Pros
FDA cleared hypertension alerts
24+ hour battery life and quick charging
More dependable mobile connectivity and 5G
2X extra scratch resistant display
More cohesive UI and seamless compatibility with iOS
Cons
Same processor as older fashions
Minimal design adjustments
No twin band GPS
Gesture management continues to be restricted to pre-selected choices
Editors’ be aware: The Apple Watch Series 11 earned CNET’s Labs Award for many correct coronary heart fee monitoring when examined in opposition to the Garmin Venu 4, Google Pixel Watch 4, Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and Amazfit Bip 6. It additionally acquired an Editors’ Choice Award for its sturdiness upgrades, superior well being instruments, brighter show and longer battery life. Its mixture of precision and on a regular basis usability makes it one of the vital well-rounded smartwatches you should purchase.Sliding the Apple Watch Series 11 onto my wrist felt much less like making an attempt one thing new and extra like choosing up the place I’d left off. The latest watch does not supply many fireworks, however after virtually per week of carrying it, the Series 11 continues to be my choose of the litter. It’s simply not as apparent a choose as final yr’s Series 10.That’s partly as a result of the Apple Watch is dealing with steep competitors this yr — not simply from the Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel watches of the world but in addition from inside its family. At its September occasion, Apple launched three new fashions: the flagship Series 11, the rugged Apple Watch Ultra 3 and the extra inexpensive Apple Watch SE 3. Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNETAt $399 (£369, AU$679), the Series 11 is the Goldilocks of the bunch. It sits proper within the center on battery life, options and worth — and it is possible the one I’d select for myself if I had been shopping for my first Apple Watch or upgrading from an older mannequin. It’s gotten a noticeable battery bump, 5G assist and extra dependable connectivity on mobile fashions, higher scratch resistance on the aluminum model, a doubtlessly lifesaving hypertension (hypertension) notification, a brand new sleep rating and a refreshed WatchOS 26 interface. But it is nonetheless working on the identical S10 chip as final yr, now additionally within the Ultra 3 and SE 3. And since a few of its standout options — such because the hypertension notifications and sleep scores — are coming to older Apple Watches, too, present house owners might not really feel inclined to improve to the Series 11. There are actually loads of methods to get these perks with out splurging on the newest mannequin. Watch this: Apple Watch Series 11 Review: Is It Worth the Upgrade?
06:18 FDA-cleared blood strain alerts could also be life-changing The most notable new well being characteristic on the Apple Watch Series 11 is an FDA-cleared hypertension notification. It’s not the total on-the-spot blood strain monitoring Apple followers have lengthy hoped for, however it’s a significant step ahead — one which Apple says may assist 1 million folks get identified with hypertension within the first yr alone.If you are accustomed to the watch’s present coronary heart well being alerts, such because the irregular rhythm notifications that flag for potential atrial fibrillation or the sleep apnea alerts, this works equally. It runs quietly within the background, and all it’s important to do is choose in utilizing the Health app in your iPhone. The hypertension notification on the Apple Watch Series 11 on show at Apple’s Cupertino occasion on Sept. 9. Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNETI’m hoping I by no means get to check this characteristic out firsthand, however even when I did have undiagnosed hypertension, I would not see an alert straight away. The watch wants about 30 days of information earlier than it may well floor a notification. And even then, it isn’t meant to be a diagnostic software. You’ll nonetheless want to substantiate readings utilizing a standard blood strain cuff, log these leads to the Health app and share them along with your physician both in individual or by exporting them as a PDF file and sharing electronically.But not less than it will get that dialog began. If it weren’t for these coronary heart fee alerts on the Apple Watch (Series 5), my stoic father would’ve by no means consulted a physician about his coronary heart. Those on-the-spot ECG reads captured the irregular rhythm that even the hospital’s ECG had missed throughout a routine check-up. (It additionally satisfied me early on that the watch’s well being sensors had been genuinely useful.)Because the hypertension notifications depend on a mix of software program and {hardware}, they’re additionally coming in WatchOS 26 to older fashions with the superior coronary heart monitor, together with the Series 9 and Series 10. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 will ship with it preloaded, however the Apple Watch SE 3 will not get it as a result of it is lacking that newer coronary heart fee sensor and the ECG characteristic. Left to proper: All three Apple Watch fashions introduced at Apple’s Sept. 9 occasion: Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch SE 3. Celso Bulgatti/CNETBetter sleep monitoring makes even this night time owl extra constantThe different new well being software debuting on the Apple Watch Series 11 (and the remainder of the brand new lineup) is Sleep Score. The Apple Watch has tracked sleep for years, however that is the primary time it is really providing you with one thing quantifiable to enhance on. Apple says it is utilizing the newest medical steering from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the National Sleep Foundation and the World Sleep Society to grade the standard of your sleep based mostly on three elements: length, bedtime and interruptions.You’ll get a numeric rating from zero to 100 together with a Low to Excellent ranking that you could test on the sleep app in your Apple Watch or entry on the Health app in your iPhone. Beyond simply the ranking, you can even be taught the place you went incorrect (or what you bought proper) by urgent the “i” icon to see a full breakdown of what contributed to your rating. Sleep Score on the Apple Watch Series 11 can be coming to older fashions with WatchOS 26. Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNETAs an evening owl on a deadline, I’ve been shocked to see a constant “Excellent” sleep rating on my Apple Watch Series 11 over the previous few nights. Personally, I’d reserve that label for a full eight hours, however the Apple Watch appears a bit beneficiant in its grading. I’ve been getting between 6.5 and 7.5 hours, staying inside about an hour of my typical bedtime and experiencing minimal interruptions.But clearly, there’s extra to feeling rested than what the Apple Watch can measure — as a result of even on these “Excellent” sleep days, I nonetheless have not felt rested. What it does not know is the heap of sleep debt I racked up through the nights main as much as, and proper after, the Apple launch occasion: the lodge stays the place I forgot to put on my watch and the late nights that stretched nicely previous my typical midnight cutoff. The Apple Watch provides you a breakdown of the elements that contributed to your sleep rating. Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNETIn idea, you possibly can nonetheless see all of that previous knowledge with no Series 11. As lengthy as you’ve got up to date to WatchOS 26 (out there now) and have an Apple Watch Series 6 or later, an Apple Watch SE 2 or later or any Apple Watch Ultra mannequin, the rating is retroactive — so your previous nights will present up within the Health app in your iPhone together with long-term traits.Here’s the place I seen my largest downside with sleep monitoring: consistency. The gaps in my knowledge (from the times after I did not put on the watch to mattress) appear to tug down my long-term averages, together with my common bedtime time. I believe this may even out over time with extra constant monitoring, however it’s price figuring out in case your previous knowledge skews your early scores.More battery life to gas well being monitoring One of the most important obstacles to constant sleep monitoring for me has been battery life – or quite, the shortage of it. It’s the very first thing I sacrifice when confronted with a useless watch. I’d quite skip sleep monitoring than danger lacking my exercise rings as a result of I left my Apple Watch on the charger throughout a noon top-up. The Series 11 eases this ache level and has already made me a extra constant sleep tracker with its longer battery life and ultra-fast charging top-offs.Apple charges the Series 11 for as much as 24 hours of “normal use,” and after carrying it by way of not less than three full battery cycles, I can affirm that is correct. With notifications turned on (heavy Slack-ing and texting), not less than one 30- to 45-minute out of doors exercise a day, a full night time of sleep monitoring and a few delicate flashlight use, I’ve persistently managed to squeeze between 27 and 32 hours per cost. The Apple Watch Series 11 battery lasted about 4 hours previous its 24-hour ranking in our real-world testing. Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNETIn reality, as I write this, I’m 27 hours in with about 20% battery nonetheless left. Your mileage will fluctuate based mostly in your utilization patterns, however I can safely say it exceeds Apple’s declare.This could be much more spectacular if the Apple Watch Series 10 hadn’t already been an overachiever on this class. That mannequin was rated for 18 hours, however I routinely hit the 24-hour mark. The six-hour battery bump on the Series 11 might not sound like a lot on paper, however it’s given me some welcome respiration room to determine a greater charging technique. It’ll additionally really feel like a good greater leap in the event you’re coming from older fashions that hovered nearer to Apple’s authentic 18-hour declare.And it isn’t simply the longer battery life that is made me extra constant at monitoring my sleep — the Apple Watch Series 11 expenses a lot sooner. The Apple Watch has been gaining charging velocity for a couple of years now, culminating within the ultra-fast charging of the Series 10. On the Series 11, simply 5 minutes on the included fast-charging cable (with your personal wall charger) is sufficient for a full night time of sleep monitoring, whereas 15 minutes provides you about 35% — or eight hours of regular use. Thirty minutes will get you to 80%, and a full cost takes about an hour. Just ensure that the charging puck you are utilizing helps quick charging.Consistency in sleep monitoring is vital to unlocking the total potential of the watch’s well being options past simply Sleep Score. Sleep apnea alerts, ovulation estimates, extra sturdy vitals monitoring and even fall detection throughout in a single day emergencies all rely upon you really carrying your watch to mattress.As somebody whose dad is about to endure a doubtlessly lifesaving coronary heart process because of the Apple Watch’s coronary heart notifications and ECG, I’m a giant believer in utilizing its well being and emergency options to their fullest. And for me, these seemingly small battery upgrades may have a giant ripple impact on my well being.5G and higher connectivity on the Series 11If you are planning to put on your watch phone-free and go for the mobile model of the Apple Watch Series 11, you will additionally see some battery positive factors associated to connectivity.That’s as a result of the Series 11 (together with the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch SE 3) is debuting 5G connectivity. Not solely is it extra power-efficient at sustaining a connection than earlier Apple Watches (and much more environment friendly than 5G in your cellphone as a result of it makes use of 5G RedCap, or 5G Reduced Capacity), the Ultra 3 and Series 11 are additionally higher at holding onto a sign in areas that often have spotty reception.Apple says that is thanks partly to an antenna variety algorithm. In easy phrases, the watch’s two mobile antennas now work collectively: The algorithm can detect when protection is weak and mix the sign power from each antennas to spice up your connection. This works throughout 5G and LTE, serving to forestall frequent drop-offs that may drain your battery sooner. In quick: You get stronger, extra power-efficient mobile connectivity — even in locations with notoriously dangerous protection.Just know that mobile fashions value about $100 greater than the usual Wi-Fi model and sometimes carry a month-to-month service price of round $10 (relying in your supplier).A well-known design with a more durable glass The Series 11 has a extra sturdy, scratch-resistant display, however in any other case there’s not a lot to report on when it comes to design. Aside from a brand new house grey coloration choice, I’d guess cash most individuals could not inform the Apple Watch Series 10 from the Apple Watch Series 11 at a look. I evaluation smartwatches for a residing, and the one distinction I may discover got here from the spec sheet, with the Series 11 being a couple of decimal factors heavier in weight, however in any other case the size are an identical.That mentioned, this acquainted design nonetheless works: You get the identical thinner, lighter physique launched with the Series 10, the edge-to-edge display with its excessive refresh fee clean sufficient to point out the second hand ticking, plus new watch bands and watch faces to play with.I’m infamous for going exhausting on my electronics (see my scratch and drop checks), so it is no shock my Series 10 ended up wanting like a 5-year-old’s elbows after studying to experience a motorbike. In the six days I’ve been carrying the Series 11, I’m completely happy to report there is not a single scratch but. This could possibly be a kind of refined upgrades that makes a giant distinction for folks like me, although solely time will inform whether or not this extra scratch-resistant glass will really maintain as much as my way of life. The aluminum model of the Apple Watch Series 11 has a extra scratch-resistant cowl glass. Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNETWatchOS 26 brings a recent look to the Series 11The exterior might really feel acquainted, however the UI positively does not. The Apple Watch Series 11 ships with WatchOS 26 out of the field, which supplies the interface a noticeable visible refresh with what Apple coined as a Liquid Glass transparency impact. It’s the identical aesthetic Apple dropped at the iPhone this yr, making the entire lineup really feel extra cohesive throughout units. Some folks love the glassy translucence, others hate it due to its extra natural (much less contrasty) look. Personally, I like the best way it seems to be, however I need to admit it is only a bit more durable to learn at a look. (You can reduce the impact by turning on Reduce Transparency within the Settings app.)Beyond the visuals, WatchOS 26 brings a number of new options to all suitable Apple Watches, not simply the Series 11. There’s lastly a Notes app on the watch, plus a redesigned Workout app that lets the Apple Watch auto-select the very best music or media to your exercise. The Series 11 provides a brand new gesture management that allows you to silence an alarm, name or notification with a flick of the wrist. It’s additionally rolling out to the Series 9 and later, in addition to the Ultra 3 and SE 3.And then there’s Workout Buddy, which, because the title suggests, provides you real-time motivation throughout runs, walks and 7 different kinds of exercises. It’s not fairly the full-fledged coach some folks had been hoping for (or what Google introduced on the Pixel 4), however after utilizing it for nearly two months in beta, I believe it has a number of potential. It feels private and inspiring with out coming throughout like an AI bot studying from a script. It’s not significantly useful to me now, past giving me my tempo alerts in my ear, however I can see it being extra useful if Apple decides to broaden it past suggestions and into different kinds of well being and health teaching. Bottom lineThe Apple Watch Series 11 continues to be my favourite of the bunch, largely as a result of it is constructed on 2024’s reigning champion, the Series 10. But the hole between it and the competitors is narrowing, and in the event you’re on a Series 9 or newer, you may safely sit this one out. The higher battery life, 5G on mobile fashions and a extra scratch-resistant display are welcome however not important, particularly since the very best new well being options are additionally coming to older fashions.For anybody upgrading from an older watch, although, the Series 11 seems like a giant leap with its longer battery life and sleeker design. If you do not want superior well being sensors resembling ECG or the brand new hypertension alerts, although, the Apple Watch SE 3 is a greater worth, and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is finest for anybody chasing longer battery life and pro-level sports activities options. I’m admittedly biased towards getting each well being characteristic attainable, however I additionally do not have the wrist actual property or funds for the Ultra 3, so the Series 11 strikes the proper steadiness. It’s comforting to know that is not the one choice.