I went hands-on with the Apple Watch Series 12: A new heart rate sensor, ceramic colors and a readiness score, at last

Apple has unveiled the latest Apple Watch Series 12, highlighting a new, more accurate heart rate sensor, ceramic colors and a readiness score. The company claims this is the most precise heart rate monitoring ever seen on a wearable device. The Apple Watch Series 12 delivers heart rate readings every five seconds, 60 times more frequently than its predecessor, the Apple Watch Series 11.

This enhanced monitoring enables heart rate variability (HRV) readings, a new readiness score for improved insights on when to push oneself and when to recover, and health metrics like a new Health Age metric. Additionally, the watch boasts a redesigned ceramic back featuring two new colors – Pearl White and Night Blue. Apple says the watch’s heart rate sensor design, with its 32-petal appearance, is an improvement over the series 11’s two-petal design, featuring larger and more powerful green LED lights for heart rate measurement.