Apple brings Readiness to Series 12 and Ultra 4, not Series 11

Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 will introduce a new Readiness feature in watchOS 11. The feature is designed to turn data such as heart rate, sleep, exercise, and rest into a single number indicating how prepared the body may be for the day.

Similar tools have been available from Google, Fitbit, Garmin, and Whoop for years. Google’s Daily Readiness Score can give a lower result after poor sleep, stress, or limited movement, while better rest and stronger workouts can lead to a higher result.

The feature addresses a gap that has stood out to some Apple Watch users. The writer, who has used Apple Watch models for about eight years, began using one with Series 0 in 2015 and currently wears Apple Watch Series 11.

Apple also highlighted improved heart-rate sensing in Series 12 and Ultra 4. The new hardware checks heart-rate readings 60 times more frequently than last year’s models and records 24 times as many HRV readings at night. Apple says the additional data helps its algorithms and the S11 chip determine the Readiness score more accurately.

Readiness will also connect with the Vitals app, introduced with watchOS 11, to help users identify patterns in health data and see how the body responds to exercise and daily life. The feature is not coming to Series 11, making an upgrade decision less straightforward for current owners.