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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 16, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerApple Watch Series 11 vs Apple Watch Series 10
If you are torn between Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Series 10, this breakdown is for you. We compare specs, pros, and cons so you can decide confidently.
Ratings: 4.7★ vs 4.7★
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Apple Watch Series 11
★4.7
(1,649)•Amazon
Compatibility:iPhone 11 or later with iOS 26 or later
Operating System:watchOS 26
Case Size:42mm (42mm H x 36mm W x 9.7mm D) or 46mm (46mm H x 39mm W x 9.7mm D)
Case Material:Aluminum (Rose Gold, Silver, Space Gray, Jet Black) or Titanium (Slate, Gold, Natural)
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Apple Watch Series 10
★4.7
(15,669)•Amazon
Compatibility:iPhone Xs or later, including iPhone SE (2nd generation or later), with iOS 18 or later
Operating System:watchOS 11
Case Size:46mm (46mm H x 39mm W x 9.7mm D) or 42mm (42mm H x 36mm W x 9.7mm D)
Case Material:Aluminum (Jet Black, Rose Gold, Silver) or Titanium (Slate, Gold, Natural)
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Comparison: Apple Watch Series 11 vs Apple Watch Series 10
Apple Watch Series 11
★4.7(1,649)Amazon
Apple Watch Series 10
★4.7(15,669)Amazon
| Criterion | Apple Watch Series 11 | Apple Watch Series 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.7(1,649)Amazon | ★4.7(15,669)Amazon |
Compatibility | iPhone 11 or later with iOS 26 or later | iPhone Xs or later, including iPhone SE (2nd generation or later), with iOS 18 or later |
Operating System | watchOS 26 | watchOS 11 |
Case Size | 42mm (42mm H x 36mm W x 9.7mm D) or 46mm (46mm H x 39mm W x 9.7mm D) | 46mm (46mm H x 39mm W x 9.7mm D) or 42mm (42mm H x 36mm W x 9.7mm D) |
Case Material | Aluminum (Rose Gold, Silver, Space Gray, Jet Black) or Titanium (Slate, Gold, Natural) | Aluminum (Jet Black, Rose Gold, Silver) or Titanium (Slate, Gold, Natural) |
Display Type | Always-On Retina LTPO3 wide-angle OLED; Ion-X front glass with 2x scratch resistance (Aluminum) or Sapphire crystal (Titanium) | Always-On Retina LTPO3 OLED; Wide-angle; Up to 2000 nits brightness; Minimum 1 nit |
Display Size | 989 sq mm (42mm) or 1220 sq mm (46mm) | 1220 sq mm (46mm) / 989 sq mm (42mm) display area |
Resolution | 374 x 446 pixels (42mm) or 416 x 496 pixels (46mm) (326 ppi) | 416 x 496 pixels (46mm); 374 x 446 pixels (42mm) |
Always On Display | Yes (Up to 2000 nits peak, 1 nit minimum) | Yes |
Water Resistance | Water resistance 50 m (swimproof) | 50 m (ISO 22810:2010); Swimproof |
Durability | IP6X dust resistance; 2x more scratch-resistant Ion-X glass (Aluminum models); Sapphire crystal (Titanium models) | IP6X dust resistant; Crack-resistant front crystal |
GPS | L1 GPS, GNSS, Galileo, and BeiDou | L1 GPS, GNSS, Galileo, and BeiDou |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n); Bluetooth 5.3; Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip; Apple Pay; 5G (RedCap) and LTE on Cellular models | LTE and UMTS (GPS + Cellular models); Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n); Bluetooth 5.3; 2nd-gen Ultra Wideband chip |
NFC Payments | Apple Pay | Apple Pay |
Sensors | Electrical heart sensor (ECG); 3rd-generation optical heart sensor; Temperature sensor; Compass; Always-on altimeter; High-g accelerometer; High dynamic range gyroscope; Ambient light sensor; Depth gauge (to 6m); Water temperature sensor | Electrical heart sensor (ECG); 3rd-gen optical heart sensor; Temperature sensor; Compass; Always-on altimeter; High-g accelerometer; High dynamic range gyroscope; Ambient light sensor; Depth gauge (to 6m); Water temperature sensor |
Health Features | Sleep Apnea notifications; Hypertension notifications; Vitals app; ECG app; High/low heart rate notifications; Cycle tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates | Sleep Apnea notifications; Blood Oxygen app; ECG app; Cycle Tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates; High/low heart rate notifications; Irregular rhythm notifications; Medications; Mindfulness; Vitals app |
Workout Modes | Custom workouts; Multisport; Race Route; Running; Cycling; Hiking; Swimming (Pool & Open Water); Snorkeling (to 6m); Tides app | Strength, HIIT, Pilates, Yoga, Swimming (Pool & Open Water), Running, Cycling, Hiking, Multisport, Tai Chi, Kickboxing, Dance, Cooldown, and more via Workout app |
Storage | 64GB | 64GB |
Speaker Mic | Speaker (media playback supported); Microphone with Voice Isolation | Speaker (media playback supported); Microphone with Voice Isolation |
Calls | Yes (via Wi-Fi/iPhone or 5G/LTE on Cellular models) | Yes (GPS + Cellular models standalone); GPS models via paired iPhone |
Battery | Up to 24 hours (normal use); Up to 38 hours (Low Power Mode) | Up to 18 hours (normal use); Up to 36 hours (Low Power Mode) |
Charging | Fast charge capable (0-80% in approx. 30 minutes) | Fast charge (0–80% in approx. 30 min); Magnetic Fast Charger to USB-C Cable (1m) included |
Weight | 42mm: 30.3 g (Alu GPS), 29.7 g (Alu Cell), 34.6 g (Ti); 46mm: 37.8 g (Alu GPS), 36.9 g (Alu Cell), 43.1 g (Ti) | Aluminum: 36.4g (46mm) / 30g (42mm); Titanium: 41.7g (46mm) / 34.4g (42mm) |
Band Sizes | Fits 130–200mm wrists (42mm) or 140–245mm wrists (46mm) | Fits 140–245mm wrists (46mm); Fits 130–200mm wrists (42mm) |
Extras | S10 SiP (64-bit dual-core); 4-core Neural Engine; Double tap gesture; Precision Finding for iPhone; On-device Siri | S10 SiP with 4-core Neural Engine; Double tap gesture; On-device Siri; Crash Detection; Fall Detection |
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Apple Watch Series 11
Rating:★4.7(1,649)Amazon
Compatibility:iPhone 11 or later with iOS 26 or later
Operating System:watchOS 26
Case Size:42mm (42mm H x 36mm W x 9.7mm D) or 46mm (46mm H x 39mm W x 9.7mm D)
Case Material:Aluminum (Rose Gold, Silver, Space Gray, Jet Black) or Titanium (Slate, Gold, Natural)
Display Type:Always-On Retina LTPO3 wide-angle OLED; Ion-X front glass with 2x scratch resistance (Aluminum) or Sapphire crystal (Titanium)
Display Size:989 sq mm (42mm) or 1220 sq mm (46mm)
Resolution:374 x 446 pixels (42mm) or 416 x 496 pixels (46mm) (326 ppi)
Always On Display:Yes (Up to 2000 nits peak, 1 nit minimum)
Water Resistance:Water resistance 50 m (swimproof)
Durability:IP6X dust resistance; 2x more scratch-resistant Ion-X glass (Aluminum models); Sapphire crystal (Titanium models)
GPS:L1 GPS, GNSS, Galileo, and BeiDou
Connectivity:Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n); Bluetooth 5.3; Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip; Apple Pay; 5G (RedCap) and LTE on Cellular models
NFC Payments:Apple Pay
Sensors:Electrical heart sensor (ECG); 3rd-generation optical heart sensor; Temperature sensor; Compass; Always-on altimeter; High-g accelerometer; High dynamic range gyroscope; Ambient light sensor; Depth gauge (to 6m); Water temperature sensor
Health Features:Sleep Apnea notifications; Hypertension notifications; Vitals app; ECG app; High/low heart rate notifications; Cycle tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates
Workout Modes:Custom workouts; Multisport; Race Route; Running; Cycling; Hiking; Swimming (Pool & Open Water); Snorkeling (to 6m); Tides app
Storage:64GB
Speaker Mic:Speaker (media playback supported); Microphone with Voice Isolation
Calls:Yes (via Wi-Fi/iPhone or 5G/LTE on Cellular models)
Battery:Up to 24 hours (normal use); Up to 38 hours (Low Power Mode)
Charging:Fast charge capable (0-80% in approx. 30 minutes)
Weight:42mm: 30.3 g (Alu GPS), 29.7 g (Alu Cell), 34.6 g (Ti); 46mm: 37.8 g (Alu GPS), 36.9 g (Alu Cell), 43.1 g (Ti)
Band Sizes:Fits 130–200mm wrists (42mm) or 140–245mm wrists (46mm)
Extras:S10 SiP (64-bit dual-core); 4-core Neural Engine; Double tap gesture; Precision Finding for iPhone; On-device Siri
✓ Pros:
- • Battery life increased to 24 hours (up from 18h on Series 10)
- • Aluminum models feature 2x more scratch-resistant Ion-X glass
- • First non-Ultra Apple Watch to support 5G (RedCap) connectivity
- • Includes sleep apnea and hypertension notification features
✗ Cons:
- • Uses the same S10 chip as the previous generation (no speed gain)
- • Design and dimensions are identical to Series 10
- • Requires iOS 26, limiting compatibility with older iPhones
- • 5G support limited to Cellular models
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Apple Watch Series 10
Rating:★4.7(15,669)Amazon
Compatibility:iPhone Xs or later, including iPhone SE (2nd generation or later), with iOS 18 or later
Operating System:watchOS 11
Case Size:46mm (46mm H x 39mm W x 9.7mm D) or 42mm (42mm H x 36mm W x 9.7mm D)
Case Material:Aluminum (Jet Black, Rose Gold, Silver) or Titanium (Slate, Gold, Natural)
Display Type:Always-On Retina LTPO3 OLED; Wide-angle; Up to 2000 nits brightness; Minimum 1 nit
Display Size:1220 sq mm (46mm) / 989 sq mm (42mm) display area
Resolution:416 x 496 pixels (46mm); 374 x 446 pixels (42mm)
Always On Display:Yes
Water Resistance:50 m (ISO 22810:2010); Swimproof
Durability:IP6X dust resistant; Crack-resistant front crystal
GPS:L1 GPS, GNSS, Galileo, and BeiDou
Connectivity:LTE and UMTS (GPS + Cellular models); Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n); Bluetooth 5.3; 2nd-gen Ultra Wideband chip
NFC Payments:Apple Pay
Sensors:Electrical heart sensor (ECG); 3rd-gen optical heart sensor; Temperature sensor; Compass; Always-on altimeter; High-g accelerometer; High dynamic range gyroscope; Ambient light sensor; Depth gauge (to 6m); Water temperature sensor
Health Features:Sleep Apnea notifications; Blood Oxygen app; ECG app; Cycle Tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates; High/low heart rate notifications; Irregular rhythm notifications; Medications; Mindfulness; Vitals app
Workout Modes:Strength, HIIT, Pilates, Yoga, Swimming (Pool & Open Water), Running, Cycling, Hiking, Multisport, Tai Chi, Kickboxing, Dance, Cooldown, and more via Workout app
Storage:64GB
Speaker Mic:Speaker (media playback supported); Microphone with Voice Isolation
Calls:Yes (GPS + Cellular models standalone); GPS models via paired iPhone
Battery:Up to 18 hours (normal use); Up to 36 hours (Low Power Mode)
Charging:Fast charge (0–80% in approx. 30 min); Magnetic Fast Charger to USB-C Cable (1m) included
Weight:Aluminum: 36.4g (46mm) / 30g (42mm); Titanium: 41.7g (46mm) / 34.4g (42mm)
Band Sizes:Fits 140–245mm wrists (46mm); Fits 130–200mm wrists (42mm)
Extras:S10 SiP with 4-core Neural Engine; Double tap gesture; On-device Siri; Crash Detection; Fall Detection
✓ Pros:
- • Largest, most advanced display in a standard Apple Watch
- • Thinnest design ever (9.7mm) with lighter weight options
- • Faster charging (80% in 30 mins) aids sleep tracking
- • New health features including Sleep Apnea notifications
- • Includes depth gauge and water temperature sensor
✗ Cons:
- • Battery life remains 18 hours (requires daily charging)
- • Titanium finish commands a significant price premium
- • Requires iPhone Xs or newer (Android incompatible)
- • Some features (Blood Oxygen) strictly dependent on region
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Which one is better?
Overall, Apple Watch Series 11 delivers better satisfaction. Apple Watch Series 10 is still a quality option with specific strengths worth considering.
Who should buy each?
Expert take:
- Apple Watch Series 11 suits buyers who need Battery life increased to 24 hours (up from 18h on Series 10), Aluminum models feature 2x more scratch-resistant Ion-X glass
- Apple Watch Series 10 suits buyers who want Largest, most advanced display in a standard Apple Watch, Thinnest design ever (9.7mm) with lighter weight options
Conclusion
With the key differences outlined, the decision should be clearer. Both options deliver quality—choose the one that fits your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
Apple Watch Series 11 excels if you value battery life increased to 24 hours (up from 18h on series 10). Apple Watch Series 10 is better if you prioritize largest, most advanced display in a standard apple watch. Pick based on your budget and daily use.
+Is this an independent review?
Yes. We use affiliate links for monetization, but recommendations are research-driven and unbiased.
+Do newer models exist?
Check release timelines from the manufacturers and compare pricing before you buy. We refresh this page when major updates land.
Affiliate disclosure
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