The Apple Watch Series 11 is by no means a bad smartwatch; in fact, it is quite impressive. However, it lacks the distinctiveness and appeal seen in previous iterations. Priced at $399, it occupies a mid-range position within Apple’s lineup. This situation isn’t entirely Apple’s fault, as the Apple Watch SE 3 has received substantial upgrades, and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 offers everything the Series 11 does, plus satellite connectivity. This places the Series 11 in a challenging position as it fails to provide any advantages over the SE 3, resulting in a higher price for merely a more refined design. One of the standout features of the Series 11 is its battery life.
Since the first Apple Watch was launched in 2015, Apple has maintained a claim of “all-day” battery life for 18 hours. However, the Series 11 marks a significant change with an official estimate of 24 hours on a single charge, which is a notable and practical enhancement for this year. While Garmin users may find humor in this, given that their watches can last for weeks or even months, Apple has typically been conservative with its estimates. Based on previous models, they usually exceed the advertised 18-hour battery life.
The Series 11 features a larger battery, with a 9 percent increase in the 42mm version and an 11 percent increase in the 46mm model, along with a more robust 5G modem. During my first 48 hours with the Series 11, I unplugged it at 10:30 a.m. when it was fully charged. After a day filled with notifications, utilizing the always-on display, and testing various features, the battery dropped to 8 percent after about 28 hours. A quick 25-minute charge boosted it to 62 percent, and after a 31-minute run, it decreased to 46 percent.
