Each year, Apple launches a new “Series” Apple Watch and, each year, it remains the one I’d recommend to most iPhone users looking for a smart companion and health tracker. That doesn’t change with the newest Series 11, but this is an Apple Watch that has loads in common with the Series 10.
That means it’s more of a refinement than a reinvention of the Apple Watch formula, especially as many of its advertised features – like new gestures, sleep scores and an AI “workout buddy” – are coming to existing watches like the Series 9, 10 and affordable SE 3. Essentially, you shouldn’t rush to upgrade, but you’ll be getting a terrific watch if you’re still using a much older model or grabbing your firstever Apple Watch.
Apple Watch Series 11: At a glance
Apple Watch Series 11
Cons
Very similar to the Series 10- Quite expensive
- New SE 3 might be better value
Features at a Glance
| Sizes | 42mm, 46mm |
|---|---|
| Operating system | watchOS (only works with iPhones) |
| Processor | Apple’s S10 SiP |
| Colours | Aluminium: Jet Black, Rose Gold, Space Grey, Silver; Titanium: Natural, Gold, Slate Grey |
| Battery life | Up to 24 hours of normal use |
| Weight | 30g for 42mm size, 37.8g for 46mm size |
| Water resistance | Yes, IP6X and WR50 ratings for dust and water resistance up to 50 metres |
What I like about the Apple Watch Series 11
I’ve found the Apple Watch Series 11 almost identical to its predecessor in everyday use. I could repeat everything I said in my Apple Watch Series 10 review, and it wouldn’t be out of place.
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So, in the interests of keeping things brief, I’d say that I still love the slimmer, more lightweight design compared to older watches, while the display is bright and crisp in all lighting, and the battery charges rapidly. The watch does a great job of putting handy iPhone features – like notifications, reminders, notes, appointments, media control, emails and messages – on your wrist, and it’s a comprehensive health and fitness tracker, too.
New to this model is a slight battery boost (up to 24 hours, rather than 18 hours) and a tougher screen (twice as scratchresistant as the Series 10). It’s too soon for me to say for sure if the improved glass strength is noticeable, but my Series 10 did pick up some noticeable microscratches in the last year of use, so I’d say any durability upgrade is welcome.
I’m in a pretty good charging routine with my watch, and appreciate its fast charging. While testing this model, I was in a hurry and had to leave the house with a little less battery than I usually would, but the extra juice was noticeable – I managed to get through the whole day without needing to recharge. Although the increase in battery life isn’t massive, it will get a few people out of trouble!
Other headline features like the new revamped interface, sleep score, wristflick gesture (to dismiss onscreen alerts) and hypertension notifications are coming to other Apple watches including the Series 9 and Series 10, so they’re not necessarily selling points of the newest release. For me, however, the watchOS 26 operating system has felt smooth, the sleep scores are handy, and the gestures are intuitive.
The only other thing to mention is that the watch now has 5G support, which will help with faster speeds for those using cellular watches, but won’t make a huge difference if you primarily use the watch while connected to your phone and wifi.
What I don’t like about the Apple Watch Series 11
As a seasoned Apple Watch user, I can’t think of much that I dislike about the Series 11, but I would say that there are rival smartwatches that offer a lot more battery life than Apple is able to deliver.
I would reiterate that much about this feels identical to the Series 10 (and even the Series 9). The design, usability, speed, apps and core features are essentially the same. So just keep that in mind before rushing to upgrade.
There’s also a question of value. The Apple Watch Series 11 starts at £369 for a 42mm case or £399 for a 46mm size. Comparatively, the new Apple Watch SE 3 delivers the essentials and more – including an alwayson display, the latest chip for ondevice Siri and gesture support, plus vitals and sleep apnoea detection – for a £219 starting price.
The Series 11 does have some extra health features, though, like the ECG (electrocardiogram) app, blood oxygen checks, and hypertension alerts – if these are important to you, it may be worth the extra cost. Just note that these health features are on the Series 9 and Series 10, too, so it’s always worth looking at refurbished Apple Watches.
My verdict on the Apple Watch Series 11
The daytoday performance of the Apple Watch Series 11 feels very similar to the Series 9 and the Series 10, and I’d expect that it’s not too different when compared to the latest SE 3, too, which I haven’t yet tried handson.
Of course, that does mean it’s still a fantastic Apple Watch and will be the best buy for the majority of people. The next stepup is to the “Ultra” models, and those are hugely expensive at £749, and only worth it for adventurers who need a big, robust watch with even more battery life.
The additions of 5G, stronger glass and better battery life make the Series 11 a good buy if you’re after a great wearable and either have an older Apple Watch or are new to smartwatches. Otherwise, it’s a fairly iterative upgrade; I’d encourage most users of the latest models to hold onto their device until they need to get a new one.
Simon Cocks is Good Housekeeping UK’s Technology Editor, overseeing tech shopping content and strategy for the title. He previously also worked across other titles including Esquire UK, Digital Spy, Men’s Health UK and Women’s Health UK.
Simon specialises in testing the latest smart gadgets, home entertainment gear, headphones, speakers, portable chargers, radios, ebook readers and smartphones. He’s reviewed top tech products from brands including Google, Apple, Amazon, JBL and Bose.
A magazine journalism graduate from Kingston University in 2014, Simon also worked on the Discovery and Silkroad inflight magazines. He then gained experience writing about entertainment at SFX and Total Film. He also contributed reviews and interviews to TwitchFilm (later ScreenAnarchy), CultBox and Frame Rated.
He joined Good Housekeeping UK as the Editorial Assistant for Special Projects and was part of Good Housekeeping’s Consumer Affairs Team between 2014 and 2019. In this role, he conducted price comparison research, wrote detailed household and moneysaving advice guides and edited thousands of indepth reviews for the Good Housekeeping Institute.
He has focused on technology and gadgets since 2020, where he started by testing out power banks and instant cameras. He writes reviews, roundups, news articles and deals updates, and also covers top tech deals during sales like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
When not testing out the latest gizmos, you’ll find Simon either catching up with the newest releases at his local cinema or out shooting with his beloved compact camera.
You can follow Simon on Instagram, on Bluesky, on LinkedIn and on Threads.
