Apple Watch Sequence 11 evaluation: One of the best (however do not buy it)

Value When Reviewed

$399

Greatest Costs At the moment: Apple Watch Sequence 11 (42mm)

$389

$399.99

In distinction to the iPhone Air, this yr’s new flagship Apple Watch sprang few surprises. The Sequence 11 could be very far more of the identical, in most respects following the identical components as 2024’s wonderful (and in addition conservative) Sequence 10 and breaking little new floor.

That isn’t essentially a foul factor, after all. 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 developed at a glacial tempo, its design has a timeless allure. If the Sequence 11 can solely handle the few weaknesses of the earlier mannequin, whereas delivering top-tier efficiency, it ought to earn a hearty advice.

So let’s discover out. In our in-depth Apple Watch Sequence 11 evaluation, we put the system via a gruelling battery of checks and provide help to determine if that is the greatest Apple Watch for you.

Apple Watch Sequence 11 design: Timeless, or tedious?

When it comes to each huge image and advantageous element, this is similar design from final yr. The case is the standard 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 aspect. The whole lot is easy, neat, and minimalist.

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It appears good, it feels good, and it’s simple to make use of. The truth that the design hasn’t modified since final yr–or, in any actually important means, for the reason that first mannequin got here out in 2015–doesn’t must enter your pondering in any respect until you’re uninterested in an present mannequin and in search of a daring new vogue accent.

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

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

One final word on the design: the Sequence 11 could be very barely heavier than the Sequence 10, most likely due to the larger battery. The differential varies relying on the dimensions and materials, however the largest improve I may discover was simply 1.6g, and I’m pretty assured in predicting that you simply received’t discover the additional weight.

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Apple Watch Sequence 11 show: Vivid, powerful, and at all times on

Whereas the general design hasn’t modified very a lot over time, the display has definitely improved. The Sequence 11’s show is huge (by smartwatch requirements), shiny (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 house out there. The display is a gorgeous and beautifully usable aspect of the design: its crowning glory, actually.

That is an always-on display, too, which implies you get to view the time and vital 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 components. Some are higher at attaining this steadiness than others.

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A intelligent colleague of mine has argued that always-on screens generally is a unfavorable on smartphones as a result of they’re basically distracting. I feel that’s an important 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 wish to begin interacting along with your watch. It doesn’t have that impact on me, anyway.

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

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

Apple Watch Sequence 11 options: No information is sweet information

Many of the belongings you’ll do along 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 will be unwise to count on any groundbreaking additions to the Apple Watch’s repertoire in 2025.

To be clear, that’s a very good factor for customers, even when it’d make Apple’s life tougher when attempting to steer clients to improve their older watches. If you’re attempting to stay energetic through the day, your Apple Watch will monitor your metrics and observe your exercises (together with routes when you go open air) and current the information in a user-friendly means; once you’re attempting to get a very good evening’s relaxation it retains a watch in your sleep “efficiency” and exhibits you a useful Sleep Rating within the morning. I discovered Sleep Rating, which is a brand new characteristic in watchOS 26 and is obtainable on older watch fashions too, a bit optimistic, definitely by comparability with my gloomy previous Fitbit. However the principle use of this data is comparative moderately than scientifically goal: you simply must know if adjustments to your habits lead to kind of sleep.

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Options added for the reason that early days have a tendency to come back below the class of peace of thoughts, by which I imply you don’t work together with them regularly (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 must resort to emergency SOS; and no information is sweet information with regards to hypertension and sleep apnea notifications. Apple’s engineers love so as to add a brand new well being sensor annually, however these usually add further information factors to the system’s general understanding of your well being moderately than being an thrilling or transformative improve.

In truth, when in comparison with the Sequence 10 or SE 3 (which this yr good points wrist temperature monitoring, retrospective ovulation estimates, and sleep apnea notifications), the Sequence 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 actually need any extra, and the remaining few which may be on Apple’s want record (blood glucose, maybe) aren’t viable or cost-effective fairly but. The Apple Watch Sequence 11 can monitor your well being nearly in addition to a wrist-mounted laptop could possibly be anticipated to, and Tim Prepare dinner will little question obtain lots extra letters from grateful house owners whose lives have been saved by its numerous wellness options.

Essentially the most important new {hardware} characteristic is help for 5G connectivity, which implies 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 value 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 system sooner or later, however for now, it strikes me as a comparatively minor improve.

Apple Watch Sequence 11 battery life: Gorgeous longevity

Each non-Extremely Apple Watch, from the primary mannequin in 2015 to the Sequence 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 below that very same estimate.

However that run ended this yr, and the Sequence 11 has been given a extra beneficiant estimate of 24 hours. In any case this time, that’s a serious assertion of intent.

And the Sequence 11 doesn’t simply discuss the discuss, battery-wise. It carried out beautifully in testing. On a primary run-through, it lasted a day, then an evening, then one other day, and eventually expired (primarily based on sleep monitoring information) 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, after all, however such gadgets obtain their higher longevity by providing fewer options, dimmer screens, and so forth. By the requirements of Apple Watches, it is a return to the glory days of the Sequence 2, and but the Sequence 11 achieves this regardless of its inclusion of an always-on display, sleep monitoring, and far 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 Sequence 11. A 30-minute treadmill exercise, which I’d usually count on to deal a heavy blow to energy ranges, merely brought about a drop from 100 to 97, and no matter utilization, the Sequence 11 constantly hit the two-day threshold through the testing interval. You possibly can count on that to drop a bit in the long run, because the battery begins to wear down, however that is such a superb efficiency that you simply’ve received 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 Sequence 11 loses energy slowly, it good points it in a short time.

The Sequence 10 had quick charging final yr, and the Sequence 11 has the identical estimate for getting from zero to 80 p.c energy: half-hour. I really 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 point of begin work or exit within the night) goes to set you up for a very good day and a half of use.

And the actually spectacular work occurs once you shrink the charging time additional. Not like the Sequence 10, the Sequence 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 Sequence 11 jumped from zero to 40 p.c. And that 40 p.c was sufficient for it to final, not for eight hours, however for greater than 16. Wild stuff.

Barely ridiculously, Apple even provides 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 Sequence 11 from zero to only 6 p.c, 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 simply’ve received greater issues in life than your Apple Watch failing to finish a full evening’s sleep monitoring.

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Apple Watch Sequence 11 value: A premium possibility

The Apple Watch Sequence begins on the regular $399/£369, however the precise value you pay is dependent upon the case measurement, case materials, connectivity, and strap you select. It’s a premium possibility; in case your funds can’t stretch this excessive, take into account the Apple Watch SE 3, which does lots of the similar issues at a lower cost.

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

Do you have to purchase the Apple Watch Sequence 11?

The Apple Watch Sequence 11 is a very wonderful smartwatch: it appears nice, it feels nice, it’s simple to make use of and gives a variety of well being and health options. It’s exhausting to consider any means this product could possibly be improved. However I’ve two points with it.

The primary is minor, and that’s the virtually whole lack of upgrades from final yr. Similar design, similar S10 chip, similar well being options. The one adjustments value speaking about are 5G (which received’t make a distinction to 90 p.c of consumers 90 p.c of the time) and battery life… which admittedly is absolutely spectacular, however most likely isn’t sufficient to justify the improve over final yr’s mannequin. Nonetheless, for everybody who hasn’t received a Sequence 10, this scarcity of change doesn’t must matter in any respect.

The second and extra severe concern is that the Sequence 11 is overpriced. Not as a result of it’s gone up in value 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 like a foul deal. And so, regretfully, I’d advise most readers to disregard this lovely smartwatch and get the SE 3 as an alternative.