How the new Apple Watches compare to the last-gen models
The Verge Brad Bourque ● Covered by 4 sources
Apple’s new Watches add better health tracking, transcription, and summaries. They still start at the same prices, so the upgrades don’t cost more.
Based on reporting by The Verge, Brad Bourque — read the original for the full story.
Summary, retelling and take written by AI under human oversight; images are AI-generated illustrations. How we work · Report an error
Apple has shown off the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 at its “Surprise and shine” event, and the pitch is simple: more capability, not a higher starting price. The new lineup comes in a range of material and strap combinations, with a ceramic case option now part of the Series 12 mix.
The headline changes are in health sensing and tracking. Apple says the new watches bring sizable improvements there, along with the ability to recite audio transcriptions and summaries. That puts the software side right alongside the hardware, which is where Apple likes to make its point.
The pricing is the part that will catch people’s eye. The Series 12 starts at $399 for the aluminum model without cellular, while the Ultra 4 starts at $799. Those are the same base prices as the previous versions, even with the added features.
What really separates the models, according to Apple, is the new S11 processor. That chip powers the biggest differences between them and supports the new Apple Intelligence features. So this isn’t a rethink of the Watch line. It’s Apple doing its usual thing: keep the entry price fixed, then stack the useful new bits on top.
My take — AI-written commentary, not fact-checked reporting
Apple’s favorite trick is alive and well: call it an upgrade, then leave the starting price alone so nobody can complain too loudly. The real test isn’t the marketing glow, it’s whether those health and transcription features feel useful enough to matter after the keynote fog clears. For once, the boring part of the story — the price — may be the smartest part.
Read more about this at: The Verge
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