Apple Watch Series 11 vs Series 9: are two years enough to evolve?
The Apple Watch Series 11 is undoubtedly coming this September. While it will probably not be a huge upgrade over the Series 10, will it bring something new for Series 9 owners?
Intro
The Apple Watch usully gets very small, incremental upgrades year over year — even less than your typical iPhone. Still, Apple pushes out a new model, like clockwork, every September.
So, now we have the Apple Watch Series 11. It comes with a more efficient processor for slightly longer battery life and finally supports 5G connectivity. It also has the slightly bigger display and wide-angle OLED display panel, which was a huge improvement with last year's Series 10.
Then, you have the Apple Watch Series 9. With a slightly thicker bezel, sure, but its S9 chip allows it to get all the features of WatchOS 26 — the new wrist flick to dismiss, sleep score, workout buddy, and more.
Should you be thinking about an upgrade? Or, if shopping now, should you get an old Watch Series 9 instead of a new Watch Series 11?
So, now we have the Apple Watch Series 11. It comes with a more efficient processor for slightly longer battery life and finally supports 5G connectivity. It also has the slightly bigger display and wide-angle OLED display panel, which was a huge improvement with last year's Series 10.
Should you be thinking about an upgrade? Or, if shopping now, should you get an old Watch Series 9 instead of a new Watch Series 11?
Let’s break it down:
Apple Watch Series 11 vs Watch Series 9: differences
- New S11 SiP with a new 5G modem in Series 11
- Bigger display with wider viewer angles on Series 11
- Series 11 comes with watchOS 26 but is available for Series 9
- 24 hours cited battery life on Series 11, 18 hours on Series 9
Table of Contents:
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Design & Sizes
Slightly thinner bezels!
The Apple Watch Series 11 repeats the design of the Series 10. It wasn't a radical change — they are still soft-shaped rectangles on your wrist. But the Series 10 had a new OLED panel with wider viewing angles and much thinner bezels. So, the Series 11 comes in sizes of 46 mm and 42 mm.
The Watch Series 9 has the older gen design with slightly thicker bezels. Though it's an absurd thing to complain about — they still look plenty high-tech with most of their front being screen. It's not a wide-angle OLED panel, so you can't view screen content from every angle, as you can with the Series 11. But, that small complaint aside, it's still a perfectly workable smartwatch.
Both have the signature digital crown that feels great to rotate and scroll content with. And the recent apps button just below it. No changes, they are both clicky and satisfying.
The Apple Watch Series 11 comes in either aluminum or titanium cases, but as you probably expect, the more premium material will cost you extra. For color options, the aluminum models are available in Space Gray, Silver, Rose Gold, and Jet Black. Titanium models come in Natural, Gold, or Slate. It's worth noting that it's not matte titanium, like on old iPhone Pros or the Apple Watch Ultra — it's polished to be glossy, like the stainless steel that Apple used before.
Speaking of stainless steel, the Apple Watch Series 9 was available in either that as the premium option, or aluminum as the more affordable choice. Its colors were Pink, Midnight, Starlight, Silver, and (Product) Red. For stainless steel models, you had Silver, Gold, Graphite.
| Apple Watch Series 11 | Apple Watch Series 9 |
|---|---|
| Sizes 42/46 mm | Sizes 41/45 mm |
| Materials Aluminum/titanium Ion-X glass | Materials Aluminum/stainless steel Ion-X glass |
| Colors Aluminum: Space Gray, Silver, Rose Gold, Jet Black Titanium: Natural, Gold, Slate | Colors Aluminum: Pink, Midnight, Starlight, Silver, (Product) Red Stainless steel: Silver, Gold, Graphite |
| Thickness 9.7 mm | Thickness 10.7 mm |
Bands
It's important to know, when upgrading a smartwatch, if the new model will support your old bands. The Apple Watch Series 11 does not support bands from the Watch Series 9 era because the casing was slightly redesigned — it's slimmer and wider by a few margins. Therefore, if you are upgrading, your old collection of bands is void. Maybe look to sell it off with the old Watch.
If you are shopping for a new model right now and don't have an old collection, that's still something to keep in mind. Apple Watches are likely to retain this newer design for at least a couple more years. Therefore, if you start collecting bands for the Watch Series 9 now, they won't work with future models, whereas Series 11 bands are likely to be compatible for a few years more.
Key word - likely.
Software & Features
26 reasons to switch! Oh, no, that's the new OS number
Apple Watch Series 11 is marching in with watchOS 26 — not time travel, Apple is unifying all the names of its operating systems. Watch, iPhone, Mac, and iPad will all be humming the same numerical tune — and that'd be the number of the year following the OS release.
So, it's the all-new Liquid Glass look, which is lovely on the Series 11's edge-to-edge display. Yes, it looks the same on the Series 9, kind of, but the added extra of the Series 11's display melting into the Watch's frame complements the software beautifully.
So, it's the all-new Liquid Glass look, which is lovely on the Series 11's edge-to-edge display. Yes, it looks the same on the Series 9, kind of, but the added extra of the Series 11's display melting into the Watch's frame complements the software beautifully.
For new features, WatchOS 26 comes with:
- Wrist Flick: allows you to dismiss notifications and calls with a wrist flick
- Hypertension Notifications: potential hypertension detection, if anomalies are detected over a period of 30 days
- Sleep Score: sleep quality analysis, based on sleep duration, consistency, and interruptions
- Notes app: the Notes app is now available on the Apple Watch
- New watch faces: Flow celebrates Liquid Glass, Exactograph, and Pride Harmony
- Smart Stack hints: contextual suggestions in the Smart Stack widget/complication
- Improved Messages app: smarter replies and smart actions
- Live Translation in Messages: requires an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone (iPhone 15 Pro or newer)
And all of these features are available on the Watch Series 9. So, software-wise, you are not missing out — at least not yet. The Apple Watch Series 9 should be supported for 3 more years, and it will eventually start dropping off on new features, as the hardware of newer models makes more stuff possible.
Battery and Charging
Full day plus change, quick to charge
The last meaningful jump in Apple Watch battery life came with the Series 7 — not in size, but in speed. It took 45 minutes to get from 0% to 80%, which is plenty enough to get you through a day. The Watch Series 10 improved the speed, giving you 80% in just 30 minutes. Suddenly, you didn't have to plan your schedule around your Watch charge time.
Now, the Apple Watch Series 11 gives us an upgrade in endurance thanks to its S11 chip, which is specifically more efficient. Apple cites 24 hours, versus 18 hours from the Apple Watch Series 9.
Now, the Apple Watch Series 11 gives us an upgrade in endurance thanks to its S11 chip, which is specifically more efficient. Apple cites 24 hours, versus 18 hours from the Apple Watch Series 9.
In our experience, the Series 11 definitely feels like it has more percentages at the end of the day. There's less battery-phobia with it. But we still plop it on a charger daily, so the upgrade doesn't feel super-meaningful. Sill, knowing that you have 30%-ish more time to get to that charging puck is a peace of mind.
Models and Prices
So, what sizes is the Series 11 coming in? Surprise — no surprises. Apple looks set to stick with the now-standard 42 mm and 46 mm flavors. Big enough to look modern, small enough not to feel like you’ve strapped a dinner plate to your wrist. As always, you’ll pick between GPS-only or GPS + Cellular, and this year, we finally get the jump from LTE to 5G. More efficient and more future-proof.
Material-wise, both models have aluminum as the more affordable option, and a premium material for more refined look. The Apple Watch Series 11 has a titanium option, the Series 9 — stainless steel. In fairness, both look very similar, because they are polished and super glossy. You don't get that raw titanium look option on the Series 11 as you do with the Watch Ultra models.
| Watch model | Aluminum | Premium material |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 11 46 mm | GPS: $429 GPS + 5G: $529 | Titanium GPS + 5G: $749 |
| Apple Watch Series 11 42 mm | GPS: $399 GPS + 5G: $499 | Titanium GPS + 5G: $699 |
| Apple Watch Series 9 45 mm | GPS: $429 GPS + LTE: $529 | Stainless steel GPS + LTE: $749 |
| Apple Watch Series 9 41 mm | GPS: $399 GPS + LTE: $499 | Stainless steel GPS + LTE: $699 |
Of course, those are the on-release MSRPs for the Apple Watch Series 9. If you are shopping nowadays — you can score a sweet deal on either new-old stock, refurbished, or second-hand units.
Voice Calls and Haptics
Both smartwatches will let you make and take calls — as long as you go for the cellular model. If you grab the GPS only version of either one, it does need to be within Bluetooth-shot of your iPhone to take and make calls.
Specs
Here's how the Apple Watch Series 11 vs Watch Series 9 specs look:
| Apple Watch Series 11 | Apple Watch Series 9 |
|---|---|
| Models 42mm 46mm both in Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi + 5G versions | Models 41mm 45mm both in Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi + LTE versions |
| Processor S11 chip | Processor S9 chip |
| Software watchOS 26 | Software watchOS 10 (updated to watchOS 11, eligible for watchOS 26) |
| Battery ~322 - 362 mAh (42 mm - 46 mm) Magnetic charger, 80% in 30 mins | Battery ~282 - 302 mAh (41 mm - 45 mm) Magnetic charger, 80% in 45 mins |
| Sensors HR, blood oxygen, altimeter, ECG, hypertension notifications | Sensors HR, blood oxygen, altimeter, ECG, hypertension notifications |
Summary
So, should you upgrade from the Watch Series 9? That's a pretty easy answer right now — mostly no. Not unless you are super-drawn to that all-screen, thin-bezel design. You are not missing out on that many changes, the software is the same, and you get the new health features.
If you are shopping right now and wondering if the Watch Series 9 is the best deal — right now, it is yes. But it will quickly taper off in new features in the next couple of years. We do suggest getting at least a Series 10 if you want to have the fullest featureset for a couple years longer. That said, it's worth noting that even the Apple Watch Series 6 is still supported. And while its sensors don't allow it to have hypertension notifications or Wrist Flick, it's still perfectly functional.
If you are shopping right now and wondering if the Watch Series 9 is the best deal — right now, it is yes. But it will quickly taper off in new features in the next couple of years. We do suggest getting at least a Series 10 if you want to have the fullest featureset for a couple years longer. That said, it's worth noting that even the Apple Watch Series 6 is still supported. And while its sensors don't allow it to have hypertension notifications or Wrist Flick, it's still perfectly functional.
On to the Apple Watch Series 11 — is it easy to recommend? Sure. It finally comes with 5G, if cellular is important to you. It is future-proof with all the latest hardware, and it looks as lovely as ever.
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