Topic
Wrist-worn computers that pair with a phone and combine notifications, apps and health sensing in a watch form factor.
Blood pressure, insulin-resistance and sleep-breathing metrics are not in the box, and breathing-emergency detection awaits FDA clearance. The Verge is publishing its review in parts.
Perspective Coverage
3 publishersReality
iFixit scored the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 at 4 out of 10 for repairability, up one point for the base model and flat for the Ultra. Repair budgets should treat every battery job as a screen job, and every Series 12 screen job as a battery job too.
Reality
The Watch9 brings a Snapdragon Wear Elite chip, up to 65 mAh more capacity and a longer list of wellness metrics, and Wired's reviewer would not necessarily move up from a Watch8. For fleet buyers that makes it a two-year device.
Reality
MacRumors' buyer's guide puts the Series 12 and the Ultra 4 on the same S11 chip and the same Health Sensing System, so the $400 between them, and the $500 inside the Series 12 line, buys endurance and case material.
Reality
Apple's evidence for calling the Ultra 4's new optical sensor the most accurate in a wearable is a white paper Apple published, drawn from a study where most participants wore competitor watches on the other wrist. DC Rainmaker is testing it outdoors.
Perspective Coverage
13 publishersReality
Apple says the Series 12 and Ultra 4 are the most accurate heart-tracking wearables on the market. One reviewer's hour of walk-run intervals, judged against the same chest strap Apple's own accuracy study used, mostly backs it.
Reality
ZDNET's reviewer wore both flagships for three weeks and says apps decided it. Every difference the piece actually enumerates is first-party health software, which is a different question.
Reality
Apple built the wearer a careful consent flow for the Watch's new listening features and built nothing for the person across the table. That is the part it will have to answer for when it moves to glasses.
Perspective Coverage
21 publishersReality