When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn moreThe Apple Watch Series 12 delivers new health and AI capabilities, but several features aren't available yet.Tyler Hayes/Business InsiderThe Apple Watch is having a bit of an identity crisis. From the beginning, Apple's wearables were built around notifications, calls, texts, and general activity tracking. In that sense, its smartwatches have been perfect for casual users. But this year's Apple Watch Series 12 ushers in a new era by incorporating a slew of artificial intelligence features — and it's caught between what it has been and what it could be.I've been covering the Apple Watch since the first model was released in 2015. It was once a fresh, fast-moving product category, but it's been a bit stale over the last few years. The latest models have still been great devices, but they haven't broken any new ground. So, I understand why Apple is trying something new by pushing the Series 12 toward becoming a full-fledged AI assistant on your wrist. One that can constantly listen, take notes, and remind you of important tasks.But after using the Apple Watch Series 12 for a couple of weeks, I've been underwhelmed by its current state. That's partly because some of its new health and Apple Intelligence features aren't out yet. But even then, I remain skeptical about their usefulness.To be clear, the Apple Watch Series 12 is technically an improvement over the Series 11 and a worthy entry in Apple's flagship smartwatch line, but it's best suited for newcomers to the Apple Watch or those who own a Series 8 or older. Those with a Series 9 or newer are probably better off skipping this year's release and waiting to see what comes next.Shopping for more wearable devices? Check out our guides to the best Apple Watches and best fitness trackers.The Series 12 looks a lot like the Series 11, but there are some design and hardware tweaksThe aluminum Apple Watch Series 12 uses a new Ceramic Shield 2 glass that is more durable than past models.Tyler Hayes/Business InsiderLike the Series 11, the Apple Watch Series 12 is available in 42 or 46mm sizes, with or without cellular connectivity, with prices starting at $399 for the base configuration. But while this new model has the same core design as its predecessor, there are some upgrades here and there.You can still choose between aluminum and titanium cases, but there's also a new ceramic case option. In addition, the aluminum case now uses a more durable glass, called Ceramic Shield 2, which makes it more scratch- and drop-resistant than the Series 11. Meanwhile, the titanium and ceramic cases use a sapphire front crystal. For this review, I tested the 46mm model with an aluminum case.All Apple Watch Series 12 configurations use the brand's new S11 chip, which is more powerful than the S10 used by the Series 11. At least, on paper. If there's a speed difference between the two for common tasks, such as scrolling through lists or tapping on an app, it's subtle. Instead, I mostly noticed improvements when the Series 12 was multitasking, with fewer delays if I got a notification while starting a workout or playing a song.When it comes to battery life, the Series 12 charges slightly faster than its predecessor. Charging it for 15 minutes gives you 12 hours of use, and charging it for 30 minutes can power it from 0% to 80%. While using the Series 12 (with a cellular connection) for 35-minute morning runs, followed by a steady stream of notifications and use throughout the day, I was left with 20-40% battery life. It still doesn't have as much battery life as an Apple Watch Ultra, but most people will get a full 24 hours of use if they need it.Audio Intelligence is interesting, but key features are missing at launchThe Series 12's automatic music recognition is a fun new feature, but other Audio Intelligence functions are still pending.Tyler Hayes/Business InsiderSome of the Series 12's most talked-about new features are tied to its Audio Intelligence capabilities. These features rely on the watch's ability to continuously listen to your surroundings. This is made possible by the S11 chip's new Secure Exclave. This is part of the chip's hardware that enables it to process data locally and in isolation from the rest of the system. Using this Secure Exclave, Apple says that the Series 12 can process the audio it hears as a continuously overwritten stream, so none of it is ever stored or captured as an actual recording.The Series 12 boasts four Audio Intelligence features — Siri Recap, Live Rewind, Sound Recognition, and Music Recognition — but only the latter two are available at launch. The others are coming by "late 2026," so they aren't available for testing yet.Sound Recognition is an accessibility feature that notifies you when the watch detects sounds such as a doorbell, breaking glass, a siren, a dog barking, and so on. But my favorite feature is Music Recognition. This is powered
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