Apple just announced the Apple Watch Series 11, which looks similar to its predecessors but is the slimmest watch to date and includes new features like 5G cellular connectivity and stronger glass.
The Series 11 is the first Apple Watch with 5G connectivity and has a redesigned cellular antenna that will provide better coverage in areas with weak signal. Like the AirPods Pro 3, the Series 11 will have live translation capabilities.
It will also be the first Apple Watch with the ability to monitor for a serious medical condition called hypertension, or high blood pressure. The feature uses the Series 11’s optical heart rate sensor but instead of providing an assessment on demand it works in the background using data collected over 30 days and a new algorithm to look for signs that potentially indicate your blood pressure is potentially too high.
A new Sleep Score feature uses metrics like how long you’ve been asleep and your sleep stages to help you better understand the quality of your rest over night.
Apple says the Series 11 will get “up to 24 hours” of battery life and will come in jet black, space gray, rose gold, and silver color options made from recycled aluminum and natural, gold, and slate versions of the polished titanium finish. It also comes with Ion-X glass, which Apple says has a ceramic coating bonded at the atomic level making it twice as scratch-resistant as the previous glass, though it’s not clear how it compares to sapphire watch crystals.
Pricing starts at $399 for the smaller 42 millimeter GPS-only version of the Apple Watch Series 11 (the same price as the entry-level Apple Watch Series 10) and it will be available for preorder starting today and ship starting on September 19th.
The Apple Watch Series 11 will launch alongside watchOS 26, the latest version of Apple’s smartwatch operating system that includes new features like a wrist flick gesture that can be used to dismiss calls, notifications, and alarms, as well as take you back to your watch face. It will feature an improved Smart Stack, a Workout Buddy feature that leverages Apple Intelligence to provide personalized insights and even pep talks, and Apple’s new Liquid Glass design language that’s also coming to other Apple devices.