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When Apple announced the Apple Watch Series 11there was a feeling of déjà vu, as its characteristics seemed quite close to the Series 10 which he replaced. If you are looking for a new smart watchIs it better to find a refurbished or used 10 Series rather than buying the latest one? Read on as I’ve rounded up all the differences that can help you make a decision, especially if you’re coming from an older model.
Let’s compare the models side by side and discover the smallest details.
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Apple Watch Series 11 price
The 11 Series has retained the same price like the Series 10. It starts at $399 for the model with an aluminum body or $699 for a titanium model.
Add $30 for the larger 46mm aluminum case, or $50 for titanium. Opting for a model with a cellular radio that connects independently to networks adds $100. And if you choose a bracelet made of something other than rubber or textile – a stainless steel link bracelet, for example – the price goes up even further. Unfortunately, you cannot order just the watch case; you have to select a new group, even if it ends up in your drawer in favor of the one you already own and prefer.
There is also an Apple Watch Hermès titanium model available in titanium silver in both sizes starting at $1,249.
Apple no longer sells the Series 10, since the Series 11 replaces it, but you can still find them refurbished Lower cost Series 10 models from Apple and new models from other retailers while supplies last.
Watch this: Apple Watch Series 11 review: Is the upgrade worth it?
Apple Watch Series 11 vs Series 10: exterior design
The 11 and 10 series share the same case design and materials. The largest model measures 46mm high by 39mm wide, while the smallest measures 42mm by 36mm. (Kudos to Apple for continuing to offer two sizes to accommodate people with different sized wrists.) They’re also both 1mm thinner than previous Apple Watch models, at 9.7mm.
The Apple Watch Series 11 looks exactly like the Series 10.
Despite similar dimensions, the Series 11 is slightly heavier than the Series 10. For example, the 46mm aluminum GPS Series 11 weighs 37.8 grams compared to 36.4 grams for the Series 10. The 42mm versions weigh 30.3 grams and 30.0 grams, respectively.
For colors, the 11 Series adds Space Gray Aluminum to accompany Rose Gold, Silver, and Jet Black. Both models are also available in slate, gold and natural titanium finishes.
Titanium is the premium finish of the Apple Watch Series 11 and Series 10 (the latter shown here).
The physical controls are unchanged between the series, including the dial that Apple calls the Digital Crown and a side button (which Apple cleverly calls the “Side Button”). Only the Apple Watch Ultra includes a third physical control, the Action button.
Also note: the Titanium Series 11 is made from 100% recycled titanium, compared to 95% recycled materials in the Titanium Series 10. The display glass is made from 40% recycled glass in Series 11; no amount is listed for Series 10. And the Series 11 battery uses 100% recycled cobalt and 95% recycled lithium. (Series 10 only lists 100% recycled cobalt.)
Series 11 and Series 10 displays
The Series 11 and Series 10 watch screens feature a wide-angle LTPO 3 OLED display. This means it’s easier to see content at an angle and the always-on display updates once per second, allowing the seconds counter to move even when the watch is in idle mode.
LTPO3 displays are also more energy efficient. The displays reach up to 2,000 nits for clear visibility in bright sunlight and dim down to just 1 nit in the dark.
The main difference between the Series 11 and Series 10 displays is the glass covering. On the aluminum 11 Series models, Apple is using Ion-X glass, which it says is twice as scratch-resistant as the glass in previous aluminum versions. The Titanium Series 11 uses a sapphire glass screen.
The glass covering the Apple Watch Series 11 screen is more scratch-resistant.
Apple Watch processor and chips
Normally, we’d highlight how the new processor improves on its predecessor, but for 2025, Apple has stuck with the same S10 processor from the 10 series. That also means the other chips remain the same as well: the Apple Wireless W3 chip, the second-generation Ultra Wideband chip (for precise tracking of my location), a quad-core Neural Engine, and 64GB of storage.
Battery Power: 11 Series vs. 10 Series
Battery life is where both models really get interesting. Apple doesn’t reveal the size of the built-in lithium-ion battery or its capacity, but it claims up to 24 hours for the Series 11, compared to 18 hours for the Series 10. In low power mode, that’s up to 38 hours for the Series 11, compared to 36 hours for the Series 10.
It’s not entirely clear where Apple got an extra six hours of battery life on what appears to be essentially identical hardware. Both use the same S10 processor, although there are likely software optimizations in WatchOS 26. CNET senior editor Vanessa Hand Orellana found that, at least initially, Apple may have underestimated battery performance, wrote in his review“With notifications turned on (Slack and heavy texting), at least one 30-45 minute outdoor workout per day, a full night of sleep tracking, and light flashlight use, I was still able to squeeze out between 27-32 hours per charge.”
The Apple Watch Series 11 lasted about four hours beyond its 24-hour duration in our real-world testing.
As for charging watches, the Series 11 and 10 can be charged up to 80% in about 30 minutes. Apple claims that with a 20W power adapter, 15 minutes of fast charging provides up to 8 hours of regular use, while just five minutes is enough for eight hours of sleep tracking – thanks to the watch’s much lower power demand while you sleep. Apple comparison information for the 10 series doesn’t list those last two metrics, but that seems more because it was a marketing pitch last year versus a new capability in the 11 series.
Comparison of Series 11 and 10 sensors
Apple Watch sensors power health features that range from heart rate monitoring to depth sensing to precise location tracking. That said…
They are identical in series 11 and 10. No changes here.
Another change: connectivity in Series 11 and Series 10
One of the most notable changes in the 11 Series cellular models is support for 5G networks, specifically a power-efficient type called 5G Reduced Capacity (or 5G RedCap). This allows it to connect to 5G and LTE networks without having to go through a connected iPhone, and 5G speeds should be better. In comparison, the Cellular Series 10 supports LTE and UMTS (3G).
A cellular Apple Watch means you can go for a run without bringing the iPhone. Series 10 presented here.
Part of the 5G integration in the 11 Series models is a redesigned cellular antenna and an algorithm that “simultaneously engages both system antennas when needed, significantly increasing signal strength,” according to Apple. Press release series 11. This algorithm is exclusive to Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3, according to Apple.
Both Apple Watch models support Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) at speeds of 2.5 GHz and 5 GHz. (Apple’s comparison page only lists Series 11 speeds, but a Apple Watch Wi-Fi Support Page Note that 5 GHz is supported since Series 6 watches.)
Both watches communicate with iPhone and other devices via Bluetooth 5.3.
WatchOS 26 on Apple Watch Series 11 and Series 10
New WatchOS 26 features are coming to both watch models, including high blood pressure notifications, Sleep Score, and the Blood Oxygen app (making it its recurrence in the United States amid an ongoing legal dispute). Apple’s comparison page lists the new Wrist Flick gesture for the Series 11 but not the Series 10, although that must be a typo because I can confirm that it works on my Series 10 watch.
Apple Watch Series 11 vs. Apple Watch Series 10
| Apple Watch Series 11 | Apple Watch Series 10 | |
| Design and sizes | Rectangular, 42mm, 46mm | Rectangular, 42mm, 46mm |
| Display | 42mm: 446 x 374 pixels, Retina OLED LTPO3 display, wide-angle OLED 46mm: 416 x 496 pixels, Retina OLED LTPO3 display, wide-angle OLED | 446 x 374 ppi, Retina OLED LTPO3 display, wide-angle OLED |
| Brightness | Between 1 and 2000 nits | 2000 nits |
| Thickness and weight | size 46mm: 9.7mm; 37.8g (aluminum), 36.9g (aluminum GPS+Cellular), 43.1g (titanium) 42mm size: 9.7mm; 30.3 g (aluminum), 29.7 g (aluminum GPS+Cellular), 34.6 g (titanium) | 9.7mm; 30-41.7g (46mm titanium model) |
| Material & finish | Aluminum: jet black, rose gold or silver finish; titanium: slate, gold or natural finish | Aluminum: jet black, rose gold or silver finish; titanium: slate, gold or natural finish |
| Sustainability | Water 5ATM + IP6X (dust) | Water 5ATM + IP6X (dust) |
| Battery life | Up to 24 hours, up to 38 hours Low consumption (always on) + Fast charge: 80% in 30 minutes, 100% in 60 minutes | 24h-30 (always on) + Fast charge: 80% in 30 minutes, 100% in 60 minutes |
| Sensors | ECG, 3rd generation optical heart sensor, skin temperature, depth gauge, SpO2, noise monitoring, water temperature, compass | ECG, heart rate, skin temperature, depth gauge, SpO2, noise monitoring |
| Emergency functions | Satellite SOS, Emergency SOS, Fall Detection, Crash Detection, Recording and Rewind | Emergency SOS, fall detection, crash detection, recording and rewind |
| AI and coaching | Siri (voice assistant); Workout Buddy | Siri (voice assistant); Workout Buddy |
| Processor | S10 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor, Apple W3 wireless chip | S10 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor, Apple W3 wireless chip |
| RAM/storage | 64 GB (storage) | 64 GB (storage) |
| Payments | Apple Pay | Apple Pay |
| Price (United States) | $399 to $750 (titanium) | $399 to $750 (titanium) |
