I’m someone who doesn’t often upgrade my Apple Watch right when a new one comes out. The Apple Watch Series 10 I owned prior was only purchased this January, despite initially coming out in September 2024. That said, Apple Watch Series 12 was a highly compelling purchase, despite the fact that the two largely share the same design language. Here’s why I took the leap.
So yes, the Series 10 and Series 12 largely share the same design. In fact, the Series 12 is arguably a regression because the bezels are slightly thicker. This didn’t bother me, because I use a watch face with a black background anyways.
However, the new features of Apple Watch Series 12 really fascinated me. In particular, I was compelled by the much improved heart-rate monitor, as well as the new ‘Readiness’ app. Everything on the Series 12 also feels substantially faster, especially Siri.
Previous Apple Watches never really gave me what I wanted in terms of health tracking. Series 12 provides much more insight. Before, you sort of just had your activity rings and a bunch of scattered data in the Health app. Now, the new Health app tells you absolutely everything you need to know in an incredibly useful manner.
I am still wearing my WHOOP, primarily because I’d like to compare the two over a longer term before I ditch it fully, but as of now, Apple’s Health app holds up – and I’m happy with what the Apple Watch Series 12 offers in terms of health tracking.
Also worth noting that the WHOOP is a $239/year subscription that largely doesn’t offer much over Apple Health anymore.
All in all, my purchase of the Apple Watch Series 12 can be summarized by the fact that the Apple Watch made a major push into getting serious as a health wearable. It no longer feels like as much of an afterthought.
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Michael is a 9to5Mac Reporter, leading all of our Apple news coverage on weekends and reviewing the newest Apple products and accessories. He got started in the world of Apple news during the pandemic, and it became a growing hobby. He’s also an indie iOS developer, and started the weekly Indie App Spotlight series, which has covered hundreds of blooming new apps since it launched. In his free time, he enjoys shooting street photography around New York City on his Sony A7RV.
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