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Apple Watch Series 11 Wins Praise for Longer Battery as watchOS 26 Narrows the Gap

Reviewers say the biggest gains come from battery life rather than new hardware.

Overview

  • The Series 11 retains the Series 10’s slim design and S10 chip, shifting the hardware story to a larger battery and an optional 5G eSIM variant.
  • Real‑world tests report roughly two days of typical use and about 70% charge in 30 minutes, with enough endurance for marathon‑length GPS workouts.
  • watchOS 26 brings hypertension alerts, a new Sleep Score, the wrist‑flick gesture, and AI‑driven Workout Buddy, and it runs on Apple Watch Series 6 and newer.
  • Pricing starts at £369/$399, with 5G models roughly £100/$100 more, reflecting a modest UK price cut compared with last year.
  • Retail deals make the year‑old Series 10 a strong value—discounted by up to $120 in the U.S.—though buyers give up the longer runtime, and some features or approvals vary by region.