The holiday season could be the best time to buy an Apple Watch. With over 59% of US adult shoppers in a recent CNET survey planning to spend an average of $931 on tech devices, we can expect to see some compelling Black Friday and Cyber Monday discounts. If you’re planning to upgrade your old smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 11 could be an excellent choice for most people.

But not everyone with an old Apple Watch needs the newest model and it can be confusing to find the best Apple Watch for your needs — especially in a year when the cheaper Apple Watch SE 3 and rugged Apple Watch Ultra 3 were also refreshed.

While the new $249 Apple Watch SE 3 receives much-needed quality-of-life features, such as faster charging and an always-on display, the $399 Series 11 remains a solid choice and offers a longer-lasting battery, improved durability and advanced health features. But is that enough to justify an upgrade from the last-gen Apple Watch Series 10? And how does it stack up against the older variants?

I compared all of these models side by side to find the finer details. Here’s how the Apple Watch Series 11 compares with the Series 10, 9, 8 and 7.

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Apple Watch Series 11 vs. Series 10

Apple upgraded the Watch Series 10 last year with a new processor, a thinner and lighter design, a bigger and brighter display, a much-needed battery boost and more. From the Digital Crown and side button positioning to their LTPO 3 screen on the front, both Series 11 and Series 10 look the same. In comparison, the Series 11 seems like a modest upgrade, but there are some noticeable differences.

Both the Series 11 and Series 10 share the same design, materials (aluminum or titanium) and 42mm or 46mm sizes. The new model is 30.3 grams (42mm) heavier than the Series 10, which weighs 30 grams. However, the new Apple Watch’s display is rated twice as scratch-resistant. 

The presence of an LTPO 3 display (on both watches) means you get a screen that can drop to a 1Hz refresh rate so the second hand moves even when the watch is inactive. The displays on both can go up to 2,000 nits for clear visibility in sunlight and dim down to just 1 nit in darkness.

Both pack the same internals: an S10 processor, a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip (for precise Find My location tracking) and 64GB of onboard storage. And yet, the latest Series 11 is rated to last up to 6 hours more on a single charge.

Apple says that the Series 11 last 24 hours on a charge, compared with 18 hours for the Series 10. Battery life can last to 38 hours in Low Power Mode (versus 36 hours on Series 10).

In her review, CNET lead writer Vanessa Hand Orellana was able to get more than the quoted number. “With notifications turned on (heavy Slack-ing and texting), at least one 30- to 45-minute outdoor workout a day, a full night of sleep tracking and some mild flashlight use, I’ve consistently managed to squeeze between 27 and 32 hours per charge,” she says. You can expect a noticeable improvement with the new smartwatch.

While both models can be charged up to 80% in about 30 minutes, the Watch Series 11 supports ultra-fast charging. It’s rated to deliver an 8-hour battery boost with just 15 minutes of charge, whereas a 5-minute charge should be enough to track 8 hours of sleep. Apple’s comparison information doesn’t list those metrics for the Series 10.

Another noticeable change is that the Series 11 supports 5G Reduced Capacity connectivity (or 5G RedCap), which allows you to connect to both 5G and LTE networks without being connected to an iPhone. In contrast, the cellular version of the Series 10 supports LTE and UMTS (3G). Both smartwatches also support Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) at 2.5GHz and 5GHz speeds, and use Bluetooth 5.3.

With WatchOS 26, both the Series 11 and Series 10 get new health features like hypertension notifications that can alert owners if it detects signs of high blood pressure and Sleep Score, which grades sleep quality, alongside the reappearance of the Blood Oxygen app.

The bottom line: Apple Watch Series 11 is an iterative upgrade over its predecessor. If you wear a Series 10 daily and it lasts you more than a day on regular use, you should continue using it. However, if you need longer battery life, better scratch resistance and 5G connectivity, the Series 11 could be for you.

Apple Watch Series 11 vs. Series 9

We see a more significant feature jump comparing the Series 11 to older models, like the 2023 Series 9. You get a bigger screen, faster processor and plenty of new features to make it a meaningful upgrade.

Starting with the design, the Series 11 is slimmer, lighter, and twice as scratch-resistant. It measures 9.7mm thick, as compared to 10.7mm on the Series 9. You can feel this 10% difference as soon as you put the new smartwatch on, which also weighs less than the Series 9.

The Series 11 comes in 46mm and 42mm sizes (versus 45mm or 41mm on Series 9) and offers a bigger, brighter and more capable display. Thanks to slimmer bezels, you get an extra line of text on your watch and the Calculator app. Both wearables are rated for a maximum brightness of 2,000 nits, but the Series 11 sports a wide-angle OLED screen, making its display more legible at certain angles. Series 11’s LTPO 3 panel (versus LTPO on Series 9) also means the always-on display can show a ticking second hand.

The Series 11 and its newer S10 chip offer improved efficiency and a noticeable performance boost over the Series 9 S9 chip. Both smartwatches have the second-generation Ultra Wideband chip and 64GB of storage. 

The Series 9 lacks a water temperature sensor and depth gauge, which are essential for snorkeling, underwater swimming, and free diving. It doesn’t support media playback over the speaker and houses a lower-quality mic. By comparison, the Series 11 can play music over the speaker, supports voice isolation for better call clarity and comes with the Oceanic Plus app for snorkeling.

You get a major battery boost with the Apple Watch Series 11. Apple promises up to 24 hours, compared to 18 hours on the Series 9, and goes up to 38 hours in Low Power Mode (versus 36 hours).

In real-life usage, the latest variant can go up to 30 hours with ease. It also supports fast charging, delivering 80% of the charge in 30 minutes, while the Series 9 takes 45 minutes to reach the same percentage. You can quickly top up the Series 11 with a 15-minute charge for 8 hours of normal use and a 5-minute charge for 8 hours of sleep tracking.

With WatchOS 26, both models can give you a Sleep score, deliver sleep apnea notifications and support the new hypertension alerts.

The Series 11 has 5G Reduced Capacity (or 5G RedCap) for both 5G and LTE connectivity (without an iPhone). On the other hand, the Series 9 is limited to LTE and UMTS (3G) for cellular connectivity. Both have Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 4 for wireless connectivity. However, the Series 11 supports 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-F 4 bands, while Apple doesn’t mention the Wi-Fi bands for its Series 9.

The bottom line: The Apple Watch Series 11’s most promising selling point is its battery life. If you’re upgrading from a Series 9, you will get an improved screen (in terms of size, legibility, and durability), 5G connectivity, the ability to play media over the speaker, voice isolation for calls, and more. However, with WatchOS 26, the Series 9 has the same hypertension alerts as the Series 11, so you don’t need to upgrade for that health feature.

Apple Watch Series 11 vs. Series 8

The Apple Watch Series 8 is closer to the Series 7 than it is to the Series 11. It comes in the same 45mm and 41mm sizes as the Series 9 but with a less capable display. 

While you can buy the Series 11 in aluminum or titanium cases, the Series 8 comes in aluminum or stainless steel cases. The new model is more durable, thanks to its scratch-resistant display. It is also thinner and lighter than the Series 8. The Series 11 looks more modern and stylish, and can be dressed up with a metal band. By contrast, the 2022 Series 8 looks dated and has thicker bezels.

The Apple Watch Series 11 has an LTPO 3 screen, compared to an LTPO display on the Series 8. The latter can only reach up to 1,000 nits in brightness, while the Series 11 hits a maximum brightness of 2,000 nits and can drop down to 1 nit. Due to its larger, wider display and improved brightness levels, the new Apple Watch is easier to view in harsh lighting conditions.

The Series 11 is powered by an S10 processor, whereas the Series 8 runs on the S8 chip. You miss out on Precise Find My Tracking (second-generation versus first-generation Ultra Wideband chip), a four-core Neural Engine, wrist flick and double-tap gestures, health data access with Siri and more. Apple’s new wearable also sports double the storage at 64GB.

The Apple Watch Series 8 doesn’t have a water temperature sensor or support for sleep apnea and hypertension notifications. Apple’s newer model has a high dynamic range gyroscope, a mic with voice isolation for calls and a depth gauge for snorkeling.

The Series 11 is rated to last up to 24 hours (38 hours in Low Power Mode) on a charge, compared to 18 hours for the Series 8. The new Apple Watch also supports faster charging, allowing it to charge up to 80% in just 30 minutes. The Series 8 takes 45 minutes to do the same. With Series 11, you can get 8 hours of normal use with a 15-minute charge and 8 hours of sleep tracking with a 5-minute charge. 

The Apple Watch Series 11 supports 5G Reduced Capacity (or 5G RedCap) for 5G and LTE connectivity without the need for an iPhone. As for the Series 8, it is limited to LTE and UMTS (3G) for cellular connectivity. Like the Series 9, Apple doesn’t mention the Wi-Fi bands for its 2022 model. Both support Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 4 for wireless connectivity.

The bottom line: Apple Watch Series 11 is a huge upgrade over the Series 8. It delivers a longer battery life, faster charging, sleep apnea and hypertension notifications, 5G connectivity, media playback over speaker, voice isolation in calls and a whole lot more. And it does so while looking modern with its thin and light design.

Apple Watch Series 11 vs. Series 7

The Apple Watch Series 7 is four generations old and as you’d expect, the Series 11 improves over it in every aspect. The 2021 Apple Watch comes in 45mm and 41mm sizes in aluminum, stainless steel and titanium variants. In comparison, the Apple Watch Series 11 is available in 46mm and 42mm sizes, with an aluminum or titanium case. The Series 11 is thinner, lighter and more stylish than the Series 7, thanks to a more scratch-resistant screen with minimal bezels.

The Series 11 has an LTPO 3 display compared to the Series 7’s LTPO screen; the difference is instantly visible. The new Apple Watch is brighter (2,000 nits peak brightness versus 1,000 nits on the Series 7) and can be dimmed to 1 nit. It allows the always-on display to show a ticking seconds hand, which isn’t possible on Series 7.

Apple’s latest watch runs on the S10 processor, has a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip (for precise Find My location tracking) and 64GB of onboard storage. On the other hand, the Apple Watch Series 7 is powered by the S7 processor, which offers an older U1 Ultra Wideband chip, no Neural Engine and 32GB of storage. 

The Series 7 lacks crash detection and features such as wrist flick and double-tap gestures. It also doesn’t have a high dynamic range gyroscope, a mic with voice isolation, a depth gauge up to 6m or a water temperature sensor. It doesn’t support notifications for sleep apnea and hypertension.

The latest Apple Watch is rated to deliver 24 hours of battery life, which extends to 38 Hours in Low Power mode. In our tests, it lasted up to 30 hours with ease. By contrast, the Series 7 supports up to 18 hours of battery life on regular use. The Series 11 can be charged up to 80% in 30 minutes, whereas the Series 7 takes 45 minutes. The new model also gets you 8 hours of normal use with a 15-minute charge and 8 hours of sleep tracking with a 5-minute charge. 

The new Apple Watch has 5G Reduced Capacity (or 5G RedCap), allowing it to connect to both 5G and LTE networks without requiring an iPhone. In comparison, the Series 7 is limited to LTE and UMTS (3G) for cellular connectivity. Like the Series 8 and 9, Apple doesn’t mention the Wi-Fi bands for its 2021 model. The Series 11 supports Bluetooth 5.3 for faster and more reliable connections, whereas the Series 7 features Bluetooth 5.0.

The bottom line: Apple Watch Series 11 is faster, thinner, lighter and has a better-looking screen than the Series 7. It offers longer battery life, faster charging, sleep apnea and hypertension notifications, more reliable Bluetooth 5.3, media playback over speaker, voice isolation in calls, 5G connectivity and more. If you’re looking to upgrade from the 2021 Apple Watch, the Series 11 would be an excellent purchase.

Apple Watch Series 11 vs. older models