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Smartwatches
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I just tried the Apple Watch Series 11 — and what impressed me most might surprise you
24 hours battery life? I didn’t see that coming
Kate Kozuch
Contributions from
Dan Bracaglia
10 September 2025
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(Image: © Future)
Early Verdict
The Apple Watch Series 11 finally cracks the 18-hour battery life mark. It also introduces a first-of-its-kind high blood pressure alert feature (hypertension) and daily sleep scores. The protective glass is twice as tough as before, and paired with watchOS 26 it’s shaping up to be a promising (if incremental) upgrade.
24-hour battery life
Hypertension alerts
Daily sleep score
No price increase
Same display brightness as Series 10
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Best smartwatch tested and rated: 2025 top picks for iPhone and Android
Best Samsung watch 2025: The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is our top pick
Why you can trust Tom’s Guide
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Quick facts
Price and availability
Design and display
AI features
Apple Watch Series 11: Sleep score
Health and fitness features
Battery life
First impressions
I’d honestly stopped holding my breath for the Apple Watch to ever last longer than a day. Eighteen hours has been the ceiling for as long as I’ve been wearing one, and at some point I just accepted the daily charge as part of the deal. Sure, Low Power Mode gave us a little wiggle room, but it felt like a bit of a compromise.
So imagine my surprise when Apple announced that the flagship Apple Watch Series 11 is actually rated for 24 hours of battery life.
Apple Watch Series 11 + Apple Watch Ultra 3 Hands On – YouTube
For me, that’s the standout upgrade. The jump from LTE to 5G connectivity support is a big win for those who use their smartwatch phone-free. And the first-of-its-kind high blood pressure alerts could be life-changing, but I was more impressed to learn this feature isn’t a Series 11 exclusive.
In fact, a lot of what makes the Apple Watch Series 11 our likely best smartwatch pick comes down to the watchOS 26 software. I’d consider it sticking to a $399 starting price amid tariff anxieties a high note, too.
After going hands-on with the Apple Watch Series 11, I’ve found plenty more worth talking about, from the flashier upgrades to the small refinements. You can read all my first impressions below.
Apple Watch Series 11: Quick facts
24-hour battery life: The Series 11 is the longest-lasting Apple Watch in the flagship (a.k.a not Ultra) line.
Hypertension alerts: Although the Apple Watch 11 is not a blood pressure monitor, a new algorithm can alert users to possible hypertension (high blood pressure) based on a 30-day baseline. Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra 2 and newer support hypertension alerts.
Daily sleep score: Apple is finally following the likes of Google, Garmin, Samsung, and more by offering users a daily numeric sleep score out of 100. Credit towards your sleep score is earned based on duration, bedtime consistency and interruptions.
5G connectivity: The Series 11 gets a bump up from LTE to 5G, giving it better cellular range while using less battery power to connect.
New watch faces: Two new watch faces come to watchOS 26 alongside the Apple Watch 11 launch. Flow pairs Liquid Glass numerals with fluid-looking colors while Exactograph separates out hours, minutes and seconds for precise time keeping.
2x scratch resistant display: The Apple Watch 11 offers double the scratch resistance, which should better prevent damage to the display.
(Image credit: Future)
Apple Watch Series 11: Specs
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Header Cell – Column 0
Apple Watch 11
Apple Watch 10
Starting price
42mm, 46mm,
42mm, 46mm,
326 ppi wide-angle OLED, 2,000 nits
326 ppi wide-angle OLED, 2,000 nits
30.3 g (42mm GPS), 29.7 g (42mm 5G), 37.8 g (46mm GPS), 36.9 g (46mm 5G)
30 g (42mm GPS), 29.3 g (42mm LTE), 36.4 g (46mm GPS), 35.3 g (46mm LTE)
Case colors
Aluminum: Space Grey, Jet Black, Rose Gold, Silver; Titanium: Slate, Gold Natural
Aluminum: Jet Black, Rose Gold, Silver; Titanium: Slate, Gold Natural
Water resistance
Battery life with always-on display (rated)
Compatibility
iOS 26 or later
iOS 18 or later
Apple Watch Series 11: Price and release date
(Image credit: Future)
The Apple Watch Series 11 was announced on September 9. It’s available for preorder now and the release date is September 19th.
Across the board, the Series 11 price is the same as the Series 10 price, with the 42mm GPS model starting at $399 and increasing to $499 for Cellular. The 46mm Series 11 starts at $429 and increases to $529 for Cellular.
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Apple Watch 11 42mm (GPS): $399
Apple Watch 11 42mm (GPS + 5G): $499
Apple Watch 11 46mm (GPS): $429
Apple Watch 11 46mm (GPS + 5G): $529
Apple Watch Series 11: Design and display
(Image credit: Future)
The Apple Watch 11 looks identical to the Apple Watch Series 10, with the same dimensions and very similar weights across the board. Reminder: the Series 10 ushered the kind of significant design change (thinner design, bigger display) that we probably won’t see again for a couple more generations.
Apple Watch 11 comes comes in four of aluminum colors: Jet Black, Rose Gold, Silver and a new Space Grey option that I found myself gravitating towards in my hands on time. Alternatively, you can pay a premium for Slate, Gold, or Natural titanium cases.
Those who are prone to roughing up their watches will be glad to know the LTPO 3 wide-angle OLED screen features a more protective glass that Apple claims is two times as scratch-resistant.
I would’ve liked the display to be rated brighter than the 2,000 nits considering the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and Google Pixel Watch 4 max out at 3,000 nits. For that kind of brightness in Apple’s ecosystem, you’ll want the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
Apple Watch Series 11: High blood pressure alerts
(Image credit: Apple)
If you’re doing Apple Watch 11 research, I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s some mixed messaging about whether this smartwatch is blood pressure monitor. Let me make it clear that it is not, but it instead can alert you to possible hypertension (high blood pressure) based on an algorithm and the optical heart rate sensor.
You’ll need to wear your Apple Watch — Series 11, Series 10, Series 9, Ultra 3, or Ultra 2 — for 30 days to properly assess your risk for hypertension. If high blood pressure is detected, you’ll get a notification recommending you seek further medical evaluation.
Again, it’s not a diagnosis, but it could very well alert users to a condition they weren’t aware of yet. The hypertension notification feature will be available in over 150 countries, pending regulatory approval that Apple expects to receive before the end of the month.
Apple Watch Series 11: Sleep score
Apple is adding to its sleep tracking features with a new Sleep Score feature introduced alongside Series 11. Like hypertension alerts, this is software-based and thus isn’t exclusive to the new watch.
Your comprehensive Sleep Score is a number out of 100, but it also isn’t just a single number. You’ll be able to see a breakdown based on three key factors: how long you slept, how consistent your bedtimes are, and how often your rest was interrupted.
I find this interesting because it points to specific sleep factors with room for improvement. For example, I may try to work on regulating my bedtime schedule if I know that’s hurting my sleep score.
Apple Watch Series 11: watchOS 11
(Image credit: Dan Bracaglia/Tom’s Guide)
Beyond the Apple Watch 11 upgrades I’ve already recapped, there are some corresponding features in watchOS 26. The standouts include a new wrist flick gesture to dismiss notifications, a Liquid Glass interface, and a personalized AI fitness coach called Workout Buddy.
The Apple Watch 11 also supports live message translations, though as is the case for Workout Buddy, you’ll need an Apple Intelligence-compatible phone paired.
I think it’s worth mentioning that two fresh watch faces will arrive in watchOS 26. Flow pairs its Liquid Glass numerals with shifting, fluid-inspired colors, while Exactograph splits hours, minutes, and seconds into distinct sections for ultra-precise timekeeping.
Apple Watch Series 11: Battery life
(Image credit: Future)
For a full decade, every Apple Watch in the flagship series offered just 18 hours of battery life. Well, times have changed. The new Apple Watch Series 11 is rated at 24 hours of battery per full charge when using the always-on display.
In low-power mode, meanwhile, the Series 11 is rated for 38 hours per charge, a minor increase of just two hours over the Series 10.
Apple Watch Series 11: Outlook
(Image credit: Future)
While I could think of a few extras I would’ve liked to see on the Apple Watch Series 11, the better battery life, groundbreaking health monitoring tools, and a more durable screen for a familiar price add up to a promising overall smartwatch.
I’m looking forward to testing it out, so make sure to come back to Tom’s Guide for my full Apple Watch 11 review.
Apple Watch
Kate Kozuch
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Kate Kozuch is the managing editor of social and video at Tom’s Guide. She writes about smartwatches, TVs, audio devices, and some cooking appliances, too. Kate appears on Fox News to talk tech trends and runs the Tom’s Guide TikTok account, which you should be following if you don’t already. When she’s not filming tech videos, you can find her taking up a new sport, mastering the NYT Crossword or channeling her inner celebrity chef.
With contributions from
Dan BracagliaSenior Writer, Fitness & Wearables
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