New iPhones weren't the only devices Apple announced during its "Surprise and Shine" event Wednesday. The company also revealed two upgraded smartwatches, and they're both available for preorder right away.
The lineup includes the new flagship Apple Watch Series 12 and the premium rugged Apple Watch Ultra 4. (Apple didn't revisit its budget Apple Watch SE 3 this time around.) Shoppers can now purchase them through the Apple Store ahead of their joint release on Friday, Sept. 18. We'll update this story with other major retailers' preorder listings once they go live.
Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 pricing
Notably, neither Apple Watch received a price hike from the previous generation:
Apple Watch Series 12 — starting from $399 in two sizes (42mm or 46mm)
Apple Watch Ultra 4 — starting from $799 in one size (49mm)
Like always, the Ultra model comes standard with cellular connectivity. It's an optional $100 upgrade on certain Series 12 variants, depending on the case style.
Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 features
Both new Apple Watches run on the new S11 chip and include a new Health Sensing System with improved sensors. Apple said this system captures more accurate, continuous heart rate data and enables a "Readiness" score that tells the user how intensely they should exercise based on recent activities.
The S11 chip also enables "Audio Intelligence" features that utilize the watches' built-in microphones. Coming later this year, these include Sound Recognition alerts and Live Rewind conversation transcriptions. (To address privacy concerns, Apple said the watches don't record or store audio.)
The Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 will both work with Apple's newly redesigned Health app for iPhones, which also launches later this year.
The Series 12 is rated for up to 24 hours of battery life, while the Ultra 4 can last up to 50 hours per charge. That jumps to a whopping 84 hours in low power mode.
Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 colors
The Series 12's case will be available in three finishes and multiple colors:
Aluminum (dark bronze, light gold, black, or space gray) starting from $399 with optional cellular connectivity
Titanium (radiant gold or natural) starting from $699 with cellular connectivity
Ceramic (pearl white or night blue) starting from $899 with cellular connectivity
Rubber, textile, and stainless steel bands are available for the Series 12.
The Ultra 4's case just comes in black titanium or natural titanium. It can be paired with an Alpine Loop, Trail Loop, Ocean Band, or Titanium Milanese Loop.
The Apple Store is also selling special-edition Hermès variants of both smartwatches, starting at $1,399 for the Series 12 and $1,499 for the Ultra 4. The latter is available with a new extendable Grand H titanium band for $3,149.
Follow our Apple event live blog to catch up on the latest news and announcements from the "Surprise and Shine" keynote, with live updates from Apple Park.
