The Apple Watch Sequence 11 is a strong smartwatch with minor upgrades

The Apple Watch Sequence 11 sits within the considerably awkward center of Apple’s smartwatch lineup now.

On one facet, there’s the extra reasonably priced $250 Apple Watch SE 3, which boasts a brand new always-on show and a barely much less glossy design, making it the go-to Apple smartwatch for most individuals. Then above it’s the expensive $800 Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple’s cumbersome however sturdy smartwatch that gives glorious battery life and many of the identical options because the Sequence 11 (satellite tv for pc connectivity is the main exception).

The place does this depart the $400 Apple Watch Sequence 11? In comparison with the Series 10, the Sequence 11’s solely notable upgrades are a extra sturdy show, improved battery life, and 5G. Which means when you have a Sequence 10 (or arguably the Sequence 8 or Sequence 9), there isn’t any cause to improve this yr, particularly since all of watchOS 26’s main upgrades can be found on the Sequence 9 and up. These with earlier Apple Watches may discover rather a lot to love in regards to the Sequence 11, although, particularly if, like me, you are not a fan of the Apple Watch Extremely’s dimension, weight, and value.

The Apple Watch lineup’s checklist of options is extra blurred now than ever, leaving the Apple Watch Sequence 11 squarely within the center floor. This does not make it a foul smartwatch (actually, it is nonetheless nice regardless of the minor upgrades), it simply signifies that its viewers is extra restricted than it was a couple of years in the past.

4/5

Model

Apple

Coronary heart Fee Monitor

Sure

Notification Assist

Hypertension

Working System

watchOS 26

The Apple Watch Sequence 11 is Apple’s thinnest, most snug smartwatch but. With as much as 24 hours of battery life, the Sequence 11 helps 5G mobile, hypertension notifications, Sleep Rating capabilities, and extra. 

Execs & Cons

• Nice-looking design
• Tremendous gentle
• A number of health-tracking sensors
• Welcome battery life upgrades

• A bizarre middleground in Apple’s lineup
• Not that completely different from the Sequence 10

Improved battery life is the primary draw this yr

Apple lastly ditches the long-running 18-hour battery life estimate

The Apple Watch Sequence 11 appears an identical to the Sequence 10. This implies it nonetheless options the identical rectangular design and expansive show with minimized bezels. Final yr with the Sequence 10, Apple pushed the display screen dimension thus far that it nearly feels just like the Apple Watch Extremely’s show, and that continues to be true right here.

The LTPO display screen nonetheless is available in at 2,000 nits of brightness in comparison with the Apple Watch Extremely 3’s upgraded 3,000 nits display screen. This makes the show barely harder to view in direct daylight, however the visibility change is not substantial. What’s upgraded over the Sequence 10 when it comes to display screen know-how is the brand new Ion-X glass, which Apple says is twice as scratch-resistant because the aluminum model (the costlier titanium Apple Watch Sequence 11 nonetheless incorporates a extra sturdy sapphire crystal show).

Given how simply I’ve scratched my Apple Watch’s display screen through the years, it is a nice transfer by Apple. I am considering how the Apple Watch Sequence 11’s show holds up over the subsequent few months. The Sequence 11 additionally incorporates a seen second hand, identical to the Extremely 3. Is that this vital function? Positively not, but it surely nonetheless appears very cool when the watch face is lit up.

The Apple Watch Sequence 11 options the Sequence 10’s S10 processor and W3 wi-fi chip, providing the identical easy efficiency as final yr’s smartwatch. All of the health-focused sensors from the Sequence 10 are again, too, together with coronary heart price monitoring, depth, pores and skin temperature, noise monitoring, and extra. What’s new are FDA-cleared hypertension notifications, although the function can also be out there on the Apple Watch Sequence 9 and later. These numerous well being monitoring options are the Sequence 11’s key benefit over the Apple Watch SE 3, provided that the cheaper smartwatch solely presents a wrist temperature sensor and optical coronary heart sensor. If health-tracking is necessary to you, the Sequence 11 is the Apple Watch you need.

The Sequence 11’s essential draw this yr is its battery life improve. For years, Apple caught to the “all-day” 18-hour battery life estimate for the Apple Watch Sequence line. Now for the primary time, the tech large has elevated that declare to 24 hours on a single cost. Six hours won’t look like a lot on paper, however in my expertise — with the always-on show, a couple of notifications, and roughly a 45-minute run — I used to be capable of push the Apple Watch Sequence 11’s battery effectively into the night, with my day beginning at roughly 6am.

In one other scenario, I left my Apple Watch Sequence 11 on my desk in a single day, solely to seek out it nonetheless had roughly 25% battery life the subsequent day. Once I’ve accomplished this with the Sequence 10 I have been utilizing for the previous yr, it could seemingly be lifeless or all the way down to roughly 5%. I’ve solely been testing the Sequence 11 for a couple of week and a half, however I am impressed with the battery life enhancements thus far. So far as new options go, the additional few hours you will get out of the Apple Watch Sequence 11 is by far the primary cause to improve.

Every little thing else

5G and new watchOS 26 options are right here

I’ve by no means been massive on utilizing knowledge with my smartwatch, so the improve to 5G (the Apple Watch Extremely 3 additionally now options 5G), is not a giant deal to me. Alternatively, if you happen to’re a smartwatch knowledge consumer, quicker downloads are seemingly a welcome addition to the Apple Watch Sequence 11. It is price noting that 5G smartwatch plans aren’t out there in Canada but, although most U.S. carriers provide them. There’s not satellite tv for pc connectivity with the Sequence 11, sadly — that function is just out there on the Apple Watch Extremely 3.

The opposite notable improve this yr is watchOS 26. Much like years previous, Apple’s refreshed wearable working system features a slew of options. There is a Sleep Rating, supplying you with a concrete quantity connected to the Apple Watch’s sleep monitoring, third-party apps within the Management Heart, wrist-flicking to dismiss notifications, the great-looking redesigned Exercise app, a brand new Notes app, and extra. The brand new wrist-flick gesture is cool, however I have not used it as usually as I assumed I’d (it is the form of factor you want to deliberately combine into your life). On a facet notice, I in a short time turned off the recommended Sensible Stack function that takes over your Watch Face as a result of I discovered it saved taking on the Sequence 11’s display screen. This function may work for some folks, but it surely’s automated strategies do not match into my life.

There are new Watch Faces, just like the very simple Circulate that I’ve grown to essentially like. After all, Liquid Glass has additionally made its method to the Apple Watch Sequence 11. I perceive the complaints surrounding the brand new clear UI, however I prefer it, significantly on the Sequence 11. The smartwatch’s sprawling display screen makes the unique-looking, see-through UI actually work.

To be clear, all of those new watchOS 26 options are additionally out there on the Apple Watch Sequence 9 and above, so identical to in years previous, they don’t seem to be distinctive to Apple’s newest smartwatch and are not a cause to improve, relying on what Apple Watch you presently personal, in fact (some options can be found on even earlier Apple Watches).

Who’s the Apple Watch Sequence 11 for?

This middle-ground wearable has a really particular viewers in thoughts

This can be a powerful one. Now that the Apple Watch SE 3 options an always-on display screen, it is my go-to advice for Apple customers that need a smartwatch. Alternatively, I’ve advised family and friends to go for the Apple Watch Extremely 2 or 3 if battery life and sturdiness is a priority, or they’re within the peace-of-mind satellite tv for pc connetivity presents. The Sequence 11 is a harder advice.

Are you actually into monitoring health metrics and utilizing an older Apple Watch 6, 7, or 8? Upgrading to the Sequence 11 is likely to be price it then. Nonetheless, anybody nonetheless rocking an Apple Watch Sequence 9 or 10 positively is not lacking a lot. Possibly you are like me and do not like how cumbersome the Apple Watch Extremely 3 is, however you continue to need all the flowery health tracking features it presents? I’ve very skinny wrists, and generally it looks like I am carrying a brick round my arm once I’m sporting Apple’s heftiest wearable.

If this sounds such as you, then the Apple Watch Sequence 11 may very well be the proper stability between options, consolation, and efficiency — It is simply not a really thrilling improve over the Sequence 10.

This system was supplied to Pocket-lint by Apple.

4/5

Model

Apple

Coronary heart Fee Monitor

Sure

Notification Assist

Hypertension

Working System

watchOS 26