Based on the professional reviews we've aggregated, it is an incremental update. Reviewer Mark Ellis calls it "a polished, iterative update" with standout improvements in heart rate monitoring and useful watchOS features. He also likes the new ceramic finish. Reviewer David Price says it "delivers the best health and fitness insights of any Apple product to date." He also lists several missteps, covered in the battery answer below.
The main hardware change in Apple's description is heart rate sensing. Apple says it is the most accurate heart rate sensing in a wearable. It also says the watch measures heart rate variability (HRV) as often as every five minutes and takes background heart rate readings every five seconds. If you track stress, recovery or training load, that is the most meaningful change. If you mostly use a watch for notifications, timers and basic step counting, a recent model may do the job, and the new features may matter less to you.
ShopSavvy doesn't test products, so this answer reflects published specifications and reviewer opinions, not hands-on use. Apple has not published a full side-by-side comparison in the data we have. Before upgrading, compare Apple's spec pages for your current watch and the Series 12, and look at the sensors and health features you would actually use. The listing price we have for this watch is $389.99. Check the current price at the retailer before buying, because prices change.
We may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. How ShopSavvy makes money
How we researched this
Where this comes from: this answer draws on the product's published specifications and the reviews ShopSavvy collected for it, alongside prices from 1 retailer in ShopSavvy's price data, most recently seen Nov 13, 2026.
Discussion
Know something we should add, or spot a detail that has changed? Tell us below. We check it against the maker's information and update the article.
⚖️Compare Similar Products
Download ShopSavvy App
Compare prices across tens of thousands of stores, set price alerts, watch for deals by keyword, and much more.
Install ShopSavvy Browser Extension
Compare and track prices automatically while you shop online at thousands of websites.
