Apple Watch Series 12 vs Apple Watch Ultra 4
The Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 bring new health sensors, a new chip, and more detailed insights into recovery to Apple’s smartwatch lineup. Here’s the comprehensive comparison with all the features and specifications.
Apple Watch Series 12
The Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 feature the S11 chip, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, and the new health sensor system that measures heart rate every five seconds throughout the day. They also offer the same features, such as Ready status, Recovery HRV, daytime vital signs, improved step counting, high blood pressure and sleep apnea alerts, sleep score, and more. This means that the higher price of the Ultra 4 doesn’t include any additional features for daily health monitoring.
The Apple Watch Series 12 is available starting at €449/$399, and the Apple Watch Ultra 4 starting at €899/$799. The price difference decreases if you prefer a premium case material: The titanium version of the Series 12 is available starting at €799/$699. This year, the Apple Watch Series 12 is also available with a ceramic case starting at €1,049/$899, making it more expensive than the Ultra despite its smaller size and shorter battery life.
Apple Watch Ultra 4
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 continues to focus on robustness, long battery life, and additional features for activities like diving and expeditions. Our guide will help you decide which of the two Apple Watches is best for you. You can find all the differences between the Apple Watch Series 12 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4 in our table.
Comparison
| Apple Watch Series 12 | Apple Watch Ultra 4 |
| Rounded design with a thinner casing and front glass with rounded edges. | Robust design with a thicker casing and slightly raised edges to protect the flat front glass. |
| Case made of aluminum, polished titanium or polished ceramic | blasted titanium case |
| Aluminum and titanium: Case sizes 42 mm and 46 mm. Ceramic: Offered as 42 mm and 46 mm, actual height 43 mm and 47 mm. | Case size 49 mm |
| 42mm aluminum and titanium: 37mm case width; 43mm ceramic: 37mm case width; 46mm aluminum and titanium: 40mm case width; 47mm ceramic: 41mm case width | 49mm titanium: 44mm case width |
| Aluminum and titanium: 9.7 mm case depth; ceramic: 9.85 mm case depth | 12 mm case depth |
| Depending on the case size, material, workmanship and connectivity, the weight ranges between 31.5 and 52.9 grams. | Natural titanium: 63.0 grams Black titanium: 63.1 grams |
| Aluminum: Ceramic Shield 2 front glass; Titanium and ceramic: Sapphire crystal front glass | sapphire crystal |
| 42mm: 374 × 446 pixels 46mm: 416 × 496 pixels | 422 x 514 pixels |
| 42 mm: 970 mm² display area 46 mm: 1,196 mm² display area | Display area: 1,245 mm² |
| Peak brightness up to 2,000 nits | Peak brightness up to 3,000 nits |
| Exclusive Wayfinder, Modular Ultra and Orienteering dials | |
| Night mode on Apple Watch Ultra watch faces | |
| Customizable action button, including precision start for workouts | |
| An 86-decibel siren to attract attention | |
| Single speaker | Two speakers |
| Single microphone with voice isolation | Three-microphone array with beamforming and wind noise reduction |
| Aluminum: GPS or GPS + cellular options. Titanium and ceramic: GPS + cellular. | GPS + mobile network on all models |
| US TDD mobile network bands: 5G n38, n40 and n41; LTE 38, 39, 40 and 41 | US TDD mobile network bands: 5G n38, n40, n41 and n53; LTE 38, 39, 40, 41 and 53 |
| Satellite communication for emergency calls (SOS), messages and “Find My Location”. | |
| Precision L1 GPS | Precise dual-frequency GPS (L1 and L5) |
| GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS and BeiDou support | GPS, Galileo, QZSS and BeiDou support |
| Waterproof up to 50 m | Waterproof up to 100 m |
| Suitable for swimming and snorkeling | Suitable for swimming, snorkeling, fast-paced water sports and scuba diving up to 40 m depth. |
| Depth gauge and depth app up to 6 m | Depth gauge and depth app up to 40 m |
| Tested according to MIL-STD 810H | |
| EN13319 certification for recreational diving | |
| Recommended ambient temperature for operation: 0°C to 35°C | Operating temperature at the wrist: -20°C to 55°C |
| Altimeter always on | Permanent altimeter with extended measuring range from -500 m to 9,000 m |
| Operating altitude from 0 m to 3,000 m | Operating altitude from -500 m to 9,000 m |
| Up to 24 hours of normal use | Up to 50 hours of normal use |
| Up to 38 hours in energy saving mode | Up to 84 hours in energy saving mode |
| Up to 10 hours of standard outdoor training recording | Up to 18 hours of standard outdoor training recording |
| Up to 25 hours in extended training mode with full GPS and heart rate measurement | |
| Up to 45 hours in “Maximum Long-Term Training” mode, with GPS measurements being saved every second. | |
| Charges from 0 to 80% in approximately 30 minutes | Charges from 0 to 80% in approximately 45 minutes. |
| 15 minutes charging time for up to 12 hours of normal use | 15 minutes charging time for up to 18 hours of normal use |
| Aluminum: Dark bronze, light gold, black and space gray; Titanium: Radiant gold and natural; Ceramic: Pearl white and midnight blue | Natural titanium or black titanium |
| Hermès: Silver or Radiant Gold Titanium | Hermès: Natural Titanium |
| 40% recycled content in aluminum and titanium models | 45% recycled material |
| Aluminum: From €449/$399 | Titanium: From €799/$699 | Ceramic: From €1,049/$899 | Standard: From €899/$799 |
For most users, the Apple Watch Series 12 is the better choice. It offers the same performance, health sensors, readiness information, and audio intelligence features as the Ultra 4—all in a thinner and lighter device. The aluminum model offers these benefits for $400 less, making it the more durable option for everyday use and regular workouts.
The biggest advantage of the Apple Watch Ultra 4 lies in its battery life. Thanks to the longer runtime, overnight use and extended workouts can easily be incorporated into the charging process. You don’t have to be a competitive athlete to appreciate the less frequent charging, but the higher price is easier to justify if the Apple Watch Series 12 doesn’t adequately cover your typical activities and charging habits.
The Ultra is more clearly positioned for hikes in areas with no cellular coverage, scuba diving, or very long events. Satellite communication, dual-frequency GPS, improved water resistance, and expanded workout modes address requirements that the Apple Watch Series 12 cannot fully meet. The action button and brighter display should also appeal to those who simply want more powerful hardware.
Size and appearance remain a significant trade-off. The Ultra is noticeably bulkier and heavier, even though its display is only marginally larger than that of the 46mm Apple Watch Series 12. The Apple Watch Series 12 is more understated, offering polished titanium and ceramic finishes, making it a better choice for buyers who prioritize comfort or a more aesthetically pleasing design. If you’re unsure about the size, consider trying on the Ultra before purchasing.
The decision is easier if you already prefer the titanium version of the Apple Watch Series 12, as its starting price is only €100/$100 less than the Ultra. In this case, it makes perfect sense to pay more for longer battery life and additional hardware, provided you like the larger case. The €1,049/$899 ceramic version of the Series 12 is primarily a matter of material and craftsmanship; choose it for its more appealing look, not because you expect more features than the €899/$799 Ultra.
