Apple has equipped the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 with a completely new health measurement system. Thanks to new optical and electrical heart rate sensors and the new S11 chip, both models can continuously collect more accurate information about your health. According to Apple, the new Apple Watch models have the most accurate heart rate measurement currently available in a wearable.
The new sensors also record health data much more often. For example, your heart rate is measured every five seconds throughout the day and heart rate variability is determined up to 24 times more often. In addition, the Readiness app provides a daily indication of your physical condition.
New heart rate sensors
The new optical heart rate sensor uses larger, energy-efficient green LEDs to shine light into the skin. Photodiodes then measure how the blood volume in the wrist changes with each heartbeat. This allows the Apple Watch to measure the heart rate every five seconds throughout the day, without you having to start a workout. The larger LEDs provide more measurement information, while energy consumption remains limited.
The electrical heart rate sensor uses electrodes in the back of the Apple Watch and in the Digital Crown. When you place a finger on the Digital Crown, the Apple Watch can record the electrical signals from your heart and create an electrocardiogram. In combination with the optical sensor and the S11 chip, a more comprehensive picture of your heart rate and heart rate variability is created.
Heart rate is measured continuously
The optical heart rate sensor uses larger, energy-efficient green LEDs. This means that the Apple Watch can determine the heart rate not only during training or individual measuring moments, but every five seconds throughout the day, even when you are moving. This higher measuring frequency creates a more complete picture of your condition and body.
The collected information also forms the basis for more accurate functions within watchOS. This way, the Activity rings for Exercise and Training can better estimate how much you actually move and how intensively you are working.
A new complication also appears on the dial. This allows you to see at a glance how fast your heart is beating at that moment, without first opening the Heartbeat app.
More insight thanks to HRV
In addition to heart rate, heart rate variability, or HRV, is also measured much more often. HRV indicates how much the time varies between successive heartbeats. This value can provide insight into your stress level, recovery and general health.
Apple Watch measures HRV up to 24 times more often than previous models. The value can be found in a new section of the Heart Rate app. Apple distinguishes between two variants:
- HRV during recovery mainly provides insight into daily signals of stress and recovery.
- Overall HRV provides a broader picture of your health, including the condition of your heart and blood vessels.
A higher HRV is generally associated with a better state of recovery. A lower value may indicate stress or reduced recovery capacity. HRV should mainly be viewed in relation to your personal values. A loose measurement says less than a clear change compared to your own normal pattern.
Vital functions expanded
HRV in recovery is added to the vital signs measured at night. Apple Watch compares these measurements with your personal reference point. This gives you a better picture of changes in your health and recovery during the night.
What is new is that you can switch between nighttime and daytime measurements in the vital functions view. You no longer have to wait for the next night’s overview to notice changes in your body.
This can be useful, for example, after an intensive training, a bad night’s sleep or a busy working day. Additionally, when multiple values fall outside your personal normal range, the Apple Watch can indicate that something may have changed. The measurements are intended as an aid and do not constitute a medical diagnosis.
Readiness: Find out what your body can handle
Readiness is a new app function for the Series 12 and Ultra 4. It provides a daily indication of how well you are physically prepared for the day ahead. The function analyzes your recent activity, training load, vital functions and sleep score, among other things.
Based on that data, you get a score from 0 to 10. This is linked to clear advice: Recovery, Take it easy, Ready or Go for it. This way you can immediately see whether your body is ready for an intensive workout, or whether it is wiser to take it a bit easier that day.
Score is continuously updated
The information behind Readiness is updated throughout the day. For example, your score can change after an intensive workout, but also when your vital signs deviate from your personal reference values during the day.
For each score, Apple Watch shows which factors influenced the result. This allows you to better understand why you are receiving certain advice and, if necessary, look up more information about the individual measurements.
Apple developed the Readiness algorithm in collaboration with sports scientists and physicians. The feature also uses insights from the Apple Heart and Movement Study.
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