The Apple Watch 11th Series Review: Wrist-Flickingly Good featuring Improved Power Endurance

The most recent wearable Series Eleven introduces the improvement the majority truly desire in a wearable device: extended battery performance.

Otherwise, this latest version functions as an immediate successor to the Series 10, matching it in design, dimensions and functions, with the majority of enhancements derived from software.

The latest version furthermore more affordable by £30 for UK customers, costing from £369 (€449/$399/A$679), and sits above the recently updated Watch SE at £219 for entry-level buyers alongside the £749 Ultra 3 in the premium segment.

Build and Interface

Like last year's Series Ten, this updated version is just 9.7mm thick, which makes it a slim fit on your arm, easy to sneak beneath shirt sleeves and more comfortable overnight.

This 2,000-nit interface is plenty bright for seeing in various lighting, staying legible when viewed from different angles, enabling quickly looking to check time or notifications simple.

Protecting the display by glass that is double the scratch resistance compared to previous models, while not reaching the hardness compared to sapphire, that remains exclusive for the more expensive titanium editions.

Performance and Battery

The updated wearable features the same S10 chip from the previous generation while adding support for optional 5G and improved connectivity for those times away from civilization.

The batteries have increased in size approximately 10 percent for the 42mm and 46mm watches correspondingly.

Bigger version achieved approximately 48 hours during evaluation with sleep tracking but without exercise.

Typical wearers will just about be able to track two days and two nights before needing a charge, which takes about 66 minutes using a 20W or more powerful adapter (not included), achieving around three-quarters charge in 30 minutes.

Should you participate in workouts, the device can continue approximately eight hours of tracking, adequate time for endurance events or extended activities.

Product Features

• Dimensions: 42mm and 46mm
• Profile depth: Under 10mm
• Weight: about 30g or 37g
• Computing engine: S10
• Memory: 64GB capacity
• Operating system: watchOS Twenty-Six
• Waterproof rating: 50 meters (5ATM)
• Sensors: HR, ECG, spO2, Temperature, Depth gauge, mic, Speaker, NFC, GNSS, compass, Altimeter
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3, wifi 4, NFC capability, Ultra-wideband, optional 5G

Software Enhancements

This new model includes the latest watchOS, compatible with every version from 2020's Series 6 and later.

Featuring the latest Liquid Glass design, creating interface components semi-translucent, and adds fresh interface options: a large digital face named Flow reacting to motion and an analogue face called Exactograph, which breaks out hours, minutes and seconds as separate indicators.

The most impressive innovation centers on gesture control, requiring swift turning your arm outward and then back to close applications and go back to the home screen.

It works even without lifting your arm to check the display, enabling wearers to turn off alerts through simple motion of the wrist.

Wellness Monitoring

The Apple Watch incorporates an extensive wellness tracking package of features from previous models but adds several fresh capabilities and revamped workout app.

Hypertension alerts check for symptoms of high blood pressure during monthly analysis, notifying you to consult professionals when pulse information suggests you may have underlying conditions.

Enhanced sleep analysis improves sleep monitoring simpler to understand, like other brands including various manufacturers.

Daily upon waking the device displays a score out of 100 separated into components in three sections: time asleep, schedule and wakeups, each self-explanatory and available via the health software on your smartphone too.

Workout buddy serves as automated guidance employing your previous workout data to provide encouragement during fitness activities, including identifying that you have already run three times this week and the level of effort you put it.

It also provides verbal notifications when attaining specific targets throughout activities, such as a particular pace, cardiac rhythm, length, time or further statistics.

There is a choice among three vocal styles, which speak to you through connected audio paired with the device across twelve exercise types, such as walking, jogging or biking.

But, this feature depends on if you also carry your iPhone 15 Pro or later during activities, which I found irritating enough that I would forgo the feature to avoid being encumbered carrying mobile devices.

Sustainability and Environment

The manufacturer states energy storage maintains exceeding 1000 full charge cycles retaining four-fifths of initial performance with replacement available for £95.

Service pricing ranges from £295 to £389 depending on the model.

Materials include more than 40% reused components including aluminium, cobalt, copper, glass, gold, lithium, uncommon minerals, steel, tin, {titanium|