Updated 19 Oct 2026
Is the Apple Watch Series 11 worth it?
Yes — if you don't need the Series 12's new heart sensor.
It looks like the Series 12, lasts the same day or so (about 24 hours), and has the bright always-on screen, Sleep Score, ECG and hypertension alerts. The Series 12 adds a heart sensor that reads far more often, a daily Readiness score, faster charging and 10 hours of GPS workouts instead of 8. If those don't matter to you, the Series 11 on a deal is the smarter buy. It only works with an iPhone.
96%of 46 owners give it 4 or 5 stars
- About 24 hours of battery
- Hypertension alerts and Sleep Score
- Usually well below Series 12 money
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What owners say
Owners are very happy with it, most of them in a word or two. Battery that needs a daily charge is the one recurring niggle.
Good to know
- Battery lasts about a day, so it charges nightly.
- Barely faster than the Series 10.
- It misses the Series 12's faster heart sensor, Readiness score and Audio Intelligence.
- GPS workouts last about 8 hours, against 10 on the Series 12.
From 46 buyer ratings at Currys, every complaint read by us, October 2026. How we do this
What they love
- Fast, a real upgrade from an older Apple WatchMentioned a lot
- Sleek, good-looking designMentioned a lot
- Health and workout trackingMentioned often
- Charges quicklyAlso mentioned
What they complain about
Hardly any: just 2 of 46 owners gave it 3 stars or fewer, and no complaint came up often enough to list.
Get it if…
- You have an iPhone and want a full Apple Watch for less.
- You're upgrading from a Series 8 or older.
- You find it well below the Series 12's price.
Skip it if…
- You want the most accurate heart tracking and a Readiness score: get the Series 12.
- You own a Series 10: it's barely different.
More on the Apple Watch Series 11
How we reached this verdict
TechRadar called it the most capable mainline Apple Watch yet at launch, for its bigger battery (up to 24 hours), twice as scratch-resistant glass, hypertension alerts and Sleep Score, though with no real speed gain. Tom's Guide says the Series 12's heart sensor (every five seconds instead of five minutes), Readiness score and longer GPS battery make it a worthy upgrade, but calls the Series 11 still a fantastic smartwatch for less.
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: TechRadar, Tom's Guide: Series 12 vs 11, Apple Newsroom, Tom's Guide, TechRadar, TechRadar, manufacturer specifications.
Updated 19 Oct 2026How we decide