Apple Watch Collection 11 overview: The most effective (however do not buy it)

Value When Reviewed

$399

Greatest Costs As we speak: Apple Watch Collection 11 (42mm)

$389

$399.99

In distinction to the iPhone Air, this yr’s new flagship Apple Watch sprang few surprises. The Collection 11 may be very way more of the identical, in most respects following the identical system as 2024’s glorious (and likewise conservative) Collection 10 and breaking little new floor.

That isn’t essentially a nasty factor, in fact. The Apple Watch has at all times been a high-quality product able to effortlessly dominating its market. And whereas aesthetically talking the Apple Watch has advanced at a glacial tempo, its design has a timeless appeal. If the Collection 11 can solely handle the few weaknesses of the earlier mannequin, whereas delivering top-tier efficiency, it ought to earn a hearty suggestion.

So let’s discover out. In our in-depth Apple Watch Collection 11 overview, we put the gadget by a gruelling battery of checks and enable you determine if that is the greatest Apple Watch for you.

Apple Watch Collection 11 design: Timeless, or tedious?

When it comes to each large image and advantageous element, this is similar design from final yr. The case is the same old squarish rectangle with rounded corners, the brushed steel across the edge contrasting pleasingly with the massive shiny display. There are simply two {hardware} controls: the Digital Crown and an unobtrusive button, each on the right-hand facet. Every thing is clean, neat, and minimalist.

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It appears good, it feels good, and it’s straightforward to make use of. The truth that the design hasn’t modified since final yr–or, in any actually vital manner, for the reason that first mannequin got here out in 2015–doesn’t have to enter your pondering in any respect until you’re bored with an current mannequin and searching for a daring new style accent.

At 9.7mm thick, the Collection 11 is slimmer than the SE 3 or certainly any Collection mannequin aside from final yr’s Collection 10 (which can be 9.7mm). This comparatively slimline profile is a boon when carrying the watch at night time; I discovered the (12mm) Extremely fashions, in contrast, utterly unsuitable for sleep monitoring. However keep in mind that the Collection 11’s convex underside does press down into your wrist and, after extended use, can go away a slight divot. That is a type of issues that you just get used to however could really feel odd if that is your first Apple Watch.

Take into account too that thickness isn’t the one issue in terms of consolation. The Extremely was a cumbersome distraction not solely as a result of it’s 12mm thick but additionally as a result of its entrance floor measures a whopping 49mm by 44mm. Even the bigger Collection 11 isn’t fairly that large, but it surely nonetheless took up a good outdated chunk of space on my wrist. I moved from the smaller (40mm) SE 3 to the bigger (46mm) Collection 11 and located it considerably extra obtrusive due to its footprint, regardless of being slimmer.

One final notice on the design: the Collection 11 may be very barely heavier than the Collection 10, most likely due to the larger battery. The differential varies relying on the scale and materials, however the largest enhance I may discover was simply 1.6g, and I’m pretty assured in predicting that you just gained’t discover the additional weight.

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Apple Watch Collection 11 show: Shiny, powerful, and at all times on

Whereas the general design hasn’t modified very a lot over time, the display has actually improved. The Collection 11’s show is large (by smartwatch requirements), vivid (as much as 2,000 nits, which is twice what you get from the SE 3), and simple to see in all weathers. The corners are rounded off to match the case and extra optimally exploit the area obtainable. The display is a gorgeous and fantastically usable factor of the design: its crowning glory, actually.

That is an always-on display, too, which suggests you get to view the time and necessary data even when the watch would beforehand have turned itself off to protect battery life–a helpful possibility once you’re exercising and may’t simply flip your wrist or faucet the display. Every watch face has been designed to have an “off” model which is dimmer and fewer colourful, and makes use of fewer animated parts. Some are higher at attaining this stability than others.

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A intelligent colleague of mine has argued that always-on screens generally is a adverse on smartphones as a result of they’re basically distracting. I believe that’s a fantastic level. However smartwatches are a unique matter, as a result of an “always-on show” is strictly what we grew used to on conventional wristwatches. Seeing the time doesn’t make you need to begin interacting together with your watch. It doesn’t have that impact on me, anyway.

At any charge, all of this was true final yr, and it’s nonetheless true at present… which, once more, is okay. However there’s a change to the display for the Collection 11, which is a brand new anti-scratch ceramic coating on the Ion-X glass for aluminum fashions. Apple claims the Collection 11 in aluminum is twice as immune to scratches because the equal Collection 10. Titanium fashions aren’t affected by this transformation as a result of they preserve the identical sapphire entrance crystal.

Scratch resistance is a tricky high quality to check scientifically with out subjecting a overview pattern to excessive punishment, however I can verify that my Collection 11’s display didn’t decide up a single imperfection in a few weeks of fairly careless use.

Apple Watch Collection 11 options: No information is sweet information

A lot of the stuff you’ll do together with your Apple Watch have been a part of the characteristic set for years, and even from the very begin: Exercise, Exercise, accessing notifications out of your iPhone with out having to take it out of your pocket. Swimming exercises have been added way back to 2016, sleep monitoring in 2017, and the compass in 2018. It’s been the consummate health tracker and well being companion for the higher a part of a decade and it might be unwise to count on any groundbreaking additions to the Apple Watch’s repertoire in 2025.

To be clear, that’s a superb factor for customers, even when it would make Apple’s life more durable when making an attempt to steer prospects to improve their older watches. While you’re making an attempt to stay lively throughout the day, your Apple Watch will monitor your metrics and monitor your exercises (together with routes when you go outdoor) and current the information in a user-friendly manner; once you’re making an attempt to get a superb night time’s relaxation it retains a watch in your sleep “efficiency” and reveals you a useful Sleep Rating within the morning. I discovered Sleep Rating, which is a brand new characteristic in watchOS 26 and is on the market on older watch fashions too, a bit optimistic, actually by comparability with my gloomy outdated Fitbit. However the principle use of this data is comparative somewhat than scientifically goal: you simply have to know if modifications to your conduct lead to roughly sleep.

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Options added for the reason that early days have a tendency to return underneath the class of peace of thoughts, by which I imply you don’t work together with them frequently (or in any respect), but it surely’s comforting to know they’re there when you ever want them. One would hope you’ll by no means use Fall or Crash Detection, for instance, or need to resort to emergency SOS; and no information is sweet information in terms of hypertension and sleep apnea notifications. Apple’s engineers love so as to add a brand new well being sensor every year, however these usually add further knowledge factors to the gadget’s general understanding of your well being somewhat than being an thrilling or transformative improve.

The truth is, when in comparison with the Collection 10 or SE 3 (which this yr beneficial properties wrist temperature monitoring, retrospective ovulation estimates, and sleep apnea notifications), the Collection 11 doesn’t have any unique new well being options. To bang the drum one final time, that’s as a result of it doesn’t really want any extra, and the remaining few that could be on Apple’s want checklist (blood glucose, maybe) aren’t viable or cost-effective fairly but. The Apple Watch Collection 11 can monitor your well being nearly in addition to a wrist-mounted laptop may very well be anticipated to, and Tim Cook dinner will little doubt obtain loads extra letters from grateful homeowners whose lives have been saved by its numerous wellness options.

Probably the most vital new {hardware} characteristic is help for 5G connectivity, which suggests those that pay further for a mobile mannequin can take pleasure in sooner connection speeds when away from their iPhone. There’s extra 5G infrastructure on the market now than when the iPhone gained help for the know-how 5 years in the past, however that is nonetheless a deeply area of interest improve for the Apple Watch. Many people don’t assume mobile is remotely price the additional cash, and more often than not, you’ll have an iPhone and Apple Watch shut collectively. This units up the Apple Watch to be a standalone gadget sooner or later, however for now, it strikes me as a comparatively minor improve.

Apple Watch Collection 11 battery life: Gorgeous longevity

Each non-Extremely Apple Watch, from the primary mannequin in 2015 to the Collection 10 final yr, has had precisely the identical estimated battery life: 18 hours. In actuality battery efficiency has fluctuated over time, as specs have been upgraded and power-hungry options have been added, however they’ve been shut sufficient that Apple has lumped all of them collectively underneath that very same estimate.

However that run ended this yr, and the Collection 11 has been given a extra beneficiant estimate of 24 hours. In spite of everything this time, that’s a significant assertion of intent.

And the Collection 11 doesn’t simply discuss the discuss, battery-wise. It carried out fantastically in testing. On a primary run-through, it lasted a day, then an evening, then one other day, and at last expired (primarily based on sleep monitoring knowledge) at round 5 am on the morning of a 3rd day. On a second run-through, it was nonetheless alive after I woke on the third morning and lasted till 8 am. Two-day battery life doesn’t match some smartwatches and health trackers in the marketplace, in fact, however such gadgets obtain their higher longevity by providing fewer options, dimmer screens, and so forth. By the requirements of Apple Watches, this can be a return to the glory days of the Collection 2, and but the Collection 11 achieves this regardless of its inclusion of an always-on display, sleep monitoring, and way more.

And it seems to be constant, too. My everlasting chorus when discussing Apple Watch battery efficiency is that it’s very subjective, closely depending on exercise exercise specifically. However that doesn’t appear to be the case with the Collection 11. A 30-minute treadmill exercise, which I’d usually count on to deal a heavy blow to energy ranges, merely precipitated a drop from 100 to 97, and no matter utilization, the Collection 11 persistently hit the two-day threshold throughout the testing interval. You’ll be able to count on that to drop a bit in the long run, because the battery begins to wear down, however that is such a wonderful efficiency that you just’ve acquired loads of wiggle room earlier than it turns into an issue.

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And the excellent news doesn’t cease there. I’m happy to report that whereas the Collection 11 loses energy slowly, it beneficial properties it in a short time.

The Collection 10 had quick charging final yr, and the Collection 11 has the identical estimate for getting from zero to 80 % energy: half-hour. I truly discovered this barely optimistic, and my check pattern wanted one thing nearer to 40 minutes to realize this. However that’s nonetheless robust, as a result of that 40-minute cost (very doable whilst you’re on the brink of begin work or exit within the night) goes to set you up for a superb day and a half of use.

And the actually spectacular work occurs once you shrink the charging time additional. In contrast to the Collection 10, the Collection 11 additionally will get a fast-charge estimate for simply quarter-hour, which Apple claims is sufficient for as much as eight hours of “regular use”. And that is completely legit. I charged for quarter-hour, and the Collection 11 jumped from zero to 40 %. And that 40 % was sufficient for it to final, not for eight hours, however for greater than 16. Wild stuff.

Barely ridiculously, Apple even offers an estimate for simply 5 minutes of charging, which it says is sufficient for as much as eight hours of sleep monitoring. That one I’m much less satisfied by, as a result of 5 minutes of charging solely took my Collection 11 from zero to only 6 %, and an evening’s monitoring usually prices me someplace within the area of 15 proportion factors. However when you can’t spare greater than 5 minutes for charging, it appears to me that you just’ve acquired larger issues in life than your Apple Watch failing to finish a full night time’s sleep monitoring.

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Apple Watch Collection 11 worth: A premium possibility

The Apple Watch Collection begins on the normal $399/£369, however the precise worth you pay will depend on the case dimension, case materials, connectivity, and strap you select. It’s a premium possibility; in case your funds can’t stretch this excessive, contemplate the Apple Watch SE 3, which does most of the identical issues at a lower cost.

• Apple Watch Collection 11 (42mm, GPS): From $399/£369
• Apple Watch Collection 11 (42mm, GPS + mobile): From $499/£469
• Apple Watch Collection 11 (46mm, GPS): From $429/£399
• Apple Watch Collection 11 (46mm, GPS + mobile): From $529/£499

Must you purchase the Apple Watch Collection 11?

The Apple Watch Collection 11 is a really glorious smartwatch: it appears nice, it feels nice, it’s straightforward to make use of and gives a variety of well being and health options. It’s arduous to consider any manner this product may very well be improved. However I’ve two points with it.

The primary is minor, and that’s the just about whole lack of upgrades from final yr. Similar design, identical S10 chip, identical well being options. The one modifications price speaking about are 5G (which gained’t make a distinction to 90 % of shoppers 90 % of the time) and battery life… which admittedly is actually spectacular, however most likely isn’t sufficient to justify the improve over final yr’s mannequin. Nonetheless, for everybody who hasn’t acquired a Collection 10, this scarcity of change doesn’t need to matter in any respect.

The second and extra severe problem is that the Collection 11 is overpriced. Not as a result of it’s gone up in worth from final yr (it hasn’t) or as a result of it’s a worse product (it isn’t), however as a result of the brand new and really a lot improved SE 3 has all of the sudden modified the market. Now, for the primary time, you will get a superb Apple Look ahead to $249/£219, and in that context $399/£369 for a watch that’s higher, however not a lot higher, looks as if a nasty deal. And so, regretfully, I’d advise most readers to disregard this lovely smartwatch and get the SE 3 as a substitute.