Apple’s new watch decision has a surprisingly good-looking complication: Series 12 comes in ceramic again, including a deep night blue. The Ultra 4 answers with a different kind of temptation: enough claimed battery life to make charging less of a daily appointment.
Both were announced September 9. Series 12 starts at $399 in the U.S.; Ultra 4 starts at $799. Preorders are open, with store availability beginning September 18. Those are starting prices, so a premium Series 12 case or different configuration changes the gap. Series 12 announcement; Ultra 4 announcement.
Series 12 has the wardrobe range
Series 12 comes in 42mm and 46mm sizes, with aluminum, titanium and ceramic options. Pearl white and night blue are the ceramic finishes. Apple’s battery claims are up to 24 hours of everyday use and up to 10 hours during an outdoor workout. A 15-minute charge is rated to add up to 12 hours of use. Source: Apple’s Series 12 specifications and testing notes.
That variety is the interesting part of its style pitch. A watch sits beside everything else you wear, and a case finish can matter as much as another line in a feature list. Night blue ceramic is the version we would want to see in person: whether it reads almost black indoors, and how it changes next to a jacket cuff, will decide more than a product render can.
Ultra 4 sells breathing room
Apple Watch Ultra 4. Image: Apple.
Ultra 4 uses a 49mm titanium case, in natural or black. Apple claims up to 50 hours of everyday use, or 84 hours in Low Power Mode. Extended Workout mode is rated for up to 25 hours with full GPS and heart-rate readings; a separate Max Extended mode stretches selected outdoor activities to 45 hours. These modes are different operating conditions, not interchangeable promises. Battery details; case specifications.
The appeal extends beyond somebody planning an enormous race. A weekend with an early start, a long walk and a late return makes extra battery headroom easy to appreciate. The trade-off is wearing the larger case every other day, too. We would judge the Ultra on an ordinary weekday as carefully as on the adventure it helps you imagine.
The shared features change the choice
Both watches get Apple’s S11 chip, new Health Sensing System and readiness feature. Some announced additions, including Siri Recap and Live Rewind, are scheduled for later this year. The Ultra premium is therefore worth assessing through its specific hardware advantages, rather than assuming every new feature requires it. Apple’s announcements above spell out the timing.
Our early take: Series 12 has the stronger range of personal-style choices; Ultra 4 has the more persuasive battery pitch. We have not tested either. Apple’s battery figures are manufacturer estimates, and real use will vary. The right answer starts with the case you want on your wrist and the days you actually expect it to handle.
Launch comparison. Hero image: Apple Watch Series 12; all product images courtesy of Apple.
