Alongside the new iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone Duo, Apple launched two main smartwatches with updated features at its latest “Surprise and Shine” event.
The Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399, while the Apple Watch Ultra 4, which is aimed more at sports and adventure users, starts at $799.
Both watches put a greater emphasis on health than their predecessors, but the Series 12 does not go as far as Google’s Pixel Watch 5 in some areas of health monitoring, particularly with Google’s new insulin resistance tracking.
At the same $399 starting price, this could make buyers think more carefully about what they want from a health-focused smartwatch.
What health features does the Apple Watch Series 12 emphasise?
The Apple Watch Series 12 may not have the Pixel Watch 5’s insulin resistance tracking, but Apple is putting a stronger emphasis on heart monitoring this year.
Its new Health Sensing System measures heart rate every five seconds throughout the day, while heart rate variability (HRV) can now be measured much more frequently.
This feeds into the new Readiness feature, which gives users a simple 0–10 score showing how prepared their body is for the day based on activity, sleep and other health data.
Beyond heart tracking, the Series 12 also includes ECG, sleep tracking, sleep apnoea notifications, blood oxygen monitoring, irregular heart rhythm alerts, temperature sensing, cycle tracking and hypertension notifications. It also brings improved workout tracking and a redesigned Vitals experience.
While Apple is clearly not ignoring health, Google has taken a bigger approach with the Pixel Watch 5. Google’s Health Guardian features can track trends linked to blood pressure, sleep, breathing quality and insulin resistance, alongside existing heart rhythm, ECG, SpO2 and sleep features.
For general health monitoring, the two watches cover many of the same basics, but the Pixel Watch 5 currently offers a wider range of health insights, particularly around metabolic health. Apple’s approach, meanwhile, places greater emphasis on heart and cardiovascular monitoring.
Display and performance comparison
Beyond health, most users buy smartwatches for performance features and convenience, while how those features are displayed also matters.
Apple Watch Series 12
- Chipset: Apple S11 chip with a 4-core Neural Engine
- Display: Always-on Retina OLED LTPO3 display, 1Hz refresh rate
- Brightness: Up to 2,000 nits
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and cellular options, depending on model
Battery: Up to 24 hours, or 38 hours in Low Power Mode, with fast charging
Pixel Watch 5
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 Accelerated with Cortex-M55 co-processor
Display: 320ppi AMOLED LTPO Actua 360 display with 1–60Hz refresh rate
Brightness: Up to 3,000 nits
Connectivity: Bluetooth 6.0, Wi-Fi, NFC, UWB and optional 4G LTE
Battery: Up to 40 hours on the 45mm model, with 15 hours of additional use from 15 minutes of charging
Both are powerful enough for everyday smartwatch use, but the Pixel Watch 5 has an advantage in brightness and battery life. Its 3,000-nit display should also be easier to see outdoors, while the longer battery life could make overnight health and sleep tracking more convenient.
The Apple Watch, however, benefits from the tight integration between its S11 chip, watchOS and iPhone, giving it a smooth experience for users already within the Apple ecosystem.
Versatility
This is where the difference between the two becomes clearer.
The Apple Watch Series 12 is designed specifically for the iPhone and cannot be used with Android phones. The Pixel Watch 5, meanwhile, works with most phones running Android 12 or newer.
Neither watch is truly cross-platform, but the Pixel Watch 5 gives Android users more freedom to choose between different smartphone brands rather than being tied to one manufacturer. This means the Pixel Watch 5 can work with Samsung phones while also supporting devices from brands such as TECNO and Xiaomi.
For $399, the Apple Watch Series 12 is still a highly capable smartwatch, particularly for iPhone users who want heart monitoring, detailed fitness tracking and deep integration with Apple’s ecosystem.
But when health monitoring is the main priority, the Pixel Watch 5 brings a broader range of health-focused features. Its insulin resistance and blood pressure trend monitoring, alongside sleep and cardiovascular tracking, give it a wider health focus than Apple’s new Series 12.
The Apple Watch Series 12 is therefore focused on refining an already strong health and fitness experience, while Google is pushing the Pixel Watch 5 towards becoming a more comprehensive everyday health-monitoring device.
For the same $399 starting price, that difference could matter to buyers who see health tracking as one of the main reasons to wear a smartwatch.