Early reviews of Apple Watch Series 11 seem to agree that while it looks just like its predecessor, this incremental update delivers meaningful improvements in some areas.
The biggest upgrade: longer battery life. But those with an Apple Watch Series 9 or 10 can skip this round unless you really want the six-hour battery boost. Check out review notes and review videos below.
Apple Watch Series 11 reviews roundup: Battery life breakthrough ends 18-hour ceiling
Apple unveiled Apple Watch Series 11 alongside Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple Watch SE 3 and the iPhone 17 lineup at its Awe Dropping event last week. With the new model closely resembling Apple Watch 10, the most significant upgrade across all reviews is the Series 11’s jump to 24-hour battery life. It ends a decade-long plateau at 18 hours for flagship Apple Watch models.
CNET‘s reviewer consistently managed between 27 and 32 hours per charge, even with heavy usage including notifications, workouts and sleep tracking. The Tom’s Guide reviewer noted she could easily go a day and a half between charges.
TechRadar‘s testing showed about 17 hours from half a charge, with the reviewer pulling his watch off the charger at 54% and not getting down to 1% until after 5 p.m. the next day. The improvement comes from battery capacity increases of 9% in the 42mm model and 11% in the 46mm version, according to multiple reviews.
Engadget emphasized how this addresses a major obstacle to sleep tracking, noting that “it’s the first thing I sacrifice when faced with a dead watch.” All reviewers agreed that the battery gains represent the most practical upgrade for daily users.
Health features expand beyond Apple Watch Series 11
Photo: Apple
The new hypertension alerts feature garnered significant attention, though reviewers noted it’s not exclusive to Apple Watch Series 11. CNET said the feature works similarly to existing heart health alerts, running quietly in the background and requiring about 30 days of data before surfacing notifications. Importantly, Tom’s Guide clarified that this is not a blood pressure monitor but rather uses an algorithm and optical heart rate sensor to alert users to possible hypertension.
The Apple Watch’s new Sleep Score feature also received positive marks. Engadget praised Apple’s approach, noting “it makes it very easy to see at a glance what areas I should strive to improve,” with color-coded rings showing duration, bedtime consistency and interruptions. TechRadar called it “a long-awaited arrival that’s executed perfectly” and noted it retroactively scores past nights.
Both features will be available on older Apple Watch models through watchOS 26, which several reviewers noted reduces the exclusivity of Series 11’s health improvements.
Design stays familiar with durability improvements
Reviewers universally said Apple Watch Series 11’s design remains virtually identical to Series 10. TechRadar said “placing my 46mm Series 11 review device next to a Series 10 I see an identical rounded-square Apple Watch, aside from the updated paint job.” CNET’s reviewer admitted being “notorious for going hard on my electronics” but reported no scratches after six days, crediting the twice-as-scratch-resistant Ion-X glass.
The 9.7mm thickness carries over from the Series 10, with TechRadar noting “there were times when I forgot it was even there during my seven days of testing” due to the ultra-thin profile.
5G connectivity and watchOS 26 refinements
Image: Apple
The addition of 5G support received positive mentions across reviews, though with less enthusiasm than the battery improvements. CNET explained the Series 11 uses “5G RedCap, or 5G Reduced Capacity” which is “more power-efficient at maintaining a connection than previous Apple Watches.”
watchOS 26’s Liquid Glass interface divided opinion slightly. Engadget noted “some people love the glassy translucence, others hate it because of its more organic (less contrasty) look.” The reviewer acknowledged that the glossy upgrade makes the Apple Watch “just a bit harder to read at a glance.”
Performance remains unchanged but adequate
All reviewers noted Series 11 uses the same S10 chip as Series 10, with no meaningful performance improvements. TechRadar listed “no major performance gains year over year” as a con, though the reviewer found apps opened quickly and ran smoothly.
Tom’s Guide noted the lack of meaningful AI upgrades to Siri as a missed opportunity, comparing it unfavorably to Samsung and Google’s more AI-capable smartwatches.
Apple Watch Series 11 reviews verdict: An incremental but meaningful upgrade can be skipped
Despite the lack of major design changes or performance improvements, reviewers generally recommended Apple Watch Series 11, particularly for users coming from older models. CNET concluded “the Series 11 is still my favorite of the bunch” while noting “the gap between it and the competition is narrowing.” TechRadar called it “the most capable and balanced Apple Watch yet.”
However, most reviewers agreed that Apple Watch Series 10 owners can skip this generation. TechRadar said “if you’re rocking a Series 10, you likely don’t need an upgrade unless you’re eager for better battery life.” Tom’s Guide said “those who already own the Series 9 or Series 10 might not find enough here to justify the switch.”
The $399 starting price remains unchanged from Series 10, which reviewers appreciated given current economic pressures. For first-time buyers or those with older Apple Watches, Series 11 represents a solid evolution of Apple’s smartwatch formula, even if it doesn’t break significant new ground.
Apple Watch 11 review videos
The Apple Watch 11 reviews roundup post first published on September 16, 2025. We updated it on September 17, 2025.
David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
