Apple Watch 11 vs Watch 10 – what’s the difference? Worth the upgrade?
Apple Watch 10 and 11 are virtually identical, and it is not worth upgrading from one model to the other. Either rank among Apple’s best with Watch 10 surprisingly winning on best value.
TL;DR – Watch 11 adds a new 5G chip for data connectivity and better coating on the Ion lens. A new CPU and efficiencies improve battery life.
If you buy a new apple Watch, ensure you get the Watch 11 as the older screen scratches easily – or get insurance
| Feature | Apple Watch Series 11 | Apple Watch Series 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Life | Up to 24 hours | Up to 18 hours |
| Cellular Connectivity | 5G RedCap modem | 4G LTE modem |
| Display Durability | Ion-X glass with ceramic coating (2x more scratch-resistant) | Standard Ion-X glass |
| Health Features | Hypertension detection, Sleep Score, blood oxygen monitoring (reactivated globally) | No hypertension detection, no Sleep Score, blood oxygen disabled in some regions (will be available through watchOS 26) |
| Operating System | watchOS 26 (includes wrist flick gesture, optimised for S11) | watchOS 11 (upgradable to watchOS 26, wrist flick supported) |
| Materials/Finishes | Aluminium: Jet Black, Silver, Rose Gold, Space Grey; Titanium: Natural, Gold, Slate | Aluminium: Jet Black, Silver, Rose Gold; Titanium: Natural, Gold, Slate |
| Processor | S11 SiP | S10 SiP |
| Packaging | Optimised box design
(40% more boxes per pallet vs. Series 8) |
– |
This post is part of the Apple Watch guide for endurance sport on this site, which covers the full lineup, watchOS, accuracy data, the medical roadmap, and the complete set of articles.
Last Updated on 29 May 2026 by the5krunner
My favourite kit and nutrition
- Injinji – Runners protect your toes. Avoid discomfort and minor injury. Run more. run faster. I use them.
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter — the small adapter that keeps your charging cables tidy. Essential for race day. I use one.
- Garmin charging puck — the fastest and most reliable way to top up your Garmin before a session. I use one.
- Ravemen FR300 — front light that mounts directly under your Garmin or Wahoo head unit. Keeps your bars clean and your beam pointed where it matters. I use one.
- Body Glide – The Blue anti-chafe stick that all swimmers and many runners use. I use it.
- Maurten — the race nutrition trusted by elite athletes. Gels and drink mix engineered to be easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Garmin Varia RTL515 — radar rear light that alerts you to vehicles approaching from behind. Pairs with your Edge or Garmin watch. I use this model.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2 — the power meter pedals most serious cyclists end up choosing. Accurate, easy to move between bikes. I use this model.
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. ID
AW10 is getting hypertension detection
I’d love to see hypertension detection on Garmin watches too, since it only relies on the optical heart rate sensor, it shouldn’t be that hard.
yep
and fda approval