Apple Watch Series 11 vs. Series 12 Buyer's Guide: 25+ Upgrades Compared

The Apple Watch Series 12 has been released for pre-order, bringing a significant list of upgrades compared to its predecessor, the Series 11. While the Series 11 introduced just four changes over the Series 10, the Series 12 offers a more meaningful refresh despite retaining the same design for three consecutive years. The Series 12 launches on September 18 at the same $399 starting price as the Series 11, which has now been discontinued.

Here are the key differences between the two models:

1. Chip: The Series 12 uses the S11 chip, while the Series 11 uses the S10 chip.

2. RAM: The Series 12 has 4GB of RAM, while the Series 11 has 2GB.

3. Health Sensing System: The Series 12 features a new Health Sensing System with a larger electrode surface for better skin contact during ECG readings, redesigned photodiodes, and larger, more power-efficient green LEDs. This results in more frequent heart rate measurements and higher HRV sampling rates, providing the most accurate heart rate sensing of any wearable.

4. Display: The Series 12's display appears slightly smaller, with 1,196 sq mm compared to the Series 11's 1,220 sq mm. However, the resolution remains unchanged.

5. Case Materials: The Series 12 offers new case materials, including Ion-X glass with 2x scratch resistance (aluminum models), Ceramic Shield (aluminum models), and an aluminum or titanium case. The Series 11 models are available in aluminum or titanium with zirconia backs.

6. Charging: The Series 12 can charge 50% faster than the Series 11, with 5 minutes of charging providing up to 8 hours of sleep tracking and 5 minutes of charging providing up to 10 hours of sleep tracking.

7. Additional features: The Series 12 introduces several exclusive features, such as Audio Intelligence (Live Rewind, Siri Recap, Sound Recognition, and Shazam), a new Readiness app, and improved step tracking accuracy.