At a look
Knowledgeable’s Score
Professionals
- Improved well being monitoring
- 5G connectivity
- The very best battery lifetime of any commonplace Apple Watch
- Sturdy design
Cons
- Much like Collection 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 Collection 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 In the present day
Worth When Reviewed
From $399
Greatest Costs In the present day: Apple Watch Collection 11
$389
$399.99
Though it’s extra of a refined model of its predecessor than a significant generational leap, there’s nonetheless lots to love concerning the Apple Watch Collection 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 received a significant processing bump with the Apple Watch Collection 9 after which a giant {hardware} revamp that slimmed all the things down for the Apple Watch Collection 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.
Properly, having used the Apple Watch Collection 11 for over per week now, I can undoubtedly 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 Collection 11 is a vital improve relies upon fully on the smartwatch you presently use.
There are a couple of customers who might most likely go with out, however if you happen to do have the cash to improve, then you’ll completely discover one of the best Apple Watch expertise to this point within the Collection 11.
Design & Construct
- Ever-so barely bigger than the Collection 10
- Extra sturdy with Ion-X glass
- Nonetheless comfy to put on
On the subject of the design, it’s very a lot enterprise as regular, however this isn’t too shocking on condition that the Collection 10 introduced a reasonably main overhaul to the desk.
Being 10% thinner than the Collection 9, the Collection 10 felt much more comfy on the wrist, making it simpler to put on for longer intervals of time, particularly throughout the evening.
The Collection 11 holds onto this idea and it’s proper up there with Garmin Venu X1 as being one of the vital comfy watches I’ve ever had the pleasure of sporting.
The most important design improve on the Collection 11 is hidden in plain sight
Thomas Deehan / Foundry
It’s value mentioning that, probably on account of the bigger battery discovered throughout the Collection 11, the watch is ever so barely larger than the Collection 10, however not by a lot. For instance, the equal 46mm Mobile mannequin I’ve been sporting weighs in at 36.9g, however the identical mannequin of the Collection 10 weighs 35.3g.
It’s a minimal distinction however value mentioning for anybody presently utilizing final 12 months’s watch who is likely to be tempted to improve.
The most important design improve on the Collection 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 accident knocked into a few doorways and through a swim, incurred a reasonably full-on collision with one of many lane obstacles which I used to be satisfied would depart a mark, however to my shock the display nonetheless seems as if it’s simply come out of the field.
Identical to earlier than, the Watch Collection 11 is absolutely waterproof as much as 50m, so if you happen to’re like me and also you get pleasure from an occasional journey to the native swimming pool then you definately gained’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 gained’t be trigger for concern both.
There’s yet another color obtainable over final 12 months with the introduction of Area Gray Aluminium, however to my eye, it seems virtually an identical to the Silver Aluminium choice, and it makes me want that Apple would return to the expressive choices you would get with the Collection 7 and the Collection 6.
The Apple Watch felt proper at residence 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 might like to see Apple embrace color once more in subsequent 12 months’s Watch.
Thomas Deehan / Foundry
This can be a minor gripe, nonetheless, because the Apple Watch stays one of many best-looking smartwatches on the market if you happen to’re pleased 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 if you happen to don’t imagine me).
Display screen & Audio
- Very vibrant and straightforward to learn outdoor
- The depth of color helps icons and watch faces to actually pop
- The very best audio system I’ve ever heard on a smartwatch
Not like the design the place there was at the least a shift ahead in sturdiness, the display on the Apple Watch Collection 11 is an identical to what got here final 12 months, and whereas that is likely to be an excuse to groan for some, I believe that Apple made the precise name right here.
I at all times need 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 kind, the show on the Apple Watch Collection 11 offers me no trigger for concern.
With 2000 nits of peak brightness (initially introduced in on the Collection 9), the Collection 11’s show is extremely simple to learn outdoor 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 at all times a given as I lately had this actual situation when reviewing the extra budget-friendly CMF Watch 3 Professional.
Throw on prime of that the introduction of a wider viewing angle and LTPO3 expertise on the Collection 10, and there actually isn’t something right here to go away you wanting. What’s unusual is that, although 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 most recent Apple Watch appears 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 way of the gathering of put in apps, there was at all times one thing there to catch my consideration due to the way it all pops.
Final 12 months, Apple made a giant deal concerning the means to hearken to music and podcasts through the built-in speaker on the Collection 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 may be for many who resolve to blast music from their telephones on public transport with no concern for the remainder of most people, absolutely the last item I’d ever need to do is grow to be such a pariah by listening to The Relaxation is Leisure through my wrist.
Nevertheless, 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 track for testing wearable audio system), I used to be impressed by the readability of the cymbals and the way effectively the vocals carried by way of, even when – as you may think about – there was some element lacking on the guitar riff.
Swapping over to the Kinda Humorous Video games Each day podcast, I discovered myself settling in somewhat rapidly and having fun with the playback as a method of consuming the most recent episode.
Not solely does the Apple Watch Collection 11 have one of the best sounding speaker of any smartwatch I’ve examined to this point, nevertheless it additionally has me satisfied that, at instances when my AirPods and iPhone are out of attain, I could 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 Circulate watch faces
- Clean efficiency
Right here’s the place we begin moving into a number of the meat of the massive adjustments this 12 months, however earlier than doing so, I’ll try and strip away a band-aid early by letting you already know that when it comes to uncooked efficiency, nothing has modified within the Collection 11 because it makes use of the very same S10 chipset as earlier than.
Provided that massive strides are beginning to be made on the Put on OS entrance with sooner chipsets that enable for entry to Google Gemini in your wrist, it will 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 method by way of London for an occasion, the Collection 11 did all of it with none moments of stuttering or slowdown. It’s precisely the sort of top-tier expertise that you simply purchase an Apple Look ahead to, and even with the extra highly effective Apple Watch Extremely 3 available on the market, I by no means discovered myself wanting extra.
Thomas Deehan / Foundry
In the event you go for the mobile model of the Apple Watch Collection 11, you’ll be capable of hook up with 5G networks, which is a large win for utilizing the wearable away out of your iPhone.
For instance, if you happen to resolve to go away your iPhone at residence as you exit for a lunchtime stroll, you may take calls on the watch identical to earlier than, however now you’ll get pleasure from a significantly better connection that’s much less more likely to incur an issue if there’s a 5G sign obtainable. As somebody who likes to make use of their Apple Watch on this method, significantly as I’m far much less more likely to be distracted by my watch, it’s nice to see this addition.
Arriving alongside the Collection 11 (though additionally obtainable on different Apple Watches) are the Circulate 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 seems very Apple and it is likely to be excellent for some, however I’m a much bigger fan of the Exactograph choice.
I’ve come to depend on it fairly a bit
Thomas Deehan / Foundry
Very like 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 develop these dials like measuring tape to present you an in depth 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 completely different shades.
These two new watch faces sit on prime of what’s already top-of-the-line collections obtainable within the smartwatch house. Solely Samsung comes near matching Apple on this entrance, however I nonetheless imagine that watch faces are an important a part of what makes an important wearable because it’s what you’re going to be taking a look at more often than not, and to have an excellent mixture of trendy and purposeful picks is a large win, and I really feel extra inclined to swap between them relying on my temper.
As a aspect observe, 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 like 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 way of the Good Stack, it’s come to be a part of how I take advantage of the Apple Watch from each day, 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 affords personalised steering
Health monitoring has at all times been a key promoting level of the Apple Watch and now the corporate’s intensive software program has grow to be much more succesful because of a handful of recent additions, with doubtlessly crucial 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 necessary it’s to remain on prime of hypertension with wholesome consuming and common train, I believe it’s an important function to have, particularly if it’s in a position to encourage some folks to guide a extra energetic life-style.
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 expertise and broaden the scope of what its well being tech can do. It may very well be life-saving.
Thomas Deehan / Foundry
If there was one space the place I needed that Apple had matched some rivals, it’s within the realm of sleep monitoring. The Collection 11 and all appropriate Apple Watches now current customers with a sleep rating every morning, giving them a tough concept of how effectively rested their physique is.
The rating, which is offered as a quantity out of 100, is compiled of three key metrics: the period 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 information that in any other case doesn’t imply that a lot to the common particular person. I simply want that it went one step additional to emulate many others, like Huawei, which might present personalised recommendation on what all the information means and how you can enhance your circadian rhythm.
The Apple Well being app does supply up basic recommendation on what you are able to do to get a greater evening’s sleep, nevertheless it doesn’t take into consideration your sleep information, which appears like a missed alternative and an apparent space the place Apple Intelligence may very well be put to make use of.
I’d argue that you could safely depend on the information from the Collection 11 to present you an excellent 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 may be tracked, and with coronary heart price zones obtainable 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. In the event you’re caught for inspiration, then Apple Health+ can function a really useful instrument, particularly for these beginning out, nevertheless it’s the accuracy of the information collected that at all times makes me really feel comfy with utilizing the Apple Watch on the fitness center.
When used alongside a chest-worn Garmin HRM 600 coronary heart price tracker, the Apple Watch Collection 11 was spot on every time when it got here to registering the common coronary heart price 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 larger than that of the HRM 600, however this appeared like extra of an anomaly after additional testing, so I’d argue that you could safely depend on the information from the Collection 11 to present you an excellent take a look at your cardiovascular efficiency.
GPS monitoring is equally spot on and really fast to ascertain a connection. When attempting my hand at a 6k run by way of my native park, the Collection 11 did an important job of recognising the place I used to be in relation to the documented path, and I at all times recognize having the ability to analyse the information thereafter to see which sections ended up being the hardest.
It’s value 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
In the event you’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 offers you personalised Siri-like phrases of encouragement as you go, and that’s an important 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 in case you have an iPhone with you that’s related to the web, and as somebody who purposefully leaves their telephone at residence after they work out to keep away from distraction, this appears 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 fully on an Apple Watch then I can undoubtedly see myself utilizing it pretty often.
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 grow to be so commonplace that I genuinely by no means anticipated to see any kind of battery improve for the Collection 11, significantly because it serves as a key motive to splurge out for the costlier Apple Watch Extremely 3, which might run for as much as 42-hours at a time.
When Apple lastly introduced that the Collection 11 can be getting a 24-hour battery life, I virtually couldn’t imagine 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 must be identified that with the 5 days of use that you could get from the OnePlus Watch 3, to not point out the greater than week-long period that Garmin watches can attain, having 24-hours of use isn’t transferring the needle so far as the broader trade 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 may 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. In the event you’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 at all times toggle the low energy mode if issues do get just a little 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 verify it had sufficient juice left for the day.
Talking of charging, the Collection 11 boasts a number 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 finished rapidly on the Apple Watch Collection 11 is wonderful, and I believe 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 Collection 11 works brilliantly as a back-up on 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 an important little bit of reassurance realizing 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 expertise, 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 Collection 11 boasts the identical £369/$399 beginning worth as its predecessor. There are a number of worth bumps relying on the actual mannequin that you really want, nonetheless.
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 an extra £100/$100 to be added to the value, so it’s value assessing forward of time as as to whether or not you intend on really 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 choice (Pure, Gold, Slate), all of which are actually that can be purchased in all main territories world wide.
You should purchase the Collection 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
Though 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 Collection 11’s greatest competitors is, funnily sufficient, the Apple Watch SE 3.
Accessible 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 it’s essential spend any extra if you happen to don’t thoughts lacking out on longer battery life, a bigger display, a extra sturdy design and a few well being options.
Must you purchase the Apple Watch Collection 11?
As an alternative of being a large overhaul on the Apple Watch Collection 10, the brand new Apple Watch Collection 11 appears like a refined model of its predecessor with an extended battery life and extra sturdy show, however that’s completely effective 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 significant win. Though you may simply discover the Collection 10 for a reduced worth now that it’s been outmoded, I might argue that anybody trying to improve ought to merely plump for the Collection 11 because it’s a greater expertise total.
There’s nonetheless room for enchancment, as I don’t assume that Apple’s new Sleep Rating function goes far sufficient in serving to customers to actually perceive what could cause an excellent/unhealthy evening’s sleep and how you can 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 well probably the most feature-packed and well-refined Apple Watch to this point.
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 strain alerts
- 24-hour battery life