I am not a loyal user of the Apple brand, but I have been able to get used to various devices from several manufacturers that are gaining more and more attention every year. Among my favorite brands for wearable devices is Huawei because I do not have to charge their watches often. However, the opportunity to review the latest smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 11, has piqued my interest in trying it out for myself.
This is because many users have previously expressed dissatisfaction with its battery life, which allegedly needs to be charged frequently. Therefore, I am interested in evaluating for myself whether this is true or not. Therefore, my full review of the Apple Watch Series 11 will cover the user experience in terms of design, performance, and battery life throughout the period of use.
SPECIFICATIONS
Screen 1.96″ LTPO3 OLED wide-angle
416 x 496 (2000 nits)
Night mode watch face
Always-On Retina
Processor S10 SiP
64-bit dual-core
4-core Neural Engine
Memory/Storage 164GB Storage
Operating System WatchOS 26
Protection Water resistant up to 50m
IP6X dust protection
Sensors Electrical heart sensor
Gen-3 optical heart sensor
Temperature sensor
Blood oxygen sensor
Always-on altimeter
High dynamic range gyroscope
Ambient light sensor
Water temperature sensor
Others L1 GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou
LTE & UMTS
Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)
Bluetooth 5.3
Safety SOS Emergency
Accident detection
Fall detection
Noise monitoring
Track back
Battery Fast charging
80% charge – 30 minutes
Aluminum & Metal Construction
Price Starting at RM1,799
Usage Experience
My experience using the Apple Watch Series 11 has a positive impact, especially in terms of design. Although some think that there are no major changes compared to the previous generation, this smartwatch still maintains a premium aura in its class. Its simple design is an advantage for users who love the minimalist concept while its solid construction makes its offering balanced and attractive to wear in various situations.
The Apple Watch Series 11 overall still maintains a design that is almost the same as the Series 10, including similar dimensions and weight. This shows that Apple has chosen to maintain the existing design identity that is already known without making major changes in terms of physicality.
The previous series has introduced significant changes in terms of design, namely a thinner shape and a wider display. Therefore, it can be concluded that such changes may not happen again in the near future because Apple is now more inclined to maintain design consistency rather than making major overhauls.
The watch's frame is rectangular with slightly rounded corners, while the metal trim around the bezel provides an attractive contrast to the large, glossy screen. The Apple Watch Series 11 only has two physical controls, the Digital Crown and a small button on the right side.
The overall design looks neat and minimalist, making it easy to use and pleasing to the eye. In fact, the design hasn't changed much since last year, and even since the first model was introduced in 2015. However, this is not a big issue except for users who really want a drastic change as a new fashion accessory.
In terms of durability, the Apple Watch Series 11 uses an LTPO OLED screen with protective glass that Apple says is twice as scratch-resistant as the previous generation. I welcome this offering as it gives added confidence during everyday use. In addition, the Series 11 also receives a WR 50M rating for water and dust resistance, making it more practical for everyday use.
However, I am still cautious when using it because the experience of a friend who found that his watch screen was scratched due to accidentally hitting a wall has raised a sense of caution. Moreover, the unit I used was only a loan for review purposes, so I need to take extra care in using it.
The 46mm size that I used felt quite suitable on the wrist because it was not too small and not too big. During this review period, I chose a silicone strap that was not only comfortable to wear but also did not cause any irritation to the skin. However, there was some concern about whether this strap would be able to last for a long time, including in terms of color durability that may fade due to dirt. In addition, the ‘sport band’ option is also available, but I did not consider it because it easily causes sweat to accumulate and risks causing an unpleasant odor.
Although the overall design has not changed much, my experience using the Apple Watch Series 11 clearly shows the advantages of the display that stand out. The screen comes with a brightness of up to 2000 nits, making it easy to see in various weather conditions, whether under bright sunlight or in darker environments. The rounded corners of the screen also make it easier to adjust to the watch frame and make better use of the available space. For me, this display is not only attractive but also the most dominant element in the entire design.
Furthermore, the Always-on display function really adds value to my daily experience. It allows me to see the time and important information without having to manually activate the screen, which is very useful when exercising, especially when running on a treadmill or when taking a leisurely walk in the park. In addition, each watch face is also designed with a dimmed display version that uses minimal animation elements. However, I found that some watch faces were more successful in achieving this balance than others, making the choice of watch faces an interesting aspect to try.
Performance and Software – WatchOS26
Powered by the same S10 chip as its predecessor, the Apple Watch Series 11 is able to provide consistent and smooth performance. This is combined with the WatchOS 26 software that makes the user experience smarter and more comprehensive. WatchOS 26 also introduces Apple Intelligence features that bring new capabilities to the wrist including AI-based fitness coaches, real-time translation, genmoji and smarter call handling.
My experience using it feels like using an iPhone, especially with the updated Liquid Glass design. Among the features that caught my attention the most is the Messages app, which is now smarter thanks to machine learning on the device. It is able to suggest actions based on the context of messages, including providing several text suggestions, making everyday communication easier.
In addition, Smart Stack also learns from my daily routine. For example, if I usually walk to the office after driving, the relevant card will automatically appear as soon as I arrive. In one situation, when I was listening to Spotify on my laptop, it will display a Shazam card to help me identify the current song. This Smart Stack also works like an iPhone because it also provides relevant image and content suggestions according to current needs, thus making the user experience more practical.
I also found the Wrist Flick function very useful because it allows me to quickly stop or close any feature, whether it is a call, notification, and so on, with just one hand movement. In addition, the Two Fingers tap function also helps me check details or use it for several purposes without having to touch the screen directly. The sound system for incoming calls, notifications, and series will also be automatically adjusted according to the ambient sound level, thus making the user experience more comfortable in various situations.
In addition, my observations of the Apple Watch Series 11 found that it still maintains the comprehensive health and fitness monitoring features from last year's model, but with some important additions that make it more complete. I did not use this watch for challenging activities such as running, cycling, or swimming. Instead, it is used entirely to monitor most of the usual daily activities such as step count, heart rate and sleep patterns. As a result, the included sensors work well without any problems in tracking data and even send frequent reminders to stay active throughout the day.
My favorite feature so far is the Sleep Score because it allows me to assess the quality of my daily sleep and understand my sleep patterns for improvement. In fact, I recently managed to achieve a sleep score of 100%, which is something that gives me satisfaction and thus motivates me to maintain a healthier lifestyle.
My favorite feature so far is the Sleep Score because it allows me to assess my daily sleep quality and understand my sleep patterns for improvement. In fact, I recently managed to achieve a sleep score of 100%, which is a great satisfaction and motivation to maintain a healthier lifestyle.
I also praise the watch’s ability to monitor health and fitness throughout the day. Most of the regular daily activities, including step counting, work well with almost accurate data readings and only show small differences compared to the actual count. It can be said to be almost accurate, the GPS function also operates well because unlike some other watches I’ve tried, it doesn’t take too long to lock on to the signal.
In addition, I also tested the electrocardiogram (ECG) detection function on this watch. The function can be activated via the button on the right side by placing your finger for 30 seconds to get a reading. After that, the data can be reviewed through the app, which also displays a graph of the readings for the purpose of analyzing changes in the electrical activity of the heart.
The experience of trying the ECG function was also easy without any difficulties, and the readings obtained mostly showed sinus rhythm, which is a condition when the upper and lower chambers of the heart beat in unison. According to Apple, my average reading was in the range of 72–79 BPM, thus showing a consistent heartbeat pattern.
However, the SpO₂ readings were found to be less consistent as I often had difficulty getting results even after the position of the watch strap was corrected. This problem occurs frequently and causes some errors because blood oxygen readings should be an important feature in health monitoring. In addition, there is also a message reply function via the WhatsApp application. With the built-in keyboard, I can reply to messages as if using a smartphone, thus making the communication experience easier.
However, the keyboard size is quite small and not suitable for my large fingers. Even so, messages are received without any delay, work well and provide a solid experience. Furthermore, the haptic function included feels quality and unlike other smartwatches which sometimes feel cheap.
Overall, I can praise the capabilities of this watch in terms of performance and design. However, there is one thing that needs to be compromised. Continue to the next paragraph to learn more.
Battery And Charging
The battery performance of the Apple Watch Series 11 is an aspect that requires a bit of compromise. Apple claims that this watch can last up to 24 hours on a full charge, and my own experience proves that the claim is true as it can indeed be used all day. However, I still need to charge it frequently, and for users like me who are not diligent about charging every day, this situation can be a little inconvenient.
There are times when I let this watch run out of battery for several days because I didn’t have time to charge it even though I still wanted to use it. This situation is different from my experience using several smartwatches from other brands that can last longer without having to charge every day. I understand that this difference may be due to the support of downloadable applications on the Apple Watch while most other Chinese smartwatches do not offer this function.
So even though the battery life is not that long, it is a compromise that must be accepted because the Apple Watch Series 11 offers a wider ecosystem of applications and a more comprehensive user experience.
In the Box
Here are the contents of the box with every purchase of Apple Watch Series 11.
One set of Apple Watch Series 11.
One set of watch bands.
Apple Watch 1 meter USB-C wireless charger.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Apple Watch Series 11 can be considered a modest upgrade over the Series 10 as it retains many of the same features with only a few minor improvements.
Thus, for users who already own a Series 10, this upgrade may not be necessary as the difference is not too significant. However, for those who are new to Apple Watch like me or users who are coming from an older model, the Series 11 is the right choice as it offers consistent performance and comprehensive app support.
Overall, this watch is more suitable for new users or those who want the full Apple ecosystem experience. Meanwhile, for Series 10 owners, this upgrade can be considered whether it is really worth it to meet their daily needs.
Apple Watch Series 11 42mm is sold at a price starting at RM 1799 in Malaysia and Apple Watch Series 11 46mm starts at RM 1949.
Pros
Premium design.
Consistent performance for daily functions.
Extensive app ecosystem.
Complete health features (ECG, SpO₂, steps, heart, sleep).
Smart Stack with relevant suggestions.
Reply to WhatsApp messages via the built-in keyboard.
Cons
Moderate battery life of only around 24 hours.
A modest upgrade that is almost the same as Series 10.
