Apple Watch Series 11 Review: The Best Apple Watch for Most People?

February 15, 2026

Apple Watch Series 11 Review: The Best Apple Watch for Most People?

I've been testing the Apple Watch Series 11 for the past few weeks, and it's Apple's most refined smartwatch yet. With new health features and improved durability, let's dive in.

Apple Watch Series 11

What's New

The Series 11 brings several meaningful upgrades:

  • Hypertension notifications — First for Apple Watch
  • Sleep apnea alerts — Another health first
  • 2x scratch-resistant display — Apple claims it's twice as tough
  • Thinnest design ever — Despite the durability improvements
  • S10 chip — Slightly improved performance
  • Workout Buddy — Apple Intelligence-powered coaching

Health Features

The big story here is health. Apple added two significant features:

  1. Hypertension notifications — The Series 11 can alert you if it detects elevated blood pressure patterns
  2. Sleep apnea detection — Uses accelerometer data to notice breathing disturbances during sleep

These are meaningful additions that put Apple ahead of competitors in consumer health tracking.

Health features

Battery Life

Battery life remains solid:

  • 24 hours of normal use
  • 36 hours in Low Power Mode
  • Fast charging support

For most people, this means charging every night — standard for Apple Watch.

The Verdict

The Apple Watch Series 11 is the best Apple Watch for most people. It has nearly all the features of the Ultra 3 at a much lower price ($399 vs $799).

Best for: Anyone on Series 9 or older who wants the latest health features.

Consider waiting if: You have a Series 10 — the upgrades are incremental.

What do you think — is the Series 11 worth the upgrade? Drop your thoughts below.

Buy:

Here's what we're seeing available on Amazon:

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What Do The Experts Think?


Dave Dillon - Chase The Summit

Notes it's a solid upgrade with new health features but suggests waiting if you have a Series 10. Good upgrade if coming from Series 9 or older.

Check out Dave's full video:




Ray Maker - DCRainmaker

At Apple's announcement, noting the display is now twice as scratch-resistant and it's still the thinnest Apple Watch ever.

Check out Ray's full video:




Des Yap - DesFit

Calls it 'the biggest year for Apple Watch yet' covering all three new models (Ultra 3, Series 11, SE 3).

Check out Des's full video:




Rob ter Horst - Quantified Scientist

Calls it a 'GREAT Sports Watch' from a scientific perspective, testing heart rate and GPS accuracy.

Check out Rob's full video:




Matt LeGrand

Covered what's new after 2 weeks of testing, focusing on swimming, biking, running, and everyday wear.

Check out Matt's full video: