While the Apple Watch announcement may have been picky compared to the iPhone news at today’s Apple event, the smartwatch lineup still has some notable updates. This year, we’ll get Watch Series 11, watch SE 3 and watch Ultra 3, and everyone has some fun features. I spent some time on the device at the hands-on session at Apple Park and thought the most appealing thing was Series 11.
At first glance, Series 11 is no different from the Series 10 I wore during the event. They are the same thinness and have almost the same size, the main change is that the new smartwatch has scratch-resistant IONX glass coverings. Although I’m a bigger fan of the Rose Gold Band and Case pairing, there’s also a new Space Gray Case option that looks good. I especially like the loop band on the unit I checked out.
I put Series 11 on my wrist next to Series 10 of my Series and it really can’t be separated. Upgrading from last year’s model to this isn’t a bad thing, and there may be no reason to upgrade to this. Anyway, we don’t want to waste it too much. The actual update to Series 11 includes a new “Possible Hypertension” alert that uses data collected from existing optical heart rate sensors to study vasoconstriction and expand patterns associated with your heart rate. This shows if there is a difference in your blood pressure – Keywords: Difference.
This tool is not meant to let you read your blood pressure. It’s more important to judge whether there are any questions about the change and remind you to see the medical professional. This is similar to many other Apple Watch features like sleep apnea detection or high heart rate alerts, and since it requires data trends to work, I can’t test it in Apple Park.
I also haven’t tested the sleep rating feature of the upcoming WatchOS 26, but that’s not unique to Series 11, and any Apple Watch that is compatible with the latest software will be able to get it. I do love how you get scores once you put on your watch and go to bed without having to wait for the night you need to surface.
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