The Apple Watch Series 12 is now available, three years after the Series 9. Apple has introduced a thinner design, larger displays, faster charging, new water sensors, and a substantially more capable health sensing system. Is that enough to justify replacing a Series 9?
Apple discontinued the Series 9 in 2024. The older watch still supports watchOS 27, so the decision comes down to hardware and features. Key differences include a S11 chip, 4GB RAM, LTPO3 wide-angle OLED display with 1Hz refresh rate, and improved sensors.
The Series 12 is noticeably thinner (9.7mm vs 10.7mm) with slightly larger display areas. Charging is faster: 80% in about 30 minutes versus 45 minutes. The Series 12 adds 5G RedCap on cellular models, a water temperature sensor, and enhanced heart rate monitoring.
For Series 9 owners, the upgrade offers meaningful health and design improvements, but watchOS 27 support on the older model means the choice depends on your need for the latest hardware and sensors.
Source: MacRumors · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing