(Credit: Eric Zeman)
CUPERTINO—At Apple’s “Awe Dropping” iPhone launch event, the company also unveiled a fully refreshed Apple Watch lineup, headlined by the new Series 11. The latest model features a more durable design and introduces impressive new health tools, including hypertension detection and deeper sleep insights. I had the chance to get a hands-on look at the Series 11 and its upgraded features. Here are my first impressions—and the standout additions that caught my attention.
Design: Durable Glass and Familiar Style
The Apple Watch Series 11 is the "thinnest Apple Watch yet," but it actually matches the dimensions of the Series 10. In my brief time wearing the Series 11, the watch felt quite petite on my wrist, especially since I typically wear the much larger Ultra 2.
As one significant design upgrade from the last generation, the Series 11 offers increased durability. It has Ion-X glass that Apple says is two times more scratch-resistant than the glass on the Series 10.
The Series 11 still comes in 42mm and 46mm sizes, in jet black, rose gold, or silver, as well as a new space gray. I like the look of the space gray, and got to see it with a few of the new bands as well. In addition to older offerings, you can now buy bands in colors such as forest green, neon yellow, anchor blue, and purple fog. The Nike bands have new colors as well.
The base Series 11 is made of 100% recycled aluminum, and those wanting a premium look can opt for a polished titanium model in natural, gold, and slate. You can also buy the luxury Hermes bands in new colors and finishes for either the aluminum or titanium versions of the watch.
Bigger Battery: A Day of Power or More
I am most excited about the Series 11's improved battery life over the Series 10. The watch is powered by the same S10 chip as the previous generation, but thanks to improved software efficiency and increased battery capacity, the Series 11 finally promises a full 24 hours of power on a charge. Moreover, Apple says the watch can quick-charge to regain 12 hours of battery life in just 15 minutes.
The Series 10 and prior models have a listed capacity of 18 hours, but Apple tends to lowball this number. In our real-world testing, the Series 10 lasted 36 hours. If the Series 11 similarly exceeds Apple’s estimates, it could potentially last a couple of days before you need to plug it in. Given that older models will get access to new software features via watchOS 26, the longer-lasting battery will be one of the biggest reasons to upgrade.
Sleep Score: Quantifying Your Rest
The Apple Watch has long tracked the duration and quality of your sleep. The Series 11 will take that data and translate it into a sleep score graded from 0 to 100.
Lots of other smartwatches and fitness trackers offer a sleep score, but the Apple Watch has the clearest assessment criteria of any device I’ve seen. Duration of sleep counts for 50 of the possible 100 points, while consistency and interruptions count for 25 points each.
After viewing your score, you can scroll down or click for more information on the contributing factors, including each subscore. The watch will also fully inform you of how it assessed each criterion. Apple seems to be aiming for transparency and objectivity with this measurement, so as to avoid a sense of judgment if your sleep score is low, while offering tangible ways to improve your shut-eye over time.
I haven’t had a chance to sleep with the watch yet, but I did see demos of the sleep scores at the event. The information appears clear and well-organized. It’s also presented in a colorful and lively way I found engaging.
Sleep score won’t be exclusive to the newest model. Instead, it will roll out as part of the full launch of watchOS 26, so any model compatible with that software, including watches as old as the Series 6, will have access to it.
Hypertension: Keeping You Informed About Your Blood Pressure
The other big health upgrade coming to the newest Apple Watch Series operates in the background. You’ll have to wear the watch consistently for 30 days, at which point it’ll notify you if you have or are at risk for high blood pressure (hypertension).
Apple is seeking FDA approval for this feature and expects to have clearance shortly. I saw the alert in action during my demo time with the watch, and I’m sure it would be a disconcerting one to see in real life, but that is more or less the point. Apple notes that a high volume of those suffering from hypertension are undiagnosed, so the feature is meant to get you the information you need to seek medical attention before it causes any serious problems.
In addition to the notification on the watch, a similar one pops up on your connected iPhone, and you can take the associated data to the doctor to get yourself checked out. Note that the hypertension feature isn’t actually measuring your real-time blood pressure; it relies on optical readings of your heart rate collected over time. The watch uses machine learning to assess variances in your pulse throughout the day and night, and compare them to variances normally attributed to hypertension.
5G: Faster Connections
Cellular versions of the Apple Watch Series 11 will offer a faster connection, thanks to added 5G network connectivity. The 5G modem in the Series 11 leverages power efficiency refinements to help this version of the watch keep a consistent battery life to the Bluetooth-only variants.
The watch's dual cellular bands can even work together to combine signal strength and maintain a usable connection, even in areas with spotty service. I didn’t get the chance to see this feature in action, but it could make a big difference for those trying to stay connected in less populous areas.
New Lineup, Consistent Pricing
The Series 11 headlines Apple’s new trio of smartwatches. The Series 11 starts at $399, the SE 3 at $249, and the Ultra 3 at $799. These prices are consistent with their predecessors.
The new Apple Watches will be available starting Sept. 19, and you can preorder them now. I plan to test them all to see how the new features work and if the hardware upgrades make a big difference, so stay tuned for my full reviews. Until then, check out our comparison of all three new models.