Apple Watch 11 vs Apple Watch 10: a small bump or a big upgrade?

What's actually new in the Apple Watch 11?

✨They may look similar, but the Apple Watch 11 harbors a few real-world upgrades over the Series 10. First, the aluminum model now features tougher Ion-X scratch-resistant glass plus a new Space Gray color option. Battery life is the headline change, with the Series 11 receiving a bump to 24 hours per charge, six hours more than the Series 10. For those who use the cellular model, the Series 11 now supports 5G connectivity with RedCap. This means faster, more seamless connectivity, and the best part is your watch will stay connected without draining as quickly, which contributes to the improved all-day battery life. The Series 11 uses the S10 chip (same as the Series 10) and ships with watchOS 26, Sleep Score, and Hypertension alerts, but all these are available on the Apple Watch 10.

Why you can trust this Apple Watch 11 vs Apple Watch 10 comparison

At Back Market, we live and breathe tech. For over a decade now, we've been restoring tech to its best condition, giving us a unique perspective into how devices evolve across generations. Our team of experts handles thousands of Apple products each year, from iPhones to Apple Watches, so we have firsthand knowledge of what makes each generation distinct in terms of performance, durability, and value. You can trust our Apple Watch 11 vs Apple Watch 10 comparison because our hands-on experience makes us specialists rather than observers, which means we don't just review specs but understand how these devices hold up in real life. We handle these devices daily, so trust us to highlight the key differences that truly matter, from features to long-term value.

Apple Watch 11 vs Apple Watch 10: Key differences at a glance

Apple Watch 11 vs Apple Watch 10: Specifications

Design: Same design, but that's not a surprise

If you're an Apple fan, it comes as no surprise that the Apple Watch 11 shares the same design as the Apple Watch 10. Apple has a habit of reusing the same design for its products, with minor adjustments made each year between larger changes. The same applies this year, with the Series 11 keeping the Apple Watch 10's rounded square casing with a rounded-edge display. Externally, there are no discernible changes, with the Digital Crown and side button occupying the same positions as last year. The materials are the same, too, and both models are available with aluminum and titanium casings in the 42mm and 46mm sizes.

Something that has changed is the weight. The Apple Watch 11 is slightly heavier than the Series 10 across all variants. Still, it's such a minor difference that we don't think most people will feel the change ontheir wrist. Another change is color options, with the Series 11 adding a Space Gray option to its aluminum variant. Both wearables are deemed swimproof by Apple, with water resistance to a depth of 50 meters.

Winner: Tie

✨The Apple Watch 11 keeps the Series 10's design with only a slight gain in weight and a new Space Gray color option.

Display: Same display, tougher build

"With Ion-X glass providing twice the scratch resistance, the Series 11 takes it a step further with its ceramic coating, giving it an added layer of protection." – TechRadar

The Apple Watch 10 introduced new display tech when it launched, moving to an Always-On LTP03 wide-angle OLED panel. A bright and colorful display with better viewing angles. The Apple Watch 11 uses the same display but introduces a tougher Ion-X glass protector for aluminum models. According to Apple, the new glass protector is more durable thanks to a ceramic coating that gives it double scratch resistance. The titanium models retain sapphire crystal protection. Beyond the protective glass, all other display specs are identical, including brightness, which maxes out at 2,000 nits with a minimum of 1 nit.

Winner: Apple Watch 11

✨The Apple Watch 11's display beats the Series 10's thanks to the tougher Ion-X glass protector with ceramic shielding that is twice as good at resisting scratches.

Processor: The S10 chip once again

"…it's still running on the same S10 chip as last year, now also in the Ultra 3 and SE 3." - CNET

When it debuted, the Apple Watch 10 got a new chip, the S10. It's a 64-bit dual-core chip with a quad-core Neural Engine. It's an excellent chip, so good that Apple decided to use the same chip in the AppleWatch 11. The same goes for the W3 wireless chip, which includes second-gen Ultra Wideband and 64GB of storage. As aforementioned, the S10 chip is a great one, and Apple using it for the Series 11 shouldn't be a dealbreaker. Unlike iPhones or MacBooks, we aren't expecting high levels of processing for onboard apps on the Apple Watch. For wearables, a new chip typically means new features or enhancements to aspects such as battery life. Using the same chip, which is already a great chip, isn't bad, especially since the Apple Watch 11 is introducing new features and improving battery life with the same chip.

Winner: Tie

✨The Apple Watch 11 and Series 10 will share the same S10 chip, which also powers the Apple Watch SE 3 and Apple Watch Ultra 3.

Health and fitness: Two new features

"When it comes to the Series 11, Apple has included everything from the previous watch and added two new health monitoring functions: Sleep Score and Hypertension alerts." - TechRadar

The Apple Watch 10 is incredibly well-equipped for health and fitness. It offers many features, including ECG, heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking with FDA-approved sleep apnea notifications, and a bunch ofworkout features. Blood oxygen monitoring is back, too. During the September event, Apple announced that the Series 11 will be launching with two new features: hypertension alerts and Sleep Score. The two new features are exciting additions that can provide life-changing insights and a clearer view of overall wellness.

The hypertension alerts will analyze your heart rate data over a period of 30 days and alert you to a possible risk of hypertension, before recommending that you seek medical attention. On the other hand, the Sleep Score is a sleep tracking feature that will grade the quality of your sleep based on three factors: duration of sleep (50 points), consistency (25 points), and interruptions (25 points). You'll then receive a score between 0 and 100, as well as information on the contributing factors and tips to improve the quality of your sleep. However, these features are not specific to the Watch 11 as they will form part of the watchOS 26 updates. They will be available in the Series 10 as well as some older models. The same watchOS 26 will introduce Workout Buddy, an AI-powered personalized fitness coach, which will also be available on the Series 10.

Winner: Tie

✨The Apple Watch 11 will include two new features, Hypertension alerts and Sleep Score, but these will be available to the Series 10 with the watchOS 26 updates.

Battery life: Finally, all-day battery life

"Apple rates the Series 11 for up to 24 hours of "normal use," and after wearing it through at least three full battery cycles, I can confirm that's accurate." - CNET

Apple Watches have always struggled with battery life. While some competitors offer multi-day battery life, Apple Watches were bogged down at the 18-hour mark. Apple Watches can do everything, including monitor your sleep, but it doesn't help that they don't last long enough for that. We're pleased to announce that the Apple Watch Series 11 will not have this issue. Apple has bumped its battery life to 24 hours, six hours more than the Series 10's 18-hour battery life. Low power mode has also been improved, with the Series 11 managing 38 hours, two hours more than the Series 10. Charging remains the same, but the speed has also been improved. Like the Series 10, the Series 11 will also charge up to 80% in just 15 minutes, and according to Apple, for the Series 11, this 15-minute charge will provide enough power for eight hours of "normal use." They also say that a 5-minute charge on the Series 11 will be enough for eight hours of sleep tracking. Now you only need a brief charge before you sleep, and a 15-minute charge when you wake up to use the Apple Watch through a full working day.

Winner: Apple Watch 11

✨The Apple Watch 11 has received incredible gains in battery life, finally meeting the 24-hour battery life demand, with improved charging speeds.

Connectivity: Enter 5G

Here's one of the most significant differences between the Apple Watch 11 and the Apple Watch 10. The Apple Watch 11 is the first Apple Watch to support 5G on its cellular models. It will offer both 5G and LTE, while the Series 10 only has LTE. Both models retain Wi-Fi 4, but the Series 11 now has dual-band, while the Series 10 offers 2.4GHz. Other than these changes, the wireless toolkits remain identical between the watches.

Winner: Apple Watch 11

✨The Apple Watch 11 is the first Apple Watch to offer 5G support on its cellular models, promising faster and more seamless connectivity.

Pros and cons

✨When you compare the Apple Watch 11 to the Apple Watch 10, it's clear that Apple has some improvements, but most aspects remain familiar, and the changes may not feel dramatic for Apple Watch 10 owners.

How to buy an affordable Apple Watch

Who doesn't appreciate affordable tech? We want to think no one. You have several options if you're shopping for an inexpensive Apple Watch. The first is sales events. November is always around the corner, and that means two things: Black Friday and Cyber Monday. During these sales events, you can snag an Apple Watch at massive discounts from your favorite retailers. The other option is bundle deals. Some retailers will offer reduced prices when you pair that Apple Watch with an iPad, iPhone, AirPods, or other Apple tech, so you can always take advantage of that.

But hey, why wait for November or buy tech that you don't need just for the discount? The best way to buy an affordable Apple Watch is on Back Market. At Back Market, we sell Verified Refurbished devices. This means our tech is affordable year-round, sold at 20-50% off, compared to the price of new. And just so you can shop confidently, you get a 1-year warranty and a 30-day return period with every purchase. Our customers love us, and so would you. Here's what one satisfied customer had to say about their experience on Back Market:

"I honestly was going to order my Apple Watch in Excellent condition and somehow forgot to choose that and ordered whatever the default is for their system. Well, let me just say. I love my new refurbished watch! You would not be able to tell that it is used or refurbished at all. Maybe a few minor, very minor screen rubs. You have to look really close under a microscope to see them. It runs great. The battery life is wonderful, which was one of my biggest concerns. I will never again purchase brand new electronics if they are available on this site. They are just as good as a new Device. If you are thinking about buying an Apple Watch from Back Market, don't hesitate. You will be very pleased when you get your Watch." - Sheri A. Purchased on May 22, 2025

✨Back Market is the best place to buy an affordable Apple Watch. Our deals are available year-round, and you can snag an Apple Watch at 20-50% off compared to the price of a new one.

Why buy refurbished

If you ask us, refurbished tech is the best kind of tech. Yes, there are many reasons why we say this. First, refurbished tech is very affordable. At Back Market, we deal in Verified Refurbished tech. These are devices that have been expertly restored to complete working order by industry experts and sold at only a fraction of their original price. They provide like-new quality, thanks to the rigorous refurbishment process that includes an up to 100-point quality inspection, repair or replacement of defective parts, cleaning, testing, and cosmetic enhancements. All our tech comes with at least 80% battery health and is paired with a 1-year warranty for your peace of mind. So, refurbished tech isn't just affordable, it also offers top-notch quality, complete with a warranty backing.

Another reason to opt for refurbished tech is the benefits it offers to the planet. When you choose refurbished, you help cut down on new manufacturing, which in turn lowers carbon emissions released into the atmosphere. Buying refurbished tech also extends the life of tech, which helps combat the growing threat of e-waste in landfills. So, when you choose Back Market, you not only save money, but you save the planet too. But don't take it from us, let this Reddit user's advice guide your next move.

"I love Back Market! TLDR; I've purchased 3 iPhones in good (1) and fair (2) condition, "gently used "Samsung earphones for $20, and an iPad Air in fair condition. They offer fair, good, excellent, and premium conditions, but I've only purchased good and fair and can't tell the difference (imo they are all excellent), so now I always choose fair condition. My first purchase was in 2021 when there weren't a whole lot of reviews, but now they are established, and almost all the reviews are 5 stars." – Reddit comment

Trade in your old tech for cash

Don't let that old iPhone or iPad gather dust; trade it in for cash or credit towards your next purchase with Back Market's Trade-in program. It's fast, simple, and only involves three steps. Start by sharing some details about your device and get a quote, ship your device for free, and once everything is confirmed, you get paid. It's literally as easy as ABC. And the best part? You get to do a big solid for the planet, moving towards a greener, more sustainable tech cycle.

Price and availability

Apple has just announced the Apple Watch Series 11, which is available for purchase starting September 19. Pricing starts at $399 for the 42mm GPS model and $499 for the 5G cellular model. The larger 46mm model starts at $429 for the GPS model and $529 for the 5G cellular model. However, you can get more affordable Apple Watches on Back Market. These include older models like the Series 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, which Apple no longer sells. They offer like-new quality at a more affordable price. Here are some of the Verified Refurbished Apple Watches available on Back Market:

Final thoughts: The Apple Watch 11 is not an urgent upgrade

If you already own an Apple Watch 10, the Series 11 is not an urgent upgrade. It's Apple's smallest generational jump yet, changing only a handful of things compared to previous generations. So, what's new in the Apple Watch 11? A new color option, improved scratch resistance, 5G support, and improved battery life. While these are valuable changes, they don't warrant an upgrade.

However, for those coming from older Apple Watch generations like the Series 8 or earlier, upgrading to the Apple Watch 11 feels like a massive leap. Upgrading to the Series 11 means faster charging, a larger and brighter display, improved battery life, and expanded health features. You'll also be introduced to design changes that debuted with the Series 10, including the larger display, slimmer profile, and more comfortable fit.

The bottom line is, if you're holding an Apple Watch 10, the Apple Watch 11 feels more like a Series 10S than a new generation. The improvements are incremental, and there's no need to upgrade. Opting for the Apple Watch Series 10, especially a refurbished one, is the smarter move. You'll enjoy most of what the Series 11 offers, but at a lower cost while also supporting sustainability by keeping quality devices in use longer. However, if you own an older Apple Watch model, such as a Series 8 or older, upgrading to the Series 10 or 11 feels like a generational leap. You get a new design, improved battery life, fast charging, and better scratch resistance, a meaningful step forward.