Apple Watch Series 11 review: Same great product as always, just a little better

Following its schedule, Apple has once again updated its smartwatches and, following the trend of recent years, does so with incremental improvements that little by little confirm to us that what was originally a nascent product with serious questions is now a mature product, extremely established in the market and increasingly difficult to surprise. The Apple Watch Series 11 is again such a well-rounded product that it’s hard to find fault with it, but 12 generations later (from Series 0 to 11) it continues to suffer from the same Achilles heel.

Last year we said it was hard to miss any functionality in a product as well-built and consolidated as the Apple Watch. If the Series 10 was a great product, the Series 11 remains the same.. And that’s because it’s essentially the same device, with minor improvements here and there, but offering the same user experience. At this point, it’s appropriate to consider whether the Apple Watch still needs to be updated every year, or at least whether it should be done as the generation gap gets smaller.

If you stop and look closely at its specifications, you will see that the Series 10 and Series 11 are the same device. Same chip, same size, same screen and even the same colors. Both are on the wrist, and if it weren’t for the fact that the Series 11 comes in space gray, it would be impossible to tell one from the other. And even less in everyday life.

Apple Watch has reached a level that is difficult to surprise with each generation

This, which may seem like something negative, actually is not.. It’s a great product if, like other generations, we recognize its biggest drawback: the battery. Although one of the most significant claims of the Series 11 compared to previous models is the increase in battery autonomy, The truth is that there is virtually no transition from theoretical numbers to practical experience. Basically, the Apple Watch Series 11 offers 24 hours of battery life, and while it’s noticeable that you get more battery life at the end of the day and can even stretch it out well into the next day, it’s still not enough.

In our test, going to bed with 100% battery, you wake up with 92%, which without charging and after an intense workout in the morning, an always-on screen and constant monitoring with occasional interaction with the watch leaves you with about 70% for the rest of the day.

With a day of heavy use, it is likely that at night you will again arrive at percentages of more than 30%, which Apple “requires” for health monitoring, and indeed It lasts for 24 hours and even allows you to spend the first few hours of the next morning without charging.. For those of us who are used to wearing Apple, this is great, but for those new to the Apple Watch ecosystem, it may not be enough.

Autonomy is still an unresolved issue

Not when competitors, even with devices half the price, offer more than a week. We might think that while the features offered by the watch, such as passive health monitoring, are not found in other devices, the truth is that many smartwatches from other manufacturers even offer continuous real-time heart rate monitoring and even features similar (though not as well-honed) as those offered by Apple.

However, Apple knows about this. and one of the greatest improvements to the Series 11 is without a doubt the new fast charging system. On paper, it still offers fast charging from 0 to 80% in about 30 minutes, but the Series 11 also includes an 8 hour and 15 minute charge option, which is especially useful for everyday use since in the time it takes you to shower, your watch will be ready for the day.

This makes you less reliant on the device’s limited battery, which is something of a consolation, but given several new watch features in other key sections, it would be a blow to the table that the Series 11 would offer as a novelty, and for the first time outside of the Ultra and low consumption modes, multiple days of battery life. at least theoretical. We’ll have to keep waiting.

Series 11 remains unbeatable in most key sections.

What has no competitor is any other section. The 10 Series was a perfect round shaped set with an extremely elegant design and premium materials. This remains unchanged in episode 11. Continue I have the best screen on a smartwatch I’ve ever triedoffers exceptional system flexibility and a set of ideal features for the average user, adding additional features that keep them looking for something more.

Moreover, it remains unrivaled in terms of ecosystem. While it still relies heavily on third-party apps, if you want advanced functionality, Apple offers a suite of health tracking apps that are head and shoulders above any other smartwatch. And its shortcomings can be easily replaced by third-party applications that are of excellent quality today.

The same can be said for integrated passive health monitoring systems that literally save lives: this year it became possible to monitor hypertensionwhich adds to the incremental improvements from previous years: sleep apnea, accident and fall detection, notifications for abnormal heart rate, irregular rhythm, atrial fibrillation and more, making Apple’s newest watch the best option for those who want to take charge of their health.

The Series 11 also offers 5G data as an option, but in practice There is no significant difference compared to classic LTE. in using the watch, as well as some nice features like rotating your wrist to snooze notifications. Otherwise it’s the same product as the Series 10: exceptionally good.

Additionally, there is a section that is often ignored, but is vital in a device we wear 24 hours a day: comfort. Along with the Series 10, this is the most comfortable watch I’ve ever worn.including smart and non-smart watches. In a device that is also designed for sleep, this is a fundamental section, and I think Apple made a huge effort here last year and has maintained it this year. In this regard, there are few that can outshine the Series 11, and even within Apple itself if we look at the Ultra 3 or SE 3.

Is the Apple Watch Series 11 worth the money?

If last year deserved it, then so does this year. However, keep in mind that the only significant improvements are 5G and a few hours of extra battery life, which don’t have a significant impact on the user experience. Everything else is in the Series 10, and some of the health features are even in the Series 9. So if you own one of these watches, it’s very hard to justify buying this new model unless you want to stay up to date.

If you have an older model, you will benefit from everything: You get last year’s redesign, Apple’s best to date. Plus, it’s the newest device the company offers and comes with years of support and updates, and is arguably the best smartwatch on the market.

The Apple Watch, and especially the Series 11 as the end result of everything the company has learned over the years, is such a good product that it’s hard to fault it. Yes, ok self-employment continues to be a hot topic (and I dare say of the entire range) this is an outstanding device in all its key aspects, and today, if it’s right for your price, it’s hard not to recommend it.