The Apple Watch Series 12 is a refined update that doesn’t stray far from its predecessors. It’s more intuitive, with a cleaner interface, and introduces new health features like sleep apnea notifications. But for the tech-savvy, the real upgrade lies in its longer battery life and the return of ceramic, a premium finish that hasn’t seen the light of day since 2020.

For those coming from the Series 8 or older, the Series 12 is a notable leap forward, offering a better display, longer battery life, and newer health features. However, if you own the Series 9 or 10, the battery improvements alone might be enough to justify the upgrade. For Series 11 owners, the Audio Intelligence feature, while neat, might not be enough to warrant a replacement.

Visually, the Series 12 is nearly identical to its predecessors, but Apple claims it's their thinnest watch yet. The new Hermès collection adds a touch of luxury, but the existing colour lineup remains unchanged. The watch remains one of the most comfortable smartwatches on the market, with the aluminum and titanium models measuring just 9.7 millimeters thick, and the ceramic option coming in at 9.85 millimeters.

In essence, the Series 12 is a polished, incremental improvement that caters to those who appreciate the latest in smartwatch technology, but the leap from one model to the next might not be as significant as some might hope.