Apple Watch Series 11 adds hypertension alerts, longer life

Apple has unveiled the Apple Watch Series 11, introducing new health features, longer battery life, and enhancements in durability while retaining a thin and comfortable design.

Health notifications

The Apple Watch Series 11 expands its health monitoring capabilities with the addition of hypertension notifications and a new sleep score feature, designed to provide users with deeper insights into their wellbeing. The device builds on existing health functionalities, which include irregular rhythm notifications, ECG app, high and low heart rate notifications, blood oxygen monitoring, and retrospective ovulation estimates.

"Apple Watch is the world's most popular watch, using advanced sensing capabilities to empower millions of people around the world to better understand their health simply by wearing it, while also serving as a fitness coach, message centre, mobile wallet, and beautiful timepiece," said Stan Ng, Apple's Vice President of Apple Watch and Health Product Marketing. "With powerful new health features - hypertension notifications and sleep score - plus longer battery life and a more scratch-resistant glass display, all in a thin and comfortable design users love, Apple Watch Series 11 is an indispensable companion that supports users' health, fitness, safety, and connectivity throughout the day and night."

The newly introduced hypertension notifications aim to alert users if signs of chronic high blood pressure are detected using data from the watch's optical heart sensor. The system analyses blood vessel responses over a 30-day period and provides alerts for potentially undiagnosed hypertension, a key risk factor for heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease.

"Hypertension is the leading preventable cause of heart attack and stroke, yet millions remain undiagnosed," said Harlan Krumholz, MD, SM, cardiologist and scientist at Yale University and Yale New Haven Hospital. "Making accurate detection easy and part of daily life can help people get care earlier and prevent avoidable harm."

This feature uses algorithms developed with training data from multiple studies involving over 100,000 participants, and its performance has been validated in a clinical study of over 2,000 participants. Apple projects that over one million people with undiagnosed hypertension could be notified within the first year of availability.

If users receive a hypertension notification, guidance suggests logging their blood pressure with a third-party cuff for seven days and discussing the results with a healthcare provider at their next visit. This aligns with the latest American Heart Association guidelines for hypertension diagnosis and management. The feature is expected to be available in over 150 countries and regions, pending regulatory clearance.

Sleep insights

The sleep score feature uses the watch's sensors to monitor heart rate, wrist temperature, blood oxygen, and respiratory rate during sleep. It generates a nightly score and classification within the Sleep app, breaking down critical sleep components such as duration, bedtime consistency, frequency of wake-ups, and time spent in each sleep stage. The information can be accessed on the watch face or tracked over time in the Health app on the iPhone.

The sleep scoring algorithm was developed using over five million nights of sleep data and references the latest scientific guidance from organisations such as the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the World Sleep Society.

Design and durability

The Apple Watch Series 11 continues the thin and comfortable design of its predecessor while providing up to 24 hours of battery life, supported by fast charging that delivers up to eight hours of use in 15 minutes. The cover glass on aluminium models is now treated with a ceramic coating using physical vapour deposition, which, according to Apple, results in the glass being twice as scratch-resistant as before. Titanium models continue to offer sapphire front crystals for maximum scratch and crack resistance.

Communication features

With optional cellular connectivity, users can make calls, send messages, and access emergency services when their iPhone is not nearby. The Series 11 uses a redesigned cellular antenna capable of covering more bands, and can utilise two system antennas simultaneously to improve signal strength, particularly in areas with weak network coverage.

Software and experience

watchOS 26 introduces new ways for users to stay active and connected, including Workout Buddy, which provides personalised, spoken motivation based on workout history and real-time data. The Workout app sees usability improvements, with custom workouts and media integration for music and podcasts during activity sessions. Additionally, the update brings new watch faces, deep software design enhancements, and a one-handed wrist flick gesture for quick actions.

The update also includes Smart Stack hints for proactive suggestions, Live Translation in Messages, note creation on the wrist, and call screening to manage unknown callers when an iPhone is nearby. These features are aimed at further integrating health, communication, and productivity into a single wearable device.

Materials and sustainability

Apple Watch Series 11 is produced with 40 per cent recycled content, including 100 per cent recycled cobalt in the battery and recycled titanium or aluminium in the casing. Manufacturing is powered by renewable energy sources. Paper packaging is fibre-based and fully recyclable. As part of Apple's efforts towards carbon neutrality, these changes are intended to support its aim to be carbon neutral across its entire business by the end of the decade.

Line-up and availability

The Series 11 is available in 42mm and 46mm sizes, in aluminium finishes of jet black, rose gold, silver, and a new space grey, as well as polished titanium in natural, gold, and slate options. New colours for watch bands are being introduced this spring, including forest, neon yellow, anchor blue, and purple fog, alongside updates to Nike Sport Bands and Hermès collections.

Apple Watch Series 11 starts at RRP AUD $679 or NZD $749 and can be pre-ordered in more than 50 countries and regions, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, the UAE, the UK, and the US.