If you are getting an Apple Watch this vacation season, you’ve gotten a troublesome selection: Should you purchase the newest Apple Watch Series 11, or discover a Series 10 that has a lot of the identical options at a decrease value? Apple made incremental modifications to its flagship smartwatch, whereas additionally introducing vital enhancements to the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch SE 3.There are nonetheless sufficient variations to make you look twice at transferring up (particularly should you’re coming from an older mannequin). Let’s examine the fashions aspect by aspect and tease out the finer particulars.Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content material and lab-based opinions. Add CNET as a most popular Google supply. Pricing the Apple Watch Series 11 The Series 11 has saved the identical worth because the Series 10. It begins at $399 for the mannequin with an aluminum physique or $699 for one made from titanium. Add $30 for the bigger 46mm case measurement in aluminum, or $50 for titanium. Opting for a mannequin with a mobile radio that connects independently to networks provides $100. And should you select a band made from one thing aside from rubber or textile — a chrome steel hyperlink bracelet, for instance — the worth climbs additional. Unfortunately, you’ll be able to’t order simply the watch case; you must choose a brand new band, even when it results in your drawer in favor of 1 you already personal and like.There’s additionally a titanium Apple Watch Hermès mannequin accessible in silver titanium in each sizes that begins at $1,249. Apple now not sells the Series 10, for the reason that Series 11 replaces it, however you’ll be able to nonetheless discover refurbished Series 10 fashions for much less from Apple, and new fashions from different retailers whereas provides final. Watch this: Apple Watch Series 11 Review: Is It Worth the Upgrade?
06:18 Apple Watch Series 11 vs. Series 10: Outward design The Series 11 and Series 10 share the identical case design and supplies. The bigger mannequin measures 46mm tall by 39mm extensive, whereas the smaller is available in at 42mm by 36mm. (Kudos to Apple for persevering with to supply two sizes to accommodate individuals with different-sized wrists.) They’re additionally each 1mm slimmer than the Apple Watch fashions that got here earlier than, at 9.7mm. The Apple Watch Series 11 seems to be precisely just like the Series 10. Apple/CNETDespite being principally the identical in dimensions, the Series 11 is barely heavier than the Series 10. For instance, the 46mm aluminum GPS Series 11 weighs 37.8 grams, up barely from 36.4 grams for the Series 10. The 42mm variations are available in at 30.3 grams and 30.0 grams, respectively.For colours, the Series 11 provides an area grey aluminum choice to go together with rose gold, silver and jet black. Both fashions are additionally accessible in titanium finishes of slate, gold and pure. Titanium is the premium end for each the Apple Watch Series 11 and Series 10 (the latter proven right here). Apple/Screenshot by James Martin/CNETThe bodily controls are unchanged: the dial that Apple calls the Digital Crown and a aspect button (that Apple cleverly calls the “side button”). Only the Apple Watch Ultra features a third bodily management: the Action button. Also noteworthy: The titanium Series 11 is made from 100% recycled titanium, up from 95% recycled materials within the titanium Series 10. The show glass is made from 40% recycled glass within the Series 11; no quantity is listed for the Series 10. And the battery within the Series 11 makes use of 100% recycled cobalt and 95% recycled lithium. (The Series 10 lists solely 100% recycled cobalt.) Series 11 vs. Series 10 screens The screens on each the Series 11 and Series 10 watches have a wide-angle LTPO 3 OLED show. That means it is simpler to see the contents from an angle, and the always-on show refreshes as soon as per second, permitting the seconds counter to maneuver even when the watch is in inactive mode.LTPO3 screens are additionally extra energy environment friendly. The screens attain as much as 2,000 nits for clear visibility in daylight and dim down to simply 1 nit in darkness. The key distinction between the Series 11 and Series 10 screens lies within the glass masking. On the Series 11 aluminum fashions, Apple makes use of Ion-X glass, which it claims is twice as scratch-resistant because the glass on earlier aluminum variations. The titanium Series 11 makes use of a sapphire crystal show. The glass masking the show on the Apple Watch Series 11 is extra scratch-resistant. Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNET Apple Watch processor and chips Normally we would spotlight how the brand new processor improves on its predecessor, however for 2025 Apple caught with the identical S10 processor discovered within the Series 10. That additionally means the opposite chips stay the identical, too: the W3 Apple Wireless chip, the second-generation Ultra Wideband chip (for exact Find My location monitoring), a four-core Neural Engine and 64GB of storage. Battery energy: Series 11 vs. Series 10 Battery life is the place the 2 fashions get actually attention-grabbing. Apple does not reveal how massive the built-in lithium-ion battery is or its capability, however it’s claiming as much as 24 hours for the Series 11 in comparison with 18 hours for the Series 10. In Low Power Mode, that is as much as 38 hours for the Series 11, up from 36 hours within the Series 10. It’s not completely clear the place Apple squeezed an additional six hours of battery life out of what seems to be principally equivalent {hardware}. Both telephones use the identical S10 processor, although there are doubtless software program optimizations in WatchOS 26. CNET lead author Vanessa Hand Orellana discovered that, at the very least initially, Apple could also be undercounting the battery efficiency, writing in her evaluation, “With notifications turned on (heavy Slack-ing and texting), at least one 30- to 45-minute outdoor workout a day, a full night of sleep tracking and some mild flashlight use, I’ve consistently managed to squeeze between 27 and 32 hours per charge.” The Apple Watch Series 11 lasted about 4 hours previous its 24-hour score in our real-world testing. Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNETAs for charging the watches, each the Series 11 and Series 10 could be charged as much as 80% in about 30 minutes. Apple says that with a 20W energy adapter, 15 minutes of quick charging supplies as much as 8 hours of normal use, whereas simply 5 minutes is sufficient for eight hours of sleep monitoring — because of the watch’s a lot decrease energy calls for whilst you’re asleep. Apple’s comparability info for the Series 10 does not record these final two metrics, however that appears extra attributable to it being a advertising level final yr versus a brand new functionality within the Series 11. Comparing the sensors of the Series 11 and Series 10 The Apple Watch’s sensors energy well being options that vary from heart-rate monitoring to depth sensing to express location monitoring. That mentioned… They’re equivalent within the Series 11 and Series 10. No modifications right here. Another change: Connectivity within the Series 11 and Series 10One of the extra notable modifications within the mobile fashions of the Series 11 is assist for 5G networks, particularly a power-efficient kind known as 5G Reduced Capacity (or 5G RedCap). That permits it to connect with each 5G and LTE networks with out having to undergo a related iPhone, and the 5G speeds ought to be higher. By comparability, the mobile Series 10 helps LTE and UMTS (3G). A mobile Apple Watch means you’ll be able to go for a run with out bringing the iPhone alongside. Series 10 proven right here. Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNETPart of incorporating 5G into the Series 11 fashions is a redesigned mobile antenna and an algorithm that “simultaneously engages the two system antennas when needed, significantly increasing the signal strength,” in accordance with Apple’s Series 11 press launch. That algorithm is unique to the Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3, per Apple. Both Apple Watch fashions assist Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) at 2.5GHz and 5GHz speeds. (Apple’s comparability web page solely lists the speeds for the Series 11, however an Apple Watch Wi-Fi assist web page notes 5GHz has been supported for the reason that Series 6 watches.) Both watches speak to the iPhone and different peripherals utilizing Bluetooth 5.3. WatchOS 26 on the Apple Watch Series 11 and Series 10 The new options of WatchOS 26 come to each watch fashions, together with hypertension notifications, Sleep Score and the Blood Oxygen app (making its reappearance within the US amid an ongoing authorized dispute). Apple’s comparability web page lists the brand new Wrist Flick gesture for the Series 11 however not the Series 10, however that have to be a typo as a result of I can affirm that it really works on my Series 10 watch. Apple Watch Series 11 vs. Apple Watch Series 10 Apple Watch Series 11Apple Watch Series 10Design & sizes Rectangular, 42mm, 46mmRectangular, 42mm, 46mmDisplay 42mm: 446 x 374 pixels, LTPO3 OLED Retina show, Wide-angle OLED 46mm: 416 x 496 pixels, LTPO3 OLED Retina show, Wide-angle OLED446 x 374 ppi, LTPO3 OLED Retina show, Wide-angle OLEDBrightness Between 1 and 2000 nits2000 nitsThickness & weight 46mm measurement: 9.7mm; 37.8g (aluminum), 36.9g (aluminum GPS+Cellular), 43.1g (titanium) 42mm measurement: 9.7mm; 30.3g (aluminum), 29.7g (aluminum GPS+Cellular), 34.6g (titanium)9.7mm; 30-41.7g (46mm titanium mannequin)Material & end Aluminum: jet black, rose gold or silver end; titanium: slate, gold or pure endAluminum: jet black, rose gold or silver end; titanium: slate, gold or pure finishDurability 5ATM Water + IP6X (mud)5ATM Water + IP6X (mud)Battery life Up to 24 hours, as much as 38 hours Low Power (always-on) + Fast cost: 80% in 30 min, 100% in 60 min24-30 (always-on) + Fast cost: 80% in 30 min, 100% in 60 minSensors ECG, Third-gen optical coronary heart sensor, pores and skin temp, depth gauge, SpO2, Noise monitoring, water temperature, compassECG, coronary heart price, pores and skin temp, depth gauge, SpO2, Noise monitoringEmergency options Satellite SOS, Emergency SOS, Fall detection, Crash detection, Check in and BacktrackEmergency SOS, Fall detection, Crash detection, Check in and BacktrackAI & teaching Siri (voice assistant); Workout BuddySiri (voice assistant); Workout BuddyProcessor S10 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor, W3 Apple wi-fi chipS10 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor, W3 Apple wi-fi chipRAM/Storage 64GB (storage)64GB (storage)Payments Apple PayApple PayPrice (US) $399-$750 (titanium)$399-$750 (titanium)
