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The new Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 have hardware changes that allow for faster charging, but you will need to use the new version of the Apple Watch Magnetic Fast Charger included in the box in order to achieve this boost. If you need extra ones for your own charging stands or travel or so forth, Apple released the new version of the charger on its online store last week, with U.S. pricing set at $29. We have confirmed that the new version of the Apple Watch charging puck — model A3277 — can deliver up to 10W of power to enable the faster charging speeds. The previous version of the charger is limited to 5W. Accordingly, you will also need to use a USB-C Power Delivery charger that is rated 10W or higher for the fastest charging. With just 15 minutes of charging, Apple said the new charger can add 12 hours of battery life to the Series 12 and 18 hours of battery life to the Ultra 4. The previous Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 can get 8 hours and 12 hours of battery life respectively with a 15-minute charge, according to Apple. Using the new charging puck will not speed up these times, as the Series 12 and Ultra 4 have hardware changes, so you need both a new watch and the new charger for the fastest charging. | Model | New Charger | Previous Charger | | --------------------- | -------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------- | | Apple Watch Series 12 | 12 hours of battery life in 15 minutes | 8 hours of battery life in 15 minutes | | Apple Watch Ultra 4 | 18 hours of battery life in 15 minutes | 12 hours of battery life in 15 minutes | | Apple Watch Series 11 | 8 hours of battery life in 15 minutes | 8 hours of battery life in 15 minutes | | Apple Watch Ultra 3 | 12 hours of battery life in 15 minutes | 12 hours of battery life in 15 minutes | As mentioned, the new 1-meter Apple Watch Magnetic Fast Charger to USB-C Cable is available to order for $29 U.S. on Apple's online store. Related Roundups: Apple Watch 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now), Apple Watch Ultra (Buy Now) Related Forum: Apple Watch This article, "Here's Why a New Apple Watch Charging Puck Was Just Released" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Apple memory supplier SK Hynix is in exploratory talks with Intel about manufacturing memory chips in the United States for the first time, according to Reuters. One option would see the South Korean chipmaker lease part of Intel's planned manufacturing complex in Ohio. Another would involve a joint venture with Intel and major cloud providers seeking to secure memory supplies, people familiar with the discussions said. No decisions have been made, and other arrangements remain possible. SK Hynix supplies Apple with memory alongside Samsung and Micron. The discussions come as AI infrastructure spending puts pressure on the supply of memory for consumer devices, including iPhones and Macs. Chipmakers have been directing more production capacity toward high-bandwidth memory (HBM) for AI processors, leaving smartphone and computer manufacturers competing for available supplies. In February, Apple reportedly agreed to pay Samsung twice as much for memory chips needed for iPhone 17 production. More recently, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said Apple was reducing its 2026 hardware shipment plans because of DRAM shortages, with supply constraints also affecting the Mac Studio, Mac mini, and MacBook Air. It remains unclear which types of memory SK Hynix would manufacture under a potential agreement with Intel. Its products include DRAM used in smartphones, computers, and servers, NAND flash storage, and HBM for AI processors. The report does not mention whether a U.S. facility would produce memory for Apple devices. SK Hynix already has an advanced packaging facility under construction in West Lafayette, Indiana. That project will package DRAM wafers manufactured in South Korea into HBM chips, rather than fabricate the wafers domestically. Tags: Intel, United States This article, "Apple Memory Supplier Explores U.S. Manufacturing With Intel" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

In iOS 27, available now, Apple has made some changes and additions to the iPhone's stock Camera app, including the addition of a new Siri mode. Available in addition to the Video, Photo, and other camera modes, Siri mode can be accessed by swiping across the mode carousel at the bottom of the screen. The new mode uses Visual Intelligence to identify objects in the frame and provide information about them. It can be used to identify plants, animals, food, and more. If it's food you want info on, for example, it can tell you what it is, and how many calories are in it. Other examples Siri mode can be used for include capturing a photo of an event flyer and adding a date to the Calendar app, text translation, splitting a bill, and more. In Siri mode, a button on the right lets you search Google Images, and a button on the left lets you ask a specific question. So you can ask for help to cook the food in the frame, for instance. Apple has also tweaked the way the camera interface works in other ways. Quick access tools for activating flash, Live Photo, and Night mode are now located at the top-center of the UI, while the full set of tools can be accessed from the bottom-right instead of the top-right. It's also possible to customize which controls are displayed at the top of the screen. Apple made iOS 27 available to download on supported iPhone models on September 14, a few days ahead of the launch of new iPhone 18 Pro models on September 18. Related Roundups: iOS 27, iPadOS 27 Tag: Visual Intelligence Related Forum: iOS 27 This article, "iOS 27: Use Visual Intelligence in the Camera App" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is now available for pre-order, bringing a new health sensing system, more memory, and longer battery life over its predecessor. Here's everything that's new. Last year, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 introduced a larger, more efficient display, satellite connectivity, 5G, and improved battery life. The Ultra 4 retains the same basic design and display, but focuses on more detailed health and fitness insights, new Audio Intelligence features, and further battery life improvements. It launches on Friday, September 18, at the same $799 starting price as the Ultra 3. The comparison below outlines the differences between the two generations: | Apple Watch Ultra 3 | Apple Watch Ultra 4 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | S10 chip (2024) | S11 chip (2026) | | 2GB RAM | 4GB RAM | | Electrical heart sensor | "Health Sensing System" with second-generation electrical heart sensor | | Third-generation optical heart sensor | Always-on optical heart sensor | | Background heart rate tracking | High-frequency background heart rate tracking every five seconds, 60x more frequently | | HRV | Recovery HRV and overall HRV, measured up to 24x more often | | Vitals app with heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, and sleep duration | Vitals app heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, sleep duration, HRV, and a daytime vitals view | | | Readiness app | | | Real-time heart rate complication | | Step tracking | More accurate step tracking and indoor workout distance measurements | | | Steps complication | | | Audio Intelligence (Live Rewind, Siri Recap, Sound Recognition, and automatic music identification with Shazam) | | Up to 42 hours of normal use | Up to 50 hours of normal use | | Up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode | Up to 84 hours in Low Power Mode | | Up to 14 hours of outdoor workout tracking with full GPS and heart rate readings | Up to 18 hours of standard outdoor workout tracking | | Up to 20 hours of outdoor workout tracking in Low Power Mode with full GPS and heart rate readings | Up to 25 hours in Extended Workout mode with full GPS and heart rate readings | | Up to 35 hours of outdoor workout tracking in Low Power Mode with Fewer GPS and Heart Rate Readings enabled | Up to 45 hours in Max Extended Workout mode, retaining GPS readings every second | | 15 minutes of charging for up to 12 hours of normal use | 15 minutes of charging for up to 18 hours of normal use | | 5 minutes of charging for up to 8 hours of sleep tracking | 5 minutes of charging for up to 10 hours of sleep tracking | | Natural titanium: 61.6 grams Black titanium: 61.8 grams | Natural titanium: 63.0 grams Black titanium: 63.1 grams | | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou | GPS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou | | 40% recycled content | 45% recycled content | | Now discontinued | From $799 | ### Is It Worth Upgrading From Ultra 3 to Ultra 4? For the vast majority of Apple Watch Ultra 3 owners, the Ultra 4 is not worth upgrading to. The Ultra 3 already offers all of the headline display, durability, satellite connectivity, and established health features. If it comfortably lasts between your usual charging sessions and records your longest workouts, the new model is unlikely to meaningfully change how you use your watch. The strongest reason to upgrade is if you want recovery tracking to play a larger role in your training. The Ultra 4's more frequent measurements feed into Readiness and Recovery HRV, making it easier to assess when to push harder or take a lighter day. These features are more compelling if you will regularly use them to adjust your training, rather than simply check another set of health metrics. Battery life is a more practical reason for endurance athletes. If you currently change settings to finish long events or recharge during an extended outing, the Ultra 4 gives you a little more flexibility. For shorter daily workouts, however, the improvement mainly means less frequent charging, which is difficult to justify replacing a year-old $799 watch for. Audio Intelligence may also justify upgrading for specific users, particularly deaf or hard of hearing users who would benefit from Sound Recognition on their wrist. Live Rewind and ‌Siri‌ Recap are less convincing reasons to upgrade immediately, since they arrive in beta later this year and require a compatible newer iPhone. ### Should You Buy Ultra 3 or Ultra 4? For new buyers, the Ultra 4 should be the default choice when the price difference is modest. If you plan to wear it for several years, paying a little more for the new chip, more memory, better battery life, and health tracking enhancements is easier to justify than replacing an Ultra 3 you already own. The Ultra 3 becomes the better value when it is heavily discounted. If you mainly want a "rugged"-style Apple Watch with a large screen, satellite connectivity, and enough battery life for everyday use and regular workouts, it delivers much of the same experience. Buyers interested in Readiness and recovery insights, or who regularly record very long activities, have a stronger reason to pay more for the ‌Apple Watch Ultra 4‌. For used or refurbished Ultra 3 models, factor battery condition and warranty coverage into the saving. A cheaper watch with a degraded battery is less appealing if endurance is your main reason for buying an Ultra. Related Roundup: Apple Watch Ultra 4 Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch Ultra (Buy Now) Related Forum: Apple Watch This article, "Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs. Ultra 4 Buyer's Guide" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums