Home / Technology / Ultra 4 Dominates: Dive, 50-Hour Battery vs Series 12
Ultra 4 Dominates: Dive, 50-Hour Battery vs Series 12
11 Sep
Summary
- Ultra 4 boasts 100m water resistance, double Series 12.
- Ultra 4 offers 50-hour battery life, Series 12 offers 24.
- Series 12 starts at $399, Ultra 4 costs $799.
Apple has unveiled its latest smartwatch offerings for 2026: the Apple Watch Series 12 and the premium Apple Watch Ultra 4. The Series 12 is available for preorder starting September 9, with a ship date of September 18, and begins at a more accessible price point of $399. In contrast, the Apple Watch Ultra 4 is priced at $799 and is also available for preorder on September 9, shipping September 18.
The Ultra 4 distinguishes itself with superior durability, featuring 100 meters of water resistance, making it suitable for scuba diving, which is double the Series 12's rating. Its sapphire crystal display offers enhanced scratch resistance. The Ultra 4 also boasts a brighter display, reaching 3,000 nits compared to the Series 12's 2,000 nits, and offers a significantly longer battery life of up to 50 hours, more than double the Series 12's 24-hour rating.
Both devices integrate Apple's latest AI-driven features and a redesigned holistic sensor array for more accurate health tracking, including ECG and heart rate variability. The Ultra 4 includes an additional customizable 'Action' button and a more advanced dual-band GPS antenna for improved location accuracy in challenging environments. Safety features like fall and crash detection are present on both, with the Ultra 4 uniquely offering Emergency SOS via satellite.
