Apple’s latest in its core smartwatch line is the Apple Watch Series 11. Compared to previous generation models, the design is sleeker, the battery life better, and you get cool features with watchOS 26. These include a more durable screen, the new wrist flick gesture, and an upgraded cellular antenna for the cellular model. It’s a worthwhile upgrade for those still hanging on to generations old models.
Watch my review of Apple Watch Series 11
The new Liquid Glass software design
On the screen with the Apple Watch Series 11, you’ll notice the new Liquid Glass software design that offers a subtle, fluid look as you navigate various screens, like Control Centre and apps. It’s most noticeable with new watch faces like Flow, which displays swirls of colour that respond to the movements of your wrist. Note that Liquid Glass is part of watchOS 26 so it will appear on compatible older model watches as well.
watchOS 26 adds a new wrist flick gesture, making it simple to dismiss a notification like a timer or silence an alarm by flicking your wrist up and down. You can continue to use existing gestures like double tap as well. In Smart Stack, which appears when you scroll up, you’ll see proactive prompts with useful suggestions based on your routines. For example, a tiny camera icon pops up on the Watch if you open your iPhone camera, reminding you that it works as a Camera Remote.
It’s worth noting that if you opt for the LTE version with a cellular connection (plan required), this watch has a redesigned cellular antenna that increases signal strength. This is important if you go for hikes and need to be able to take calls, send messages, or even get help from emergency services.
Gifting someone a smartwatch? Here’s the best smartwatches to gift everyone on your list.
Exercise tracking with Workout Buddy
The Apple Watch Series 11 works much the same way as previous models for tracking workouts, sports, and activities. You get the new Workout Buddy (also with older models). Powered by Apple Intelligence, this feature guides you along your workouts. As I start my daily walk, I love how it welcomes me with encouraging stats, saying that I walked 6,500 minutes already this year. It also provides audible updates along the way on details like distance, pace, and average heart rate per kilometre. This is a useful feature for runners, especially.
With revamps to the Apple Fitness+ app, you can create custom workouts then access them right from the Workout app on Apple Watch. You can also set music or podcasts in the Workout app to automatically play as soon as you start a specific workout. It can be either media of your choice or something picked for you. I set a podcast to play whenever I initiate a walking workout.
Health and wellness tracking
Health tracking features include 24/7 heart rate and heart rate variability, cardio fitness level, respiratory rate, blood oxygen, menstrual cycle tracking, and more. I love that you can integrate other health and wellness tech with it, too. For example, I have my Withings smart scale synced with Apple Watch. This allows me to see my weight, body fat percentage, and body composition data in the Apple Health app, too.
From Sleep Score to hypertension alert, here are other unique health and wellness features:
Hypertension notifications
The hypertension notification is a stand-out on the Apple Watch Series 11. The feature, which received Health Canada approval in early October, can alert you to signs of chronic high blood pressure, otherwise known as hypertension. It uses the optical heart sensor to analyze how your blood vessels respond to your heart beats.
After a 30-day review period, it will advise if any consistent signs of hypertension have been detected. If there are signs, you can make positive health changes and schedule a visit with a medical professional to investigate further or discuss concerns. While I haven’t had the device for a full 30 days yet since the feature was made available in Canada, I have it set up and I’m excited not to receive any alerts!
Hypertension notification will be available on Apple Watch Series 9 and later, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later models.
New Sleep Score
Along with standard sleep tracking, you get the new Sleep Score. It factors in duration of sleep, bedtime consistency, how many times you wake up during sleep, and how much time you spend in each sleep stage. It then assigns a numeric value to calculate your overall scoring. It’s a feature that has been available on many other smartwatches for some time. So, it’s nice that Apple Watch now offers it, too.
Safety features in case of emergency
The watch also includes helpful safety features you hope you never have to use but will be glad you have if you do. These include fall detection, crash detection, medical ID, emergency SOS, international emergency calling with cellular models, compass backtrack, and check-in.
Improved battery life
At up to 24 hours, the Apple Watch Series 11 boasts the longest battery life of any regular series Apple Watch to date. It also supports fast charging. Plug it in for 15 minutes to get up to an additional eight hours. This came in handy on mornings when I forgot to charge it but wanted to do a workout or head out for a walk. I could have breakfast and a coffee and by the time I was ready, the Watch was ready, too.
New software features via watchOS 26
The Apple Watch Series 11 comes loaded with watchOS 26. The new OS can be downloaded to older model watches as well, including Apple Watch Ultra, Series 6, Watch SE (2nd gen) and other newer models. Outside of exercise, health, and wellness tracking, you can enjoy some amazing core features from Live Translation to Hold Assist.
Live Translation: Live Translation, for instance, can translate incoming iMessages into a language of your choice right on your wrist. All you need is an iPhone with Apple Intelligence (iPhone 15 Pro and up). I tested this by asking my bilingual friends to send messages in other languages like Spanish. It works well, though you need to download the language first.
Notes app: You can also use the Notes app to create or access Notes from your wrist. That’s great for quick brainstorming. But I find using Siri to create a Note or reminder is arguably more convenient.
Hold Assist: On a call and you’re put on hold? Hold Assist lets you go on with your day and it will notify you when an agent arrives to accommodate you. Call Screening, meanwhile, collects the name and reason for a call from an unknown number before ringing through to your phone (and Watch). This helps minimize unwanted interruptions. I love not losing focus during my workday because a phone call my carrier has already labeled as “likely spam.”
Apple ecosystem perks
The Apple Watch fits seamlessly within an ecosystem of Apple products. Naturally, it only pairs with the iPhone. Once connected, you get access to virtually everything you have on your phone, from messages to apps, wallet, calendars, music, and more.
Start a Fitness+ workout on your phone, for example, and display it on a TV using Apple TV or AirPlay. It will display data on your watch and stats alongside a Fitness+ workout on the big screen.
You can use the Watch to control your phone’s camera or Apple TV. It also works seamlessly with AirPods Pro 3, even if you’re listening to offline tunes downloaded right to the Watch from Apple Music.
Design of the Apple Watch Series 11
Out of the box, the Apple Watch Series 11 looks virtually identical to the Apple Watch Series 10. But there are some subtle design changes. It comes in 42mm and 46mm sizes in Jet Black, Rose Gold, Silver, and a new Space Grey aluminum finish. There’s also a polished titanium variant in Natural, Gold, and Slate. As with other Apple Watches, it’s designed exclusively for use with iPhone.
The aluminum models have a more durable screen made of custom proprietary Ion-X glass, which is scratch resistant. It’s also treated with a ceramic coating, which further hardens the surface. The titanium models, meanwhile, continue with the same sapphire front crystal, which is already ultra-scratch- and crack-resistant. It retains the same water-resistance level.
Upgrading to the Apple Watch Series 11?
For everyday iPhone users who want to keep on top of notifications, stay connected, and monitor their health, wellness, and fitness, the Apple Watch Series 11 is the best Apple Watch. It isn’t a huge step-up from the Apple Watch Series 10 and I wouldn’t recommend upgrading if you already have that model. But if you’re moving up from an older model, the Apple Watch Series 11 is perfect for you.
Find the Apple Watch Series 11 at Best Buy Canada.
