The Apple Watch Series 11 delivers what many users have been asking for: longer battery life. The Guardian’s reporting remains impartial, though we may receive a commission from purchases made through affiliate links.
In other respects, the Series 11 is a straightforward update to the Series 10, sharing the same design, size, and core features. Most improvements come from software updates, making it one of the top smartwatches on the market, even if it hasn’t undergone major changes.
Priced from £369 in the UK, the Series 11 is £30 less than its predecessor. It sits between the updated £219 Watch SE at the entry level and the £749 Ultra 3 at the premium end.
The Series 11 is available in space grey, a color first seen on the iPhone 5s in 2013—proving that everything old can be new again.
At just 9.7mm thick, the new model is slim and comfortable on the wrist, easily slipping under shirt cuffs and remaining comfortable to wear overnight. It’s lightweight and unobtrusive for daily use.
The 2,000-nit OLED display is bright enough for indoor and outdoor viewing, with clear readability even at an angle. This makes checking the time or notifications quick and easy. The screen is protected by glass that Apple claims is twice as scratch-resistant as before, though not as durable as the sapphire glass used on pricier titanium models.
Powered by the same S10 chip as last year’s model, the Series 11 now offers optional 5G connectivity and improved reception for outdoor adventures. Battery capacity has increased by 9% for the 42mm version and 11% for the 46mm model.
In testing, the 46mm version lasted a solid two days with sleep tracking enabled but without exercise. Most users should get through two full days and nights before needing to recharge. Using a 20W or higher power adapter (sold separately), the watch charges to about 70% in 30 minutes and reaches full charge in 66 minutes. For runners, it can track about eight hours of activity—enough for a marathon or two.
Specifications:
– Case size: 42 or 46mm
– Thickness: 9.7mm
– Weight: approximately 30g or 37g
– Processor: S10
– Storage: 64GB
– Operating system: watchOS 26
– Water resistance: 50 meters (5ATM)
– Sensors: Heart rate, ECG, blood oxygen, temperature, depth, microphone, speaker, NFC, GNSS, compass, altimeter
– Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 4, NFC, UWB, optional 5G
The Series 11 comes with watchOS 26, compatible with all models from the Series 6 (2020) onward. It introduces Apple’s Liquid Glass design, giving most interface elements a semi-translucent look, and adds two new watch faces: Flow, a dynamic digital face that responds to movement, and Exactograph, an analog face with separate dials for hours, minutes, and seconds.
A standout feature is the wrist-flick gesture—a quick twist away and back—that lets you dismiss alerts and return to the watch face without raising your wrist. It’s a satisfying way to silence alarms on the go.
Health and fitness features include the same comprehensive monitoring tools as previous models, plus some additions and a redesigned workout app. Hypertension alerts use the existing optical sensor on the back of the watch to detect signs of high blood pressure over 30 days, prompting you to seek medical advice if needed—no separate cuff required.
The new sleep score, similar to offerings from Google and Samsung, simplifies sleep tracking by providing a daily score out of 100, broken down into duration, bedtime consistency, and sleep quality.The Apple Watch Series 11 keeps the same successful design but adds two welcome improvements: more scratch-resistant glass and longer battery life. Its slim build, quick charging, and two-day battery make it convenient for daily use, especially for sleep tracking and as a silent alarm. The wrist-flick gesture is so useful it should be standard on all watches, and compatibility with older Apple Watch bands and chargers is a nice perk for upgraders. A price reduction in the UK is also appreciated.
The updated watchOS 26 interface may feel different at first, but it operates similarly and introduces helpful features like hypertension alerts that could save lives. The standout addition is the Workout Buddy, an AI coach that offers encouragement based on your past exercise data and announces milestones during workouts. It supports 12 activities, such as walking, running, or cycling, and works with Bluetooth headphones. However, it requires you to carry an iPhone 15 Pro or newer, which can be cumbersome during runs.
Made with over 40% recycled materials, including aluminum and cobalt, the watch has a high-quality, slim frame that’s comfortable to wear. Apple states the battery lasts over 1,000 charge cycles while retaining at least 80% capacity and can be replaced for £95. Repairs range from £295 to £389. The company also provides trade-in and recycling options.
Pricing starts at £369 for the Series 11, available in 42mm and 46mm sizes, with optional 5G costing an extra £100. Comparatively, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is £749, the SE 3 starts at £219, the Google Pixel Watch 4 begins at £349, and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is from £294.
In summary, the Series 11 is among the top smartwatches for iPhone users, offering a significant upgrade from older models like the Series 6. However, the redesigned SE 3 now presents better value, challenging the Series 11’s position as the go-to Apple Watch.
Pros: Excellent always-on display, sleek design, intuitive double-tap and wrist-flick gestures, comprehensive health and activity tracking, Workout Buddy AI, 50m water resistance, two-day battery, optional 5G, long software support, use of recycled materials, and compatibility with previous watch straps.
Cons: High cost, iPhone exclusivity, lack of third-party watch faces, similar appearance to recent models, and competition from the more affordable Watch SE.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of helpful and natural FAQs about the Apple Watch Series 11 based on the key points of being Impressively responsive with extended battery life
General Beginner Questions
1 Whats the main takeaway from the Series 11 reviews
The main takeaway is that it feels much faster and smoother to use and the battery lasts significantly longer than previous models
2 How much longer does the battery actually last
While it depends on your usage most reviews note you can easily get through a full day and into the next with normal use and some even report up to 36 hours on a single charge
3 Im not very techsavvy What does impressively responsive mean for me
It means apps open instantly swiping through menus is super smooth and Siri responds without a delay Everything just feels faster and more fluid
4 Is the Series 11 a good upgrade from my older Apple Watch
Yes absolutely The combination of the much faster performance and the dramatically improved battery life makes it a very noticeable and worthwhile upgrade
5 Does the improved battery life mean I can finally sleep with it on
Yes The extended battery is one of the key features that makes sleep tracking practical You can wear it all day and night then just charge it for a short while in the morning
Features Performance Questions
6 Whats causing the faster performance and better battery life
Its primarily due to a new more efficient processor inside the watch that does more work while using less power
7 Can I use the AlwaysOn Display without worrying about the battery now
Yes the improved battery efficiency means you can keep the AlwaysOn Display active without it having a major impact on your daily battery life
8 How does the battery hold up during a long workout like a marathon hike
Extremely well The powerefficient design means GPS tracking and heart rate monitoring during long workouts will drain the battery much more slowly than on older models
9 Are there any new software features that take advantage of the faster chip
Yes the increased responsiveness is especially noticeable with Siri which can process requests on the device itself for faster answers and with more complex apps
