Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 introduce a new Health Sensing System, enabling the most accurate heart rate sensing in a wearable, along with a new readiness experience that gives users insight into their body's capacity to take on their day. These updates pair with a redesigned Health app coming later this year to iPhone, which offers a holistic view of long-term health alongside new, easy-to-understand health and longevity insights powered by Apple Intelligence. Together, these updates will give users a more complete picture of their health and fitness while keeping their personal health data private, secure, and under their control.

Insights Tab

The new Insights tab surfaces timely health information with a summary that updates throughout the day across heart, sleep, readiness, fitness, vitals, and cycle tracking data. A new For You section delivers personalized recommendations and relevant articles based on a user's data—such as a suggestion to improve a wind-down routine after a stretch of late nights.

Longevity Tab

A new Longevity tab analyzes a user's longitudinal health data for deeper insights into heart health, sleep, mental wellbeing, movement health, metabolic health, hearing, and nutrition. The tab includes Health Age, a new feature that uses Apple Watch data to show users how their metrics are tracking relative to their chronological age, informed by the best available science. The algorithm can factor in metrics from Apple Watch like VO2 max, resting heart rate, sleep, and HRV, and users can also add lab data, including A1c and LDL, to enrich the analysis.

Movement Evaluations

Mobility is a critical marker of overall function and a strong predictor of independence, chronic disease risk, and quality of life. Users can now take in-depth physical assessments—measuring flexibility, strength, balance, movement mechanics, and VO2 max—right at home using their iPhone camera and Apple Watch. This experience runs entirely on device; no video is ever recorded, stored, or shared. Using vision-based AI models developed with clinician input, these assessments provide real-time audio and visual feedback.

Labs

Health app users can import existing lab results and see trends over time. Users will be able to schedule and purchase new labs featuring over 50 key biomarkers for $119 directly through the Health app at approximately 2,000 Quest Diagnostics locations in the U.S.

Tailored Health Content

Users will see videos and articles across each area of health that overlay their data with insights from Apple Health clinical experts. For example, after receiving annual lab results, the Health app will present a video from an expert explaining their LDL levels, what the data means, and how they can improve if needed. If a user learns from their movement assessment that they need to work on balance, the Health app will present expert guidance and an exercise plan with moves selected for their ability and needs.

Additional Features

Workout Buddy works on Apple Watch even when users don't have their iPhone nearby, now incorporating more fitness data when delivering motivational insights and available in English and Spanish.

Expanded GymKit functionality enables users with AirPods Pro 3 to sync their heart rate data through iPhone with compatible gym equipment, including treadmills and indoor bikes.

More accurate treadmill readings, powered by new machine learning models, improve distance calculations from the very first step of a walk or run.

Availability

watchOS 27 will be available for Apple Watch Series 9 or later, Apple Watch SE 3, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later beginning Monday, September 14, and requires iPhone 11 or later or iPhone SE 3 with iOS 27. Not all features are available on all devices or in all regions.

The redesigned Health app will be available on Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone and iPad models with the latest software, with select features available only on iPhone. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. Health Age requires Apple Watch. The test to estimate VO2 max requires Apple Watch, AirPods Pro 3, or a third-party heart rate sensing device. Some features require users to be 18 or older.

Features are subject to change and availability may vary due to local laws and regulations.