Apple Watch Series 11: Three new features coming next month

A new wave of Apple Watch models is launching soon. Apple Watch Ultra 3 will rightfully get a lot of attention, but there’s a new Apple Watch Series 11 coming too—here are the rumored new features.

#1: Upgraded S11 SiP

Where the iPhone uses A-class chips like A18, and Macs and iPads often use M-class like M4, the Apple Watch has an S-class SiP (“System in Package”).

Last year, Apple Watch Series 10 debuted a new S10 SiP. While Apple doesn’t always have new SiPs ready annually, recent leaks indicated S11 is indeed coming this year.

The Apple Watch Series 11’s S11 SiP should offer performance improvements that are especially key for new AI features coming in watchOS 26. It may even enable some new exclusive capabilities, as SiP updates sometimes do.

#2: High blood pressure detection

Health and fitness are among the core reasons many users wear an Apple Watch. And this year, Apple is expected to ship a big new health addition.

High blood pressure detection is reportedly coming with Apple Watch Series 11.

The feature will be enabled by new sensors added to the Watch, and alert users to potential hypertension. Mark Gurman explains:

The blood-pressure feature…is designed to work in a similar way to Apple’s sleep apnea detector. It won’t give users specific readings — such as diastolic or systolic levels — but it will inform them that they may be in a state of hypertension.

Hypertension detection could make a huge impact in surfacing an important medical condition to users. This is very much in line with many existing Apple Watch health features.

#3: 5G cellular connectivity

Longtime Apple followers might remember that when 5G came to the iPhone in 2020, Apple made a very big deal about it.

Five years later, the company has rolled out 5G on iPhone and iPad, but the Apple Watch still only supports 4G LTE. Per Bloomberg, that’s changing this year.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 is getting support for 5G cellular, and Apple Watch Series 11 is expected to as well.

5G will be added via a special ‘5G RedCap’ service that’s designed for low power consumption devices like wearables.

The shift comes as Apple moves away from Intel as its Apple Watch modem supplier, opting for cellular modems from MediaTek instead.

Apple Watch Series 11 features: wrap-up

Overall, last year’s Series 10 brought a bigger assortment of improvements than what we’re expecting from Apple Watch Series 11. The new, larger screen with LTPO3 OLED, a thinner case, faster charging, and the improved speaker were all strong updates.

Though features like screen and case size are expected to stay the same, Apple could always debut a compelling new material finish or popular new color. Rumors around features have generally been lighter than usual this year. That could either means there aren’t many changes coming this year, or Apple has some surprises up its sleeve.

What new features do you want from an Apple Watch Series 11? Let us know in the comments.

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