Apple Watch Series 11 vs. Series 10: A Detailed Comparison of Changes and Continuities

Apple's Watch Series 11 replaces the Series 10, and at first glance the two models look very similar. The updates between the generations are incremental, focused on materials, cellular connectivity and battery-life claims, with many core components left unchanged. This article highlights the differences that matter for buyers considering an upgrade or hunting for a refurbished Series 10.

Apple has priced the Series 11 to match the Series 10 at launch. The aluminum Series 11 starts at $399, while titanium models begin at $699. The larger 46mm aluminum case costs $30 more than the smaller size, and the titanium 46mm adds $50. Adding cellular capability increases the price by $100. Apple also offers a titanium Hermès variant at a higher price point.

Apple no longer sells the Series 10 directly, but refurbished Series 10 units remain available from Apple and new inventory may be sold by other retailers while supplies last. That availability is a key consideration for shoppers weighing cost savings against having the newest model.

Physical design, size options and external controls are essentially unchanged. Both watches keep the rectangular case in two sizes and remain 1mm slimmer than earlier Apple Watch generations at 9.7mm thick. The Series 11 is visually indistinguishable from the Series 10, and both retain the Digital Crown and the side button. Only the Apple Watch Ultra includes a third physical Action button.

There are small changes in weight and finishes. For example, a 46mm aluminum GPS Series 11 weighs 37.8 grams compared with 36.4 grams for the Series 10. Series 11 aluminum color options add a space gray finish in addition to rose gold, silver and jet black. Titanium finishes—slate, gold and natural—are available on both models.

Apple increased the use of recycled materials in the Series 11. The titanium case on the Series 11 is made from 100% recycled titanium, up from 95% in the two-year-old titanium Series 10. The Series 11 display glass contains 40% recycled glass, and its battery uses 100% recycled cobalt and 95% recycled lithium. The Series 10 lists only 100% recycled cobalt for its battery materials.

Both models use the same wide-angle LTPO3 OLED displays with up to 2,000 nits peak brightness and a minimum of 1 nit for low-light use. The always-on display refreshes once per second so second counters remain visible in inactive mode. The notable change in display construction is that aluminum Series 11 models use an Ion-X glass claimed to be twice as scratch-resistant as the previous aluminum glass, while titanium Series 11 models use a sapphire crystal display.

Under the hood Apple retained the same S10 SiP processor for the Series 11 that powers the Series 10. Other core chips are unchanged as well, including the W3 wireless chip, the second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, a four-core Neural Engine and 64GB of storage.

Battery-life claims differ markedly on Apple's spec sheet. The company states up to 24 hours of typical use for the Series 11, versus 18 hours for the Series 10. In Low Power Mode Apple lists up to 38 hours for the Series 11 and up to 36 hours for the Series 10. The hardware appears largely identical between the two watches, so the extra hours likely stem from software optimizations in watchOS and power-management tweaks.

Independent testing by CNET found that real-world Series 11 battery performance can exceed Apple's stated 24-hour figure. A review reported 27 to 32 hours per charge with notifications enabled, daily outdoor workouts and overnight sleep tracking. Both models support fast charging: about 80% in 30 minutes and a full charge in roughly 60 minutes. Apple also notes that with a 20W adapter, 15 minutes of charging provides up to eight hours of regular use and five minutes is sufficient for about eight hours of sleep tracking.

Sensor arrays are unchanged. The Series 11 retains ECG, the optical heart sensor (third generation), skin temperature sensing, a depth gauge, SpO2 monitoring, noise monitoring, water-temperature sensing and compass functionality. Emergency features such as Satellite SOS, Emergency SOS, fall detection, crash detection, Check In and Backtrack are present on both models.

Cellular capability is where the Series 11 delivers a more tangible upgrade. Cellular Series 11 models add support for a power-efficient 5G mode called 5G Reduced Capacity (RedCap), enabling direct connection to 5G and LTE networks without a paired iPhone. Series 10 cellular models support LTE and UMTS (3G) only. The Series 11 also uses a redesigned cellular antenna and an algorithm that can engage two system antennas simultaneously to increase signal strength; Apple says that algorithm is exclusive to the Series 11 and certain Ultra models.

Both watches support Wi‑Fi at 2.4GHz and 5GHz and communicate with iPhones and peripherals using Bluetooth 5.3.

Software updates also blur the generation line. watchOS 26 introduces features such as hypertension notifications, Sleep Score and the Blood Oxygen app, and these software capabilities are available on both Series 10 and Series 11 units. Apple’s comparison materials list a new Wrist Flick gesture for the Series 11, but that appears to be an oversight: the gesture works on Series 10 hardware as well.

Bottom line: the Series 11 is an evolutionary update rather than a radical redesign. The most meaningful changes for buyers are the improved recycled materials, a tougher glass option for aluminum models, longer advertised battery life, and new cellular 5G RedCap support in cellular variants. For owners of recent Apple Watch models, especially the Series 10, the decision to upgrade will hinge on whether those specific changes—particularly 5G connectivity and the materials improvements—are worth replacing a still-capable device or buying refurbished to save money.

Key Topics

Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Series 10, Series 11 Vs Series 10, 5g Reduced Capacity (redcap), Cellular Connectivity Upgrade, Apple Watch Battery Life, Refurbished Series 10, Recycled Materials And Sustainability, Ion-x Scratch-resistant Glass, Sapphire Crystal Display, S10 Sip Processor, Watchos 26 Features, Fast Charging Support