Apple Unveils Apple Watch Series 11 With Hypertension Notifications, Sleep Score, and 5G Support

Apple today introduced the Apple Watch Series 11, adding new health features, longer battery life, and improved durability in what Apple calls its thinnest and most comfortable design yet. The new model debuts hypertension notifications, a sleep score feature in watchOS 26, and for the first time, 5G cellular support.

Customers can pre-order Apple Watch Series 11 today starting at $399, with availability beginning Friday, September 19.

Groundbreaking Health Features

Series 11 introduces hypertension notifications, which use the optical heart sensor to passively analyze blood vessel response over 30-day periods. If consistent signs of chronic high blood pressure are detected, users receive an alert. Apple says the feature was trained on data from more than 100,000 participants, validated in a clinical study of over 2,000 people, and could help identify more than 1 million undiagnosed cases in the first year. The feature is awaiting FDA clearance and will be available in over 150 countries and regions, including the U.S. and EU, later this month.

Also new is sleep score, which tracks duration, bedtime consistency, frequency of waking, and time in sleep stages to produce a nightly quality score. The algorithm draws on guidance from leading sleep organizations and was developed using over 5 million nights of data from the Apple Heart and Movement Study. Results can be viewed in the Sleep app, Health app, or as a complication on watch faces.

These features join an expanding set of health tools on Apple Watch, including ECG, irregular rhythm notifications, Blood Oxygen, sleep apnea detection, and ovulation estimates.

Durability and Battery Life

Apple Watch Series 11 maintains up to 24 hours of battery life, with fast charging that delivers 8 hours in 15 minutes.

The cover glass on aluminum models now includes an Apple-designed ceramic coating, bonded at the atomic level to double scratch resistance compared to Series 10. Titanium models continue to use sapphire crystal, the most scratch- and crack-resistant display cover Apple offers.

First Apple Watch With 5G

Series 11 adds 5G cellular, bringing faster downloads for music, podcasts, and apps, plus improved reception. A redesigned antenna covers more bands and can engage two system antennas simultaneously to boost signal strength in weak areas. Emergency calling and messaging are available even when the paired iPhone isn't nearby.

watchOS 26 and Apple Intelligence

The new watch runs on watchOS 26, which introduces Workout Buddy, a spoken motivation feature powered by Apple Intelligence that adapts to user history and real-time metrics. The Workout app has been redesigned with a clearer layout, Workout Views, and expanded customization.

Other watchOS 26 updates include:
• Liquid Glass design across the interface.
• Two new watch faces: Flow and Exactograph, plus updates to more than 20 others.
• Wrist flick gesture to dismiss alerts, joining double tap.
• Smarter Smart Stack hints for contextual suggestions.
• Notes app on the wrist.
• Hold Assist and Call Screening, when paired with iPhone.
• Live Translation in Messages, powered by Apple Intelligence.

Sizes, Finishes, and Bands

Apple Watch Series 11 comes in 42mm and 46mm sizes.
• Aluminum: space gray (new), jet black, rose gold, silver.
• Titanium: natural, gold, slate (polished finish).

The Nike collection introduces refreshed Sport Band and Sport Loop colors, with reflective yarn added to the Loop. The Hermès collection debuts the Faubourg Party knit band with matching animated face, plus a narrow Grand H metal link band.

Apple is also releasing new fall band colors including forest, neon yellow, anchor blue, and purple fog.

Pricing and Availability

Apple Watch Series 11 starts at $399 (U.S.). Customers in over 50 countries, including the U.S., Canada, UK, France, Germany, India, Japan, and Australia, can pre-order today, with availability beginning September 19.

watchOS 26 will be available on Series 6 or later, SE (2nd gen) or later, and all Ultra models starting Monday, September 15.

New subscribers may get three free months of Apple Music and Apple Fitness+ with purchase. AppleCare+ and AppleCare One are available for extended coverage, including accident protection, theft and loss, and battery service.