With a faster chip and upgraded sensors, Apple is making a play to be your only wearable.

Context: A quiet but meaningful update

Apple hasn't changed the exterior design, but the internals tell a different story. The new S11 chip and a heart sensor with larger LEDs enable more accurate and frequent heart rate monitoring, with HRV measured up to 24 times more often. There's also a new Readiness app, more accurate step tracking, and faster charging.

Details: Battery, accuracy, and new features

Early reviews highlight that the S11 speeds up Siri AI queries, according to The Verge. Continuous heart rate tracking doesn't hurt battery life: the Series 12 sticks to 24 hours, but with fast charging, it went from 20% to 64% in 20 minutes. The Ultra 4 lives up to its promise: 48 hours on a single charge with workouts and sleep tracking, per 9to5Mac. The Readiness score sets itself apart from the Oura Ring by updating throughout the day and not requiring a subscription, though it needs at least 7 nights of data. Siri Rewind and Live Recap are coming later with watchOS.

Analysis: Who wins here?

Apple isn't reinventing the wheel, but it's executing better. The dynamic, subscription-free Readiness score is a direct shot at Oura, which charges a monthly fee for advanced stats. The Ultra 4 cements its place as the battery king among smartwatches, and the Series 12 offers enough upgrades to justify an upgrade from older models. Those hoping for a redesign may be disappointed, but the health focus is spot on.

Implications: The future of wearables

With these improvements, Apple is pressuring Oura and Whoop to justify their subscriptions. The integration of AI into Siri and continuous HRV measurement point toward a more proactive health assistant. If Apple nails the Readiness accuracy and usefulness, it could become the industry standard, leaving smart rings in a niche.

The real question is whether users will trust a watch to fully replace their health ring.

Source: MacRumors