Apple Watch Series 12 review: still a one-day battery

Apple charges $399 for this watch and it still can't do multiband GPS. I'll start there, because it's the thing I'd most like Apple to fix.

Complaint one: the GPS

DC Rainmaker calls the lack of multiband GPS noticeable in everyday running, and he's looking at a $400 watch when he says it (checked Nov 1, 2026). His accuracy results aren't bad at all. He describes heart rate and GPS accuracy as very good and about level with top rivals. But if you care about your running track, I'd want that hardware at this price.

A smaller gripe from the same review: the display shows heart rate only every 5 seconds, so fast intervals read wrong. It's annoying if you train by the number on your wrist. Everyone else can ignore it.

Complaint two: the battery

Apple rates 24 hours, the same as Series 11, per Tom's Guide (checked Nov 1, 2026). DC Rainmaker's real-world log looks like this:

• At 45% after 25 hours
• At 10% after 37 hours
• Barely 24 hours in the first week, then 1 to 1.5 days later on

So you'll charge it daily. Heavy GPS use drains it faster still, by his account. Multi-day battery isn't on offer here, and I'd stop hoping for it from this line.

Low Power Mode stretches the rating to 38 hours, and GPS workout life rises to 10 hours from 8 on Series 11, per Tom's Guide. That second number is the one real gain. A marathon fits comfortably. An ultra doesn't.

The fix for complaint two

Fast charging softens the problem a lot. DC Rainmaker recorded 80% in 30 minutes and 100% in 60 minutes, and 5 minutes gave about 10 hours of sleep tracking. Five minutes on the charger while you brush your teeth covers the night. I'd call this the best thing about the watch, and it's why a one-day battery bothers me less than it did.

Sleep, and the new score

DC Rainmaker found sleep start and wake times within about 5 minutes each night. That's the sort of accuracy I'd pay for, if I cared about sleep data at all.

The new heart rate sensor gives continuous readings and feeds a Readiness Score, per Tom's Guide. Here's the catch: it needs seven nights with at least 4 hours of sleep. Tom's Guide's unit also logged only two hours of sleep after a flight. So a new score arrives slowly and can get thrown off on the nights you travel, when you'd most want it.

I wouldn't buy a watch for a score I've only read about. I'd treat it as a bonus.

What each version costs

These are list prices as of November 1, 2026:

• 42 mm GPS aluminum: $399, on Apple's store
• 46 mm GPS: $449, per Tom's Guide
• 42 mm GPS+5G: $499, per Tom's Guide

I couldn't confirm a street price at any retailer, so don't assume a discount exists. Tom's Guide notes the $399 start matches Series 11, which is at least one thing that didn't get worse.

The $50 step to 46 mm gets you a bigger case at 39.5 g, against 32.2 g on the small one. I'd try both on a wrist in a store, since that's a fit question and no outlet can answer it for you. The extra $100 for 5G only makes sense if you leave your phone behind often. Most people I'd send to the cheaper model.

Where it sits in Apple's range

The Ultra 4 has a longer battery and a bigger case. The SE 3 is cheaper. I couldn't confirm either price this time, so I can't tell you what the jump up or the saving comes to. If a day of battery really won't do, I'd price an Ultra 4 before buying this.

Should you buy one?

My score of 7.4 is an opinion from the tests above, and it would be higher if you're upgrading from an old watch.

Don't buy it for these reasons:

• You use Android. This isn't for you.
• You have a Series 10 or 11, since the 24-hour rating and $399 price are unchanged and the real gains here are small.
• You train seriously and want multiband GPS and days of battery. Look outside Apple.

Everyone else with an iPhone and an older watch, or none, gets a thin 9.7 mm watch with a 2000-nit display and a charger that works fast enough to forgive the rest.