The Apple Watch Series 11 brings small but meaningful upgrades.
Most new health features also arrive on the Series 10 through iOS 26 software.
So the real question is whether the higher price is worth it.
Smartwatches have reached a stage where year-on-year upgrades feel smaller, slower, and far less dramatic than the early days of wearable tech. The Apple Watch sits right at the centre of this pattern. It remains the gold standard for features, ecosystem integration and ease of use, yet even Apple now appears to be navigating the fine line between genuine innovation and annual iteration. The new Apple Watch Series 11 is the latest example of this shift. At first glance, it looks nearly identical to the Series 10, and even after several days of using both side by side, the differences feel more subtle than Apple’s marketing suggests. That raises an important question for anyone considering an upgrade this year: Do the new additions meaningfully change the experience, or is the Series 11 simply a refined version of what many users already have?
SurveyWhat’s actually new in the Series 11
Apple doesn’t dramatically alter the formula this year, but the Series 11 does introduce a few notable tweaks. The biggest is support for 5G cellular connectivity, making it more future-ready for regions that will eventually shift away from older networks. Battery life also sees an improvement, with Apple rating the Series 11 for up to 24 hours, compared to the 18-hour claim on the Series 10. In practice, the larger 46mm model (Series 11) comfortably lasts a day and a half. There’s also tougher Ion-X glass on the aluminium versions and a new Space Grey shade exclusive to that variant. Beyond these points, almost everything else: design, the S10 chip, display quality and overall size, remains unchanged.
In short, the Apple Watch Series 11 is essentially a slightly more durable and longer-lasting version of the Series 10.
Also read: Apple Watch SE 3 vs Series 11 vs Ultra 3: Why the SE could be the smartest pick
A familiar challenge for the Apple Watch
The broader issue for Apple is that the Watch has become so refined over the years that the space for major leaps has become increasingly narrow. Once a product nails design, performance and alignment with its ecosystem, the improvements naturally become incremental. That’s where the Apple Watch sits today. The Series 11 doesn’t attempt to reinvent anything; it merely builds on the established foundation. For many users, it will feel like a Series 10s, an iteration rather than a breakthrough.
Health and fitness still take centre stage
Apple continues to treat health and fitness as the heart of the Apple Watch experience. This year’s additions include Sleep Score, Workout Buddy and Hypertension Alerts. Sleep Score, available via iOS 26, offers a clearer understanding of sleep quality and appears slightly more refined on the Series 11, though it is available on the Series 10 as well. Workout Buddy, designed to let users sync activities or cheer each other on, also arrives on older models through software updates.
Hypertension Alerts, however, is still rolling out globally and isn’t available in India yet. It is not a traditional blood pressure monitor, but rather a tool that identifies patterns of elevated readings. Once enabled in India, it will work on both the Series 11 and Series 10. This highlights a recurring theme: most of the meaningful improvements in the Apple Watch experience these days come through iOS rather than hardware, diminishing the urgency of upgrading to the latest model.
Battery and performance remain steady
While Apple lists different battery estimates for the two generations, real-world usage suggests that size matters more than the generation gap. The 42mm Series 10 easily lasts a full day, while the 46mm Series 11 stretches well beyond 24 hours. Both watches run on the same S10 chip, meaning performance is identical. Apps launch at the same speed, animations feel equally smooth, and there’s no perceivable jump in responsiveness. The only clear advantage for the Series 11 is its slight boost in endurance.
Price and value: Where the difference really shows
The most striking contrast appears when comparing prices. In India, the Apple Watch Series 11 starts at Rs 46,900 for the 42mm model and Rs 49,900 for the 46mm version. The Series 10, meanwhile, has recently been available for Rs 32,999 and Rs 35,999 for the same sizes. With such significant price gaps, the value proposition leans strongly in favour of the older model.
Yes, the Series 11 offers tougher glass, 5G support and longer battery life, but the overall experience remains practically the same when both watches run iOS 26. For people upgrading from a Series 8 or older, the Series 11 feels like a proper step forward. But for those already using a Series 10, the upgrades simply don’t justify spending considerably more.
Final takeaway
The Apple Watch Series 11 is an excellent smartwatch, just as the Series 10 already was. And that’s the core of the discussion. Apple seems to be in a cycle of iteration rather than innovation, refining the Watch in small ways without transforming it. For new buyers, the Series 11 is the obvious pick. For existing Series 10 users, especially given the price drops, there’s very little reason to switch. Most of the major improvements this year are rooted in software, not hardware, and that makes the older model feel surprisingly fresh.
Whether Apple is running out of ideas or simply focusing on stability is something only the company can answer. But for now, one thing is clear: the best Apple Watch for many people in 2025 might still be the one they already own.
Also read: iPhone 17 Pro Max review: Brilliance at a price
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Aman Rashid
Aman Rashid is the Senior Assistant Editor at Digit, where he leads the website along with the brand’s YouTube, social media, and overall video operations. He has been covering consumer technology for several years, with experience across news, reviews, and features. Outside of work, Aman is a sneaker enthusiast and an avid follower of WWE, Dragon Ball, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. View Full Profile
