Apple Watch Series 11 vs Series 10 — Should you upgrade?
Apple’s September event quietly upgraded the Apple Watch with meaningful, practical improvements. If you’re deciding whether to move from a Series 10 (or earlier) to the new Series 11, here’s what matters.
What’s new in Series 11
- Battery: Up to 24 hours of use (vs 18 hours on Series 10).
- Connectivity: 5G on cellular models (Series 10 is LTE-only).
- Durability: Aluminum models now use Ion‑X glass with a ceramic coat — Apple says ~2x scratch resistance.
- Health: New hypertension notifications to alert for persistent high blood pressure patterns. Apple confirmed this feature will also be available on Series 10 and Series 9 via watchOS 26.
- Price & sizes: Starts at $399; same 42mm and 46mm case sizes and S10 chip.
What stays the same
The Series 11 and Series 10 share the S10 chip, LTPO OLED always-on display, ECG, blood oxygen, temperature sensing, sleep apnea alerts, sleep scoring, fast charging support, and the same case sizes and band compatibility.
Who should upgrade?
Choose Series 11 if you value longer battery life, phone-free freedom with 5G, or tougher glass for everyday wear. If you already own a Series 10 and are happy with performance and health features, the software update bringing hypertension notifications narrows the gap — waiting or grabbing a discounted Series 10 could be the smarter move.
Quick specs
| Spec | Series 11 | Series 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | S10 | S10 |
| Display | LTPO3 always-on | LTPO3 always-on |
| Sizes | 42mm, 46mm | 42mm, 46mm |
| Connectivity | Wi‑Fi, optional cellular with 5G | Wi‑Fi, optional cellular with LTE |
| Durability | IPX6, 50m water resistance, Ion‑X glass (2x scratch resistance) | IPX6, 50m water resistance |
| Health features | Hypertension notifications, ECG, SpO2, temp sensing, sleep apnea alerts | Hypertension notifications (via software update), ECG, SpO2, temp sensing, sleep apnea alerts |
| Battery | Up to 24 hours | Up to 18 hours |
Official Apple announcement: Apple Newsroom — Series 11
Search/buy on Amazon (US): https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Apple+Watch+Series+11&tag=f1rede-20
Have questions or personal experience with Series 10 vs 11? Share in the comments.