Apple has announced the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 alongside a major overhaul of the Health app. The update brings faster heart rate tracking, a new daily readiness score, and a longevity assessment powered by Apple Intelligence. Most software features will roll out to users with the release of iOS 27 and watchOS 27.
The new Health Sensing System represents the primary hardware upgrade on the Series 12 and Ultra 4 models. Larger green LEDs allow the optical sensors to record your pulse every 5 seconds all day. Heart rate variability tracking also gets a boost, logging data every 5 minutes instead of occasional background checks. That is a 24x jump in measurement frequency. Apple separates this metric into recovery HRV for daily physical strain and overall HRV for long term cardiovascular trends. A study of over 1000 participants confirmed these new sensors deliver the highest accuracy among current wearables.
To compete directly with fitness rings and dedicated sports bands, Apple is introducing a readiness score. The system evaluates your recent sleep quality, baseline vitals, and activity levels to generate a daily score from 0 to 10. You get 1 of 4 clear recommendations each morning: Recover, Pace Yourself, Ready, or Go For It. The score updates during the day if you complete a hard workout or if your daytime vitals shift unexpectedly.
The Health app on iPhone receives its biggest visual update in years with iOS 27. Apple Intelligence organizes your data into two main sections called Insights and Longevity. Sumbul Desai, the vice president of Health and Fitness at Apple, explained the focus on actionable guidance:
By combining breakthrough sensing on Apple Watch with Apple Intelligence in the Health app, we are able to translate complex biometric data into clear guidance for users.
The new Longevity section calculates a metric called Health Age. It compares your biological data such as VO2 max, resting pulse, sleep consistency, and blood test markers against your chronological age. Users in the US can purchase a panel of 50 lab biomarkers for $119 through Quest Diagnostics directly inside the app. For physical mobility, you can place your iPhone on a stand and complete guided movement tests. Computer vision models assess your balance, flexibility, and strength right on the device without saving any video recordings.
Cycle tracking expands to support perimenopause and menopause. Users 40 and older will get alerts if changes in their cycle patterns indicate the start of perimenopause. Other additions include Workout Buddy on watchOS 27, which gives audio motivation in English and Spanish without requiring a nearby iPhone. Owners of AirPods Pro 3 can also sync heart rate metrics straight to compatible gym treadmills and stationary bikes.
