The Apple Watch Series 11 introduces 5G cellular support alongside LTE, marking the first time Apple has equipped its Watch with 5G connectivity. Previous models, including the Series 10, only supported LTE and UMTS (3G), so this addition is the key cellular upgrade for the Series 11. However, the practical performance improvements between LTE and 5G on the Apple Watch are nuanced and depend on specific use cases and carrier support.
In terms of raw speeds, 5G on the Apple Watch Series 11 can be more than 10 times faster than LTE, theoretically offering significantly quicker navigation and download times, especially when the watch is operating independently of the iPhone or Wi-Fi connections. This means tasks such as downloading apps, podcasts, or streaming playback directly on the watch can happen much faster on 5G than LTE, which is beneficial for users who frequently use the Watch without their phone.
However, 5G connectivity also introduces greater power consumption compared to LTE. Apple has reportedly turned off 5G and used LTE connectivity to claim optimal battery life during testing, indicating that continuous 5G use could reduce battery endurance. Users leaving 5G on all the time may experience faster battery drain. Therefore, while 5G provides speed advantages, it comes with a trade-off of increased battery usage, which may affect the overall user experience.
In day-to-day usage, for most users, the speed differences between 5G and LTE may not be very noticeable unless engaging in scenarios involving large downloads or streaming over cellular. For example, downloading long podcast episodes is significantly accelerated by 5G compared to LTE, which can be a tangible improvement. However, for mundane activities like receiving notifications, checking messages, or typical app interactions, LTE speeds are typically sufficient, and the difference in responsiveness between LTE and 5G is minimal.
The effectiveness of 5G on the Apple Watch Series 11 also depends on carrier support. The watch uses a specific 5G implementation called "RedCap," and not all carriers have yet fully upgraded their networks to support this mode. Thus, in areas or with carriers where 5G RedCap is unavailable, the watch will default to LTE connections, negating the speed advantages of 5G. Additionally, the added antenna in the Series 11 aids with signal strength, which can help maintain better cellular connectivity overall, whether using LTE or 5G.
Summary of differences between 5G and LTE on Apple Watch Series 11:
- 5G offers much faster download and navigation speeds than LTE, notably improving activities like downloading large files or streaming without a phone nearby.
- LTE remains power efficient compared to 5G; continuous 5G use increases power consumption and reduces battery life.
- Most daily watch functions do not demand the high speeds of 5G, so the benefit may be minor for typical notifications or app usage.
- The new 5G capability requires carrier network support of Apple's RedCap 5G standard, which is still rolling out.
- An extra antenna in Series 11 enhances signal reliability for both LTE and 5G.
- Apple disables 5G in some battery testing scenarios, indicating a battery-life tradeoff.