The Apple Watch hasn’t changed dramatically in the 10 years since it hit the market, at least not in terms of its design. The square face and the digital crown remain and Apple has stuck to the design brief.
That is not to say Apple hasn’t made several refinements. The watch face has got bigger, with Apple increasing the case size and also slimming down the bezels to give wearers more display area.
There was the addition of the always-on display too, which is now available across the range, including the third-generation Watch SE.
The Series 11 is the newest addition to the Apple Watch line-up. It comes in both 42mm and 46mm cases, with a choice of aluminium and titanium. That is largely unchanged from last year. But while it doesn’t make any dramatic departure from Apple’s tried and tested formula, it brings a few welcome changes.
First up is a better battery life. When Apple announced the Watch Ultra with its 36-hour battery life, the original Watch seemed lacking in comparison.
Apple has made a few adjustments and officially, the Series 11 has up to 24 hours, a six-hour bump on the previous Apple Watch. It means less charging than before, and when you do need to charge, you can get it to a reasonable power level in about 30 minutes.
The new version also claims to be a bit more durable, with Apple using new glass that it says is twice as scratch-resistant as the previous model. That is good news if you are going with the aluminium version; the titanium version includes sapphire glass, which is tougher but also costs a lot more. Fewer scratches are always welcome.
It also supports 5G, though a lot depends on your carrier. Three and Vodafone both support 5G for the Apple Watch in Ireland.
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The Series 11 ships with WatchOS 26, which brings all sorts of new things. You get new gestures, so you can dismiss alerts and return to the watch face with a flick of your wrist.
It also has new health features, such as the sleep score, so if you are tracking your sleep habits, it is easier to interpret and monitor over time. It gives you a visual breakdown of your sleep in three colour-coded areas – duration, bedtime and interruptions – with an overall assessment for each day.
The latest version of the software comes with hypertension notifications, so you can get an early alert if your blood pressure is becoming an issue. It monitors over 30 days, and requires a blood pressure reading to get started, so bear that in mind.
It is not intended to diagnose high blood pressure, just to alert you to possible patterns that indicate there may be an issue.
This feature isn’t limited to the Series 11 either, with the Series 10 and Series 9 models also getting the hypertension alerts.
That also goes for the AI-based Workout Buddy. You too can have a digital cheerleader egging you on over your headphones as you plod down the road, letting you know when you have hit certain markers, and giving you a post-run boost. It does require an iPhone 15 Pro or newer though, and you do need to carry the phone with you. I regularly run with a phone – listening to podcasts or using tracking apps on the device – but that won’t suit people who prefer to travel light.
Good
New features like hypertension alerts and gesture controls make the Series 11 a more rounded, convenient device.
Battery life has been improved, something Apple Watch users have been looking for.
Bad
Little difference between the generations, with the Series 11 sticking with the same S10 chip. The new features are software-based rather than hardware, and are available on the Series 9 and 10 too.
Everything else
Fast charging means you can power up the watch to around 80 per cent in a relatively short time – 30 minutes should do it.
Previous accessories will still work, including chargers and watch straps.
Verdict
For Apple users, the Apple Watch Series 11 remains the best smartwatch you can buy. But it may face serious competition from inside the house – the Watch SE is gaining more essential features, even though it lacks more advanced health tracking.
