Our verdict
The best everyday smartwatch for iPhone-owning runners who value health, apps and convenience more than ultra-long battery life.
What we like
- Lowest price of any current Apple Watch
- Same core running and health software as Ultra 3
- Thinnest, lightest Apple Watch yet
- Hypertension and sleep apnea notifications
- Excellent third-party app and Strava support
What to consider
- Needs charging every day
- No dual-frequency GPS branding or dive rating
- Requires an iPhone to work
- WR50 rating limits serious open-water swimming
Image credit: Apple (official product imagery, used for editorial review purposes)
Overview
The Apple Watch Series 11 is Apple’s mainstream watch, starting at $679 AUD. It is thinner and lighter than ever, adds 5G connectivity and a tougher display, and is the sensible choice for runners who want solid fitness tracking bundled with a full smartwatch rather than a rugged, ultra-endurance design.
Design and Display
Series 11 is Apple’s thinnest watch yet, available in 42mm and 46mm aluminium or titanium cases with seven finishes. The Ion-X display is rated twice as scratch-resistant as Series 10’s, and the watch is rated WR50 and IP6X, suitable for pool swimming and everyday sweat but not serious diving.
Running and Training Features
The same refreshed Workout app, Custom Workouts, Pacer, Race Route, training load tracking and Workout Buddy coaching found on the Ultra 3 carry over to Series 11, making it a capable everyday running watch. It lacks the Ultra 3’s precision dual-frequency GPS branding and titanium ruggedness, but for road running and gym training the day-to-day experience is very similar.
Health and Recovery
Series 11 gains the same hypertension notifications introduced across the 2025 Apple Watch lineup, alongside sleep score, sleep apnea notifications, the Vitals app, ECG, blood oxygen and cycle tracking with ovulation estimates. It is a genuinely strong all-round health tracker, not just a running tool.
Battery Life
Apple quotes up to 24 hours of normal use and up to 38 hours in Low Power Mode, with an 8-hour top-up from just 15 minutes on the charger. That is a meaningful jump over older Apple Watches but still requires nightly charging, unlike most Garmin, Polar, Suunto or Coros watches.
Price and Value
At $679 AUD, Series 11 is the cheapest way into serious Apple Watch running features and undercuts the Garmin Forerunner 965 and Polar Vantage V3 while matching much of their day-to-day training usefulness for road runners.
Verdict
Series 11 is the watch for iPhone-owning runners who want strong everyday fitness and health tracking without paying Ultra 3 prices or carrying its bulk. Trail and ultra runners, and anyone wanting multi-day battery, should look elsewhere.
