Apple Watch Series 11: 5G, Hypertension Alerts & watchOS 26 — What We Know
Apple announced the Apple Watch Series 11 at its September event. Highlights: a thinner design, 5G cellular, a new watchOS 26 “Liquid Glass” UI with the Flow face, improved scratch resistance from a ceramic-bonded ionX glass, and a background hypertension-detection feature that uses the optical heart sensor combined with machine learning.
Key features
- Hypertension detection — New algorithm (trained on a large study) analyzes optical heart-sensor data over time to identify patterns linked to high blood pressure and can alert users.
- 5G connectivity — Updated modem/antenna gives wider coverage and better power efficiency on cellular models.
- Thinner, more durable design — Series 11 is the thinnest Apple Watch yet; ionX glass has an atomically bonded ceramic coating providing ~2x scratch resistance.
- watchOS 26 “Liquid Glass” — New visuals and a Flow watch face (a modern take on a regulator clock).
- Battery & other upgrades — Apple cites efficiency improvements; preorders and release dates confirmed below.
How hypertension detection works
Apple says the new hypertension-alert feature relies on the existing optical heart sensor but applies a new ML-informed algorithm trained on data from over 100,000 participants. It runs in the background (about a month of pattern collection) to detect signals associated with high blood pressure and can surface alerts to the user.
Availability & pricing
Preorders are reported to begin Sept 12 with a general release on Sept 19. Official pricing varies by model and configuration; check official retailers when preorders go live.
More info & sources
Further reading:
- 9to5Mac: Apple unveils Apple Watch Series 11
- Tom’s Guide: Apple Watch Series 11 announced
- Apple Newsroom (event coverage)
Amazon search (product listings typically appear at preorder): Search Apple Watch Series 11 on Amazon
Note: This is a developing story; details and hands-on reviews will follow as devices ship. Sources used: 9to5Mac, Tom’s Guide, and Apple event coverage.