At a look
Skilled’s Ranking
Professionals
- Improved well being monitoring
- 5G connectivity
- The very best battery lifetime of any commonplace Apple Watch
- Sturdy design
Cons
- Just like Sequence 10
- Sleep rating lacks recommendation
- Exercise Buddy requires iPhone
Our Verdict
There are nonetheless areas for enchancment, notably with regards to sleep monitoring, however with a bigger battery, elevated sturdiness and extra well being options than ever, the Apple Watch Sequence 11 is nearly a must-buy for any iPhone consumer in want of a brand new wearable.
Worth When Reviewed
This worth will present the geolocated pricing textual content for product undefined
Greatest Pricing At the moment
Worth When Reviewed
From $399
Greatest Costs At the moment: Apple Watch Sequence 11
$389
$399.99
Regardless that it’s extra of a refined model of its predecessor than a serious generational leap, there’s nonetheless a lot to love concerning the Apple Watch Sequence 11.
I don’t a lot envy the place that Apple finds itself in with its line-up of wearables in 2025. The vary lastly acquired a serious processing bump with the Apple Watch Sequence 9 after which a giant {hardware} revamp that slimmed the whole lot down for the Apple Watch Sequence 10, while additionally broadening the show.
With these options in tow, there’s a case to be made that the Apple Watch has ‘peaked’, and something past this level will solely contain iterative updates.
Effectively, having used the Apple Watch Sequence 11 for over per week now, I can positively say that Apple is nowhere close to as withheld with its updates in comparison with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, however whether or not or not the Sequence 11 is an important improve relies upon completely on the smartwatch you at present use.
There are a couple of customers who may in all probability go with out, however for those who do have the cash to improve, then you’ll completely discover the perfect Apple Watch expertise up to now within the Sequence 11.
Design & Construct
- Ever-so barely bigger than the Sequence 10
- Extra sturdy with Ion-X glass
- Nonetheless snug to put on
With regards to the design, it’s very a lot enterprise as typical, however this isn’t too stunning provided that the Sequence 10 introduced a reasonably main overhaul to the desk.
Being 10% thinner than the Sequence 9, the Sequence 10 felt much more snug on the wrist, making it simpler to put on for longer durations of time, particularly throughout the evening.
The Sequence 11 holds onto this idea and it’s proper up there with Garmin Venu X1 as being one of the crucial snug watches I’ve ever had the pleasure of carrying.
The most important design improve on the Sequence 11 is hidden in plain sight
Thomas Deehan / Foundry
It’s price mentioning that, seemingly on account of the bigger battery discovered inside the Sequence 11, the watch is ever so barely greater than the Sequence 10, however not by a lot. For instance, the equal 46mm Mobile mannequin I’ve been carrying weighs in at 36.9g, however the identical mannequin of the Sequence 10 weighs 35.3g.
It’s a minimal distinction however price mentioning for anybody at present utilizing final yr’s watch who is likely to be tempted to improve.
The most important design improve on the Sequence 11 is hidden in plain sight, and it’s the addition of the all-new Ion-X glass show, which Apple says is 2x extra scratch resistant. As you may think about, a function like that is tough to check however I’ll say that within the time that I’ve been utilizing the watch, it has been by chance knocked into a few doorways and through a swim, incurred a reasonably full-on collision with one of many lane boundaries which I used to be satisfied would depart a mark, however to my shock the display screen nonetheless appears as if it’s simply come out of the field.
Identical to earlier than, the Watch Sequence 11 is totally waterproof as much as 50m, so for those who’re like me and also you take pleasure in an occasional journey to the native swimming pool then you definately received’t have to fret about taking off the Apple Watch earlier than you get within the water. Equally, any lesser encounters like a splash from the sink or a little bit of rain received’t be trigger for concern both.
There may be another color out there over final yr with the introduction of House Gray Aluminium, however to my eye, it appears virtually equivalent to the Silver Aluminium possibility, and it makes me want that Apple would return to the expressive choices you might get with the Sequence 7 and the Sequence 6.
The Apple Watch felt proper at dwelling with Inexperienced and Blue colourways, and as somebody who likes to swap out the usual rubber Sport Band for one thing a bit extra eye-catching, I’d like to see Apple embrace color once more in subsequent yr’s Watch.
Thomas Deehan / Foundry
It is a minor gripe, nevertheless, because the Apple Watch stays one of many best-looking smartwatches on the market for those who’re happy with a sq. design, and it’s no surprise {that a} ton of firms attempt to emulate the corporate’s type right here (simply take a look at the Huawei Watch Match 4 for those who don’t consider me).
Display & Audio
- Very vibrant and simple to learn open air
- The depth of color helps icons and watch faces to actually pop
- The very best audio system I’ve ever heard on a smartwatch
In contrast to the design the place there was at the very least a shift ahead in sturdiness, the display screen on the Apple Watch Sequence 11 is equivalent to what got here final yr, and whereas that is likely to be an excuse to groan for some, I feel that Apple made the best name right here.
I all the time wish to see innovation in areas that make sense as a substitute of getting upgrades only for the sake of needing one thing new to speak about on a specs sheet, and in its present type, the show on the Apple Watch Sequence 11 provides me no trigger for concern.
With 2000 nits of peak brightness (initially introduced in on the Sequence 9), the Sequence 11’s show is extremely straightforward to learn open air and extra importantly, I haven’t struggled with regards to glancing on the extra subdued always-on show.
Even when the color of a watch face has been drained away, I can nonetheless see what the time is, which isn’t all the time a given as I just lately had this actual concern when reviewing the extra budget-friendly CMF Watch 3 Professional.
Throw on high of that the introduction of a wider viewing angle and LTPO3 know-how on the Sequence 10, and there actually isn’t something right here to depart you wanting. What’s unusual is that, though the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (which I additionally reviewed) has the next 3000 nits peak brightness, I can’t truthfully say that the visible expertise on the newest Apple Watch looks like a step again.
I can now admit that Apple is on to one thing right here
Thomas Deehan / Foundry
A part of what works within the Apple Watch’s favour is the colourful color palette that its OLED show is ready to conjure up. It didn’t matter if I used to be taking a look at one of many many watch faces that Apple has designed for its wearable ecosystem, or just scrolling by the gathering of put in apps, there was all the time one thing there to catch my consideration due to the way it all pops.
Final yr, Apple made a giant deal concerning the capacity to hearken to music and podcasts by way of the built-in speaker on the Sequence 10, and I’d be mendacity if I stated I didn’t scoff on the very idea of it.
Given simply how a lot hatred there’s for many who resolve to blast music from their telephones on public transport with no concern for the remainder of most people, absolutely the final thing I’d ever wish to do is develop into such a pariah by listening to The Relaxation is Leisure by way of my wrist.
Nonetheless, when giving the function a spin from the consolation of my own residence, I can now admit that Apple is on to one thing right here. Taking CKY’s 96 Fairly Bitter Beings for a spin (my go-to tune for testing wearable audio system), I used to be impressed by the readability of the cymbals and the way properly the vocals carried by, even when – as you may think about – there was some element lacking on the guitar riff.
Swapping over to the Kinda Humorous Video games Day by day podcast, I discovered myself settling in moderately rapidly and having fun with the playback as a way of consuming the newest episode.
Not solely does the Apple Watch Sequence 11 have the perfect sounding speaker of any smartwatch I’ve examined to date, nevertheless it additionally has me satisfied that, at occasions when my AirPods and iPhone are out of attain, I may use it for a little bit of leisure if the temper strikes, which isn’t one thing I assumed I’d admit to earlier than I started scripting this evaluate.
Thomas Deehan / Foundry
Software program & Options
- Now with 5G
- New Exactograph and Movement watch faces
- Easy efficiency
Right here’s the place we begin stepping into a few of the meat of the massive modifications this yr, however earlier than doing so, I’ll try to strip away a band-aid early by letting you already know that by way of uncooked efficiency, nothing has modified within the Sequence 11 because it makes use of the very same S10 chipset as earlier than.
Provided that huge strides are beginning to be made on the Put on OS entrance with sooner chipsets that permit for entry to Google Gemini in your wrist, it might have been good to see Apple leapfrog the competitors someplace, however the core day-to-day efficiency right here remains to be rock strong.
With days that included listening to Spotify offline on the fitness center, utilizing the look ahead to NFC funds and Apple Maps to navigate my means by London for an occasion, the Sequence 11 did all of it with none moments of stuttering or slowdown. It’s precisely the type of top-tier expertise that you simply purchase an Apple Look ahead to, and even with the extra highly effective Apple Watch Extremely 3 in the marketplace, I by no means discovered myself wanting extra.
Thomas Deehan / Foundry
For those who go for the mobile model of the Apple Watch Sequence 11, you’ll have the ability to connect with 5G networks, which is a big win for utilizing the wearable away out of your iPhone.
For instance, for those who resolve to depart your iPhone at dwelling as you exit for a lunchtime stroll, you may take calls on the watch identical to earlier than, however now you’ll take pleasure in a a lot better connection that’s much less more likely to incur an issue if there’s a 5G sign out there. As somebody who likes to make use of their Apple Watch on this means, notably as I’m far much less more likely to be distracted by my watch, it’s nice to see this addition.
Arriving alongside the Sequence 11 (though additionally out there on different Apple Watches) are the Movement and Exactograph watch faces.
The previous takes a leaf out of Apple’s Liquid Glass aesthetic, which permeates iOS 26 and has glass-like numbers sitting above a swirling blob of color. It appears very Apple and it is likely to be good for some, however I’m a much bigger fan of the Exactograph possibility.
I’ve come to depend on it fairly a bit
Thomas Deehan / Foundry
Very similar to GMT or Metropolitan, you may have 4 problems surrounding the core watch face, which reveals dials for the seconds, minutes and hours of the day.
Faucet on the centre of the watch face and it’ll ship all of these problems away and increase these dials like measuring tape to provide you a detailed take a look at the seconds and minutes as they slip away. It’s fairly enjoyable to mess around with, and there are some nice color choices which have every dial taking over totally different shades.
These two new watch faces sit on high of what’s already top-of-the-line collections out there within the smartwatch area. Solely Samsung comes near matching Apple on this entrance, however I nonetheless consider that watch faces are a vital a part of what makes a terrific wearable because it’s what you’re going to be taking a look at more often than not, and to have a great mixture of trendy and useful picks is a big win, and I really feel extra inclined to swap between them relying on my temper.
As a aspect word, that is the primary time I’ve had an opportunity to make use of the Apple Watch’s double-tap function, which helps you to work together with sure apps simply by pinching your thumb and forefinger collectively, and whereas (very similar to the onboard speaker) I initially scoffed on the concept, I’ve come to depend on it fairly a bit.
For stopping cooking timers whereas I’m stirring a pot, or biking by the Good Stack, it’s come to be a part of how I take advantage of the Apple Watch from everyday, and the identical goes for the brand new wrist flick function, which takes you again a step rapidly.
Health & Well being Monitoring
- Can detect hypertension
- Sleep monitoring now comes with a rating
- Exercise Buddy gives personalised steerage
Health monitoring has all the time been a key promoting level of the Apple Watch and now the corporate’s in depth software program has develop into much more succesful due to a handful of latest additions, with doubtlessly an important being alerts for hypertension (hypertension).
Fortunately, I haven’t needed to witness any hypertension alerts pop up over the course of this evaluate, however given simply how vital it’s to remain on high of hypertension with wholesome consuming and common train, I feel it’s a terrific function to have, particularly if it’s in a position to encourage some folks to steer a extra lively way of life.
Giving credit score the place it’s due, the function did make an look earlier than on the Huawei Watch D and its follow-up, nevertheless it’s good to see Apple embrace the know-how and broaden the scope of what its well being tech can do. It could possibly be life-saving.
Thomas Deehan / Foundry
If there was one space the place I wanted that Apple had matched some rivals, it’s within the realm of sleep monitoring. The Sequence 11 and all appropriate Apple Watches now current customers with a sleep rating every morning, giving them a tough concept of how properly rested their physique is.
The rating, which is offered as a quantity out of 100, is compiled of three key metrics: the length of your sleep, the time you went to mattress and any interruptions all through the evening.
Having the Sleep Rating is a nicety because it helps considerably to interrupt down the entire sleep knowledge that in any other case doesn’t imply that a lot to the typical individual. I simply want that it went one step additional to emulate many others, like Huawei, which may present personalised recommendation on what all the info means and methods to enhance your circadian rhythm.
The Apple Well being app does provide up normal recommendation on what you are able to do to get a greater evening’s sleep, nevertheless it doesn’t have in mind your sleep knowledge, which looks like a missed alternative and an apparent space the place Apple Intelligence could possibly be put to make use of.
I’d argue that you may safely depend on the info from the Sequence 11 to provide you a great take a look at your cardiovascular efficiency
Thomas Deehan / Foundry
On the exercise aspect of issues, the Apple Watch remains to be one of many frontrunners on this sector. Tons of exercises could be tracked, and with coronary heart fee zones out there mid-workout, you may see in real-time how a lot of a sweat you’re build up and whether or not or not you may take issues additional. For those who’re caught for inspiration, then Apple Health+ can function a really useful software, particularly for these beginning out, nevertheless it’s the accuracy of the info collected that all the time makes me really feel snug with utilizing the Apple Watch on the fitness center.
When used alongside a chest-worn Garmin HRM 600 coronary heart fee tracker, the Apple Watch Sequence 11 was spot on every time when it got here to registering the typical coronary heart fee of a exercise, and there was solely ever a discrepancy of 1BPM when it got here to measuring the low finish, which is negligible.
There was one occasion throughout an elliptical exercise the place the Apple Watch picked up a peak that was 3BPM greater than that of the HRM 600, however this appeared like extra of an anomaly after additional testing, so I’d argue that you may safely depend on the info from the Sequence 11 to provide you a great take a look at your cardiovascular efficiency.
GPS monitoring is equally spot on and really fast to ascertain a connection. When making an attempt my hand at a 6k run by my native park, the Sequence 11 did a terrific job of recognising the place I used to be in relation to the documented path, and I all the time recognize having the ability to analyse the info thereafter to see which sections ended up being the hardest.
It’s price noting that it’s nonetheless not dual-band GPS, which you’ll discover on many rivals. Apple nonetheless reserves this extra correct tech for the Extremely.
Thomas Deehan / Foundry
For those who’re simply beginning out in your operating journey, then it’s possible you’ll recognize the introduction of the Exercise Buddy. This Apple Intelligence function provides you personalised Siri-like phrases of encouragement as you go, and that’s a terrific factor to have in these moments the place you is likely to be struggling and the final kilometre looks like a stretch too far.
The issue is that this function solely works when you’ve got an iPhone with you that’s related to the web, and as somebody who purposefully leaves their cellphone at dwelling once they work out to keep away from distraction, this looks like an pointless hurdle.
It might be to protect the battery lifetime of the watch and there’s loads of promise right here if Apple can develop a model of Exercise Buddy that works completely on an Apple Watch then I can positively see myself utilizing it pretty recurrently.
the one function that I, and lots of others, have been clamouring for is lastly right here
Battery Life & Charging
- The longest battery lifetime of any commonplace Apple Watch
- Can simply attain two-days of use
- Charging is fast, reaching a full battery in simply over an hour
At this level, Apple’s unwavering dedication to an 18-hour battery life on the Apple Watch had develop into so commonplace that I genuinely by no means anticipated to see any sort of battery improve for the Sequence 11, notably because it serves as a key motive to splurge out for the costlier Apple Watch Extremely 3, which may run for as much as 42-hours at a time.
When Apple lastly introduced that the Sequence 11 could be getting a 24-hour battery life, I virtually couldn’t consider what I used to be listening to – the one function that I, and lots of others, have been clamouring for is lastly right here.
After all, it needs to be identified that with the 5 days of use that you may get from the OnePlus Watch 3, to not point out the greater than week-long length that Garmin watches can attain, having 24-hours of use isn’t transferring the needle so far as the broader business is worried, however for Apple Watch customers it’s a large deal.
Thomas Deehan / Foundry
The 24-hour declare is definitely extra on the conservative aspect of what could be achieved right here. When utilizing the look ahead to notifications solely, I managed to get from 10am one morning to midnight the next day with 7% left within the tank. For those who’re going away for an evening and also you overlook to deliver your charger, then it’s possible you’ll not have to fret, and you may all the time toggle the low energy mode if issues do get somewhat dicey.
When including a exercise into the combination and interacting with the watch a bit extra, I used to be in a position to get from 10:35am to 9am the next day with 57% remaining, which feels leagues forward of once I must instantly cost my Apple Watch SE after waking up to ensure it had sufficient juice left for the day.
Talking of charging, the Sequence 11 boasts a few of the quickest speeds I’ve come throughout on any smartwatch. Charging the Watch from 0%, I managed to claw again 74% (greater than sufficient for a day of use) after simply half-hour, and it solely took a complete of roughly 61 minutes earlier than the battery was full.
In comparison with the occasional two-hour wait time I’ve had with some smartwatches, having the ability to get this executed rapidly on the Apple Watch Sequence 11 is wonderful, and I feel it’ll be onerous to return to the rest after the very fact.
Thomas Deehan / Foundry
By having an extended battery life and fast-charging, the Sequence 11 works brilliantly as a back-up to your iPhone if its battery ever will get depleted. On a uncommon day when my iPhone’s battery has dipped into the purple, it’s been a terrific little bit of reassurance understanding that I can use my Apple Look ahead to funds and messaging if wanted.
Apple provides the watch with the same old spherical charger and though this isn’t Qi wi-fi charging know-how, there are numerous appropriate wi-fi chargers from third-parties that are appropriate.
Worth & Availability
Regardless of being launched amidst an ever-growing wave of financial turbulence, the Apple Watch Sequence 11 boasts the identical £369/$399 beginning value as its predecessor. There are a number of value bumps relying on the actual mannequin that you really want, nevertheless.
For instance, the 42mm Aluminium end carries that aforementioned price ticket, however the 46mm variants bumps that as much as £399/$429. Alternatively, the Titanium end for the 42mm and 46mm choices will set you again £649/$699 and £699/749 respectively.
Whereas the Titanium end comes with mobile connectivity as commonplace, opting to have the function with one of many Aluminium fashions requires a further £100/$100 to be added to the value, so it’s price assessing forward of time as as to if or not you intend on truly taking advantage of the function.
There are 4 colourways for the Aluminium mannequin (Spacey Grey, Jet Black, Rose Gold and Silver) and three for the Titanium possibility (Pure, Gold, Slate), all of which are actually available for purchase in all main territories around the globe.
You should buy the Sequence 11 from Apple in addition to nearly each retailer below the solar, together with Amazon, John Lewis, Argos and BestBuy within the US.
Thomas Deehan / Foundry
Regardless that the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and the Pixel Watch 4 carry a less expensive price ticket of £319/$329.99 and £349/$349.99 respectively, the truth that neither work with an iPhone imply that the Sequence 11’s greatest competitors is, funnily sufficient, the Apple Watch SE 3.
Obtainable from simply £219/$249 and now with an always-on show, the Apple Watch SE 3 is arguably the higher purchase for teenagers and it’s possible you’ll not really feel like you might want to spend any extra for those who don’t thoughts lacking out on longer battery life, a bigger display screen, a extra sturdy design and a few well being options.
Do you have to purchase the Apple Watch Sequence 11?
As an alternative of being a large overhaul on the Apple Watch Sequence 10, the brand new Apple Watch Sequence 11 looks like a refined model of its predecessor with an extended battery life and extra sturdy show, however that’s completely superb with me.
The prolonged battery life alone is one thing that I’ve been wanting on an Apple Look ahead to years, so to know that I not have to fret about it throughout an evening out is a serious win. Regardless that you may simply discover the Sequence 10 for a reduced value now that it’s been outmoded, I’d argue that anybody trying to improve ought to merely plump for the Sequence 11 because it’s a greater expertise general.
There may be nonetheless room for enchancment, as I don’t suppose that Apple’s new Sleep Rating function goes far sufficient in serving to customers to actually perceive what may cause a great/dangerous evening’s sleep and methods to enhance the standard of their relaxation in the long term.
Equally, I wish to see a model of Exercise Buddy that may function with out the necessity for an iPhone to be related always, however neither of those points detract from what is definitely probably the most feature-packed and well-refined Apple Watch up to now.
Specs
- 42/46mm sizes
- 50m water resistance
- OLED show
- 64GB inside storage
- 2000 nits peak brightness
- Constructed-in speaker
- GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou help
- ECG
- Blood stress alerts
- 24-hour battery life
