Apple Event 2026: Apple Watch Series 12 & Ultra 4 Gets Major Health Upgrade With Readiness Score, 5-Second Heart Tracking

Apple is set to unveil a major upgrade to the Apple Watch Series 12 and Watch Ultra 4 at its upcoming event in 2026. The new iteration will introduce a "readiness score" to provide users with a numerical gauge of their body's preparedness for the day. This feature aims to give users a clearer understanding of their health and fitness based on data collected by the watch, bolstering its competitive edge against rivals like Oura.

In tandem with the readiness score, Apple is dramatically enhancing its heart-rate monitoring capabilities on the Series 12 and Ultra 4 models. A redesigned sensor layout will facilitate continuous heart-rate tracking every five seconds, even during physical activity. This is achieved through the integration of larger, more efficient green LEDs, which optimize skin contact and optical sensing. The upgraded system will capture heart-rate data 60 times more often than the previous iteration, according to Apple.

The increased sampling frequency will enable the watch to collect heart-rate data at a rate 60-fold higher than before, providing users with a more comprehensive picture of their overall health. Furthermore, heart-rate variability (HRV) monitoring will see a 24-fold increase in frequency, with the Apple Watch now capable of sampling HRV as often as every five minutes. This heightened data collection will allow users to monitor this key health indicator with unprecedented precision and detail.