Apple Watch Ultra 4: The Gap With the Cheaper Series 12 Keeps Narrowing

A new Wired review finds that the differences between Apple's rugged Ultra smartwatch and its standard Apple Watch lineup keep shrinking with each generation. After testing both the Ultra 4 and the new Series 12, the reviewer noted how little now separates the two models, making it harder to justify the Ultra 4's $799 price tag over the standard version.

The Ultra line has changed little since it debuted in 2022, remaining a large, titanium-clad watch loaded with emergency features. Each yearly update has brought only incremental improvements, and this year is no exception. The Ultra's core advantages—multiday battery life, a dedicated Action button, and satellite messaging—are increasingly relevant mainly to people who spend significant time outside cellular coverage, such as trail runners, divers, or backcountry travelers.

Shared Health Sensing System

Both the Ultra 4 and Series 12 now use the same Health Sensing System, powered by Apple's faster S11 chip along with upgraded optical and electrical heart rate sensors. The system checks heart rate every five seconds throughout the day and measures heart rate variability (HRV) as often as every five minutes—up to 24 times more frequently than the previous generation. It tracks two HRV metrics: Recovery HRV, meant to flag daily stressors, and overall HRV, which offers broader cardiovascular context.

While both new watches benefit from this more frequent tracking, the upgrade carries more weight for those considering the Ultra as a dedicated fitness tracker, since it can now paint a fuller picture of how the body recovers and responds to stress over the course of a day. A feature called Overnight Vitals compares Recovery HRV against a personal baseline, and a new daytime view lets users compare daytime and overnight metrics.

Apple has not changed pricing this year, and no new case finishes were introduced either.