Apple Watch Series 11 review: Familiarity breeds comfort

Apple Watch has always been an excellent health and fitness tracking device. Over the years, Apple keeps adding important features. In 2025, the headliner here is FDA-cleared hypertension notifications but not yet available in India. Yet, Apple has spoken about it quite a bit.

First things first and let’s be clear on this: this is not the holy grail of on-the-spot blood pressure monitoring. You still need a cuff if you want proper readings. What the Series 11 does is run in the background, gathering data over 30 days. If it detects patterns that could indicate high blood pressure, it will alert you. Apple says this could help over a million people catch hypertension early.

Now, I’ll admit something: I don’t wear my watch to sleep. I’m just not that person. My wrist needs a break, and so does my brain. But with the new Sleep Score, I forced myself to keep it on a few nights. Apple grades your sleep based on duration, bedtime consistency, and interruptions, then gives you a number out of 100. In practice, it’s… fine. I didn’t learn much I didn’t already know (late-night scrolling equals bad score, shocker). But for people who genuinely struggle with sleep patterns, this could be useful motivation.

The important detail: these features are coming to older Apple Watches too, thanks to WatchOS 26. So unless you need the latest hardware or the Series 11’s stronger sensors, your current watch won’t suddenly feel obsolete.

Battery life: The much-needed upgrade

Apple claims 24 hours of “normal use.” I routinely stretched it to 30. That includes constant notifications, one outdoor workout a day, calls from the wrist, and yes, some flashlight use because I am too lazy to walk across the room to flip a switch.

The difference compared to the Series 10 isn’t night and day—it’s a six-hour bump on paper. But in practice, it changes your charging rhythm. You’re no longer obsessing about whether to top it up mid-day. A five-minute charge before bed is enough for a night of sleep tracking, while 15 minutes gives you ample juice.

This is the single biggest reason the Series 11 feels like less of a burden and more of a companion.

5G on the wrist

This year’s Apple Watch cellular models debut 5G RedCap, a low-power version of 5G that’s more efficient than what’s on your iPhone. The Series 11 uses two antennas with a smart algorithm that fuses weak signals for stronger connectivity. Translation: better reception and less battery drain in places where your phone would struggle.

That said, in India, you’ll pay about Rs 10,000 extra for the cellular model. For many people, that’s not worth it—unless you’re someone who runs, cycles, or swims without carrying a phone.

Design: Same as before, just harder to scratch

If you saw the Series 10, you’ve basically seen the Series 11. The body is still slim and elegant, with an edge-to-edge display that’s smooth enough to show the second hand ticking. The big difference: more scratch-resistant glass.

Now, I’m unintentionally clumsy with my Apple Watch. I somehow keep bumping into doors, glass, corner of the table — something I will never do if I am not wearing the Watch. My sleek looking Watch Ultra 2 in black has a few daily battle scars. The Series 11 — so far — has stayed scratch free, which is a miracle for me. That could change, but for now, it feels reassuringly tougher.

watchOS 26: A Fresh Coat of Paint

The Series 11 ships with WatchOS 26, which Apple has dressed up with a Liquid Glass transparency effect. It looks slick, though slightly harder to read in bright light. Beyond aesthetics, the update brings:

•Notes app on your wrist (finally).

•A redesigned Workout app with smarter music pairing.

•A new gesture control to silence calls and alarms with a flick of your wrist.

•Workout Buddy, a new feature that provides pace alerts and real-time encouragement. It’s basic right now, but has potential if Apple fleshes it out into proper coaching.

Should you buy it?

The Apple Watch Series 11 doesn’t reinvent the wheel. It doesn’t need to. What it does is refine everything that makes the Apple Watch useful: better battery life, stronger connectivity, smarter health features, tougher glass.

The Galaxy Watch is a solid rival, especially on Android. Samsung packs in strong health tracking and multi-day battery life.

But in India, if you’re already an iPhone user, the Apple Watch remains unmatched. It’s not about the specs—it’s the ecosystem. The seamless iMessage replies, AirPods switching, and health data syncing into your iPhone’s Health app make it too convenient to ignore.

The Apple Watch has reached a stage where small, thoughtful upgrades matter more than flashy gimmicks. And while I still don’t wear it to sleep, I can see why some people might—because now the battery and speed of charging make it realistic.

So, should you buy it? If you are upgrading from Series 7 or older: absolutely worth it. Series 9 or 10 owners? You can sit this one out unless you need cellular 5G really badly — and I doubt you do.

The Series 11 not the kind of watch that makes headlines. But it is the kind of watch that quietly becomes indispensable. And that, to me, is Apple at its best.