By Srijith KN, Senior Editor

The Apple Watch Series 11 feels familiar on my wrist. It upholds the design philosophy centered on continuous wearability. At a slim depth of 9.7 mm, the profile remains consistent with its immediate predecessor, the Series 10. This lightness is paramount, specifically enabling the device to be worn comfortably 24 hours a day, a requirement for capturing the overnight and long-term health metrics that define this generation.

Same rounded-square silhouette, same slim profile, same 42 mm / 46 mm dial options. But that’s not a complaint, it’s a design that works. What’s changed are the refinements under the glass and behind the scenes that has resulted in a notably improved user experience.

Display & Durability: Subtle But Real

The new release continues to offer a choice between aluminum and the more premium titanium cases, catering to various user preferences for weight and durability. Let me start with what might sound basic, but matters every single day: the display glass.

Apple has treated the Ion-X glass on aluminum models with a new ceramic coating that bonds at the atomic level through physical vapor deposition, making it twice as scratch-resistant as the Series 10. I know that sounds like marketing speak, but here’s why it’s genuinely significant. It’s not just tougher glass; it’s peace of mind. You stop babying your watch and actually use it.

If you opt for the titanium model, you’re getting sapphire crystal instead, the most scratch and crack-resistant material you can put on a watch display. But honestly? The Ion-X glass closes the durability gap considerably, and at a more accessible price point. The Always-On Retina LTPO3 OLED remains, but Apple has pushed it to 2,000 nits brightness, made the display borders 24 percent thinner and improved the viewing angles.

Battery Life: Official Numbers Undersell It

Here’s where Apple deserves genuine credit for listening. The Series 11 now offers up to 24 hours of battery life, a full six hours more than previous generations. My experience, however, suggests Apple’s figures are rather conservative. The larger 46 mm model routinely delivered between 40 and 43 hours of use in testing. It allowed me to get through a full day, track a full night of sleep, and still have a buffer for the next morning. And for a quick top-up, the fast-charge capability gets you to 80% in about 30 minutes, or a brief 5-minute charge provides enough juice for a night’s sleep tracking.

There’s also Low Power Mode, which stretches the battery to an official 38 hours time, which again is a very much conservative claim from Apple. I’m being realistic here, you won’t use it daily unless you’re the type who obsesses over battery percentages. But it’s genuinely useful for specific scenarios: overnight travel, a weekend hiking trip, or when you’re running late and forgot to charge overnight. You lose some fitness features and continuous health monitoring, but the core functionality remains. Although I never needed it, knowing it’s there was reassuring.

Fast charging provides eight hours of battery life in just 15 minutes, so a quick top-up while you shower is all you need. Is it multi-day for a heavy user usage? No. But 24 hours is the sweet spot where the watch becomes genuinely convenient rather than another device demanding consistent attention. And the Low Power Mode is your safety net when life gets unpredictable.

5G: More Than a Spec Bump

I was skeptical about 5G on a watch. How much data are you really downloading on your wrist? Turns out, quite a bit; and the difference is noticeable. The Series 11 features an upgraded cellular antenna covering more bands, and can simultaneously engage both system antennas when needed, significantly increasing signal strength. Translation: music streams without stuttering, and podcast episodes are downloaded in seconds instead of minutes.

The real win is reliability. The dual-antenna system on the Series 11 maintains a connection in places. I travel frequently, and this means stronger, more stable coverage, validating the Watch’s role as an indispensable safety device and a reliable lifeline when I intentionally leave my iPhone behind.

Hypertension Monitoring: A Potential Life-Saver

The Apple Watch uses its optical heart sensor to quietly track how your blood vessels respond to each heartbeat, running an algorithm in the background over 30 days to look for signs of hypertension. I haven’t been wearing it long enough for that full 30-day cycle yet, so I haven’t seen any results. But once it’s had enough data, it’s supposed to alert you if it detects patterns that might point to chronic high blood pressure — basically telling you to double-check with a proper cuff and talk to your doctor.

watchOS 26: The Liquid Glass Era

The software deserves its own recognition. watchOS 26 introduces Liquid Glass, creating a vibrant, expressive experience across the Photos watch face, Smart Stack widgets, notifications, Control Center, and navigation. It’s a visual refresh that makes the watch feel premium and modern.

Two new standout features that I found the most attractive, useful and innovative:

Wrist Flick Gesture: My number one favorite new feature. I’ve come to love the new Wrist Flick gesture. It allows me to instantly dismiss notifications or silence alarms with a quick twist of the wrist. This isn’t a clumsy accelerometer trick; the Neural Engine uses machine learning to interpret “messy motion data” , so it knows the difference between an intentional flick and me just randomly moving my arm.

Smart Stack Hints: Think of them as little nudges from your watch. The right information or app suggestion pops up just when it might be useful. The Series 11 watches your routines, movement, location, and even sensor data, then predicts what you might need before you even ask for it.

The Ecosystem Advantage: Where Apple Watch Shines Brightest

It’s in day-to-day life that the Series 11 shines. Quick glances at the wrist replace phone-checking rituals. Notifications feel natural rather than disruptive, and built-in GPS means workouts don’t tether you to your iPhone. Cycling, walking, or even scootering, the Watch feels like a personal assistant that anticipates needs without demanding attention. 

Should You Buy/Upgrade?

If you own a Series 10: Probably skip it unless 5G and longer battery life address specific pain points for you. The improvements are meaningful but might seem incremental for you.

If you own a Series 6, 7, 8, or 9: This is a substantial upgrade. The display durability, battery life, 5G connectivity, and new health features justify the upgrade; especially if you’re bothered by battery anxiety or accumulated scratches.

If you’re new to Apple Watch: The Series 11 is the most refined, capable, and user-friendly version Apple has made. At 1,599 AED, (the titanium model starts at 2,799 AED) it’s a meaningful investment, that pays dividends daily if you’re already in the Apple ecosystem.

Pricing & Color Options

Aluminum – Available in Space Gray (New), Silver (New), Rose Gold and Jet Black

42 mm (GPS) – AED 1,599                                     46 mm (GPS) – AED 1,719
42 mm (GPS + Cellular) – AED 1,999                    46 mm (GPS + Cellular) – AED 2,119

Titanium – Available in Natural, Gold and Slate

42 mm (GPS + Cellular) – AED 2,799                    46 mm (GPS + Cellular) – AED 2,999

With capabilities of AI advancing every year, its potential to address challenges once thought unsolvable is rapidly expanding, from the possibility of curing genetic diseases to transforming urban mobility or enabling green data centres. With the global AI market set to reach $4.8 trillion by 2033 (UNCTAD), the race to deploy AI for critical sectors has never been more urgent. Against this backdrop, GITEX GLOBAL 2025 convenes as the world’s largest tech and AI event, with this year’s edition highlighting significant developments in biotech, physical AI, quantum computing, semiconductors, and data centres.

From 13-17 October at Dubai World Trade Centre, the show unites over 6,800 tech enterprises and 2,000 startups, with participation from 180 countries, bringing together the companies leading the world’s most ambitious AI infrastructure expansion. Global tech enterprises including Alibaba Cloud, AMD, AWS, Dell, e&, G42, Google, HPE, Huawei, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, Salesforce, Siemens, and Snowflake anchor the showcase, with new incoming innovations from Cerebras, Datadog, Mitsubishi, Qualcomm, Rital, ServiceNow, Tata Electronics, Telecom Italia, and Tenstorrent.

Running in parallel is GITEX’s startup showcase, Expand North Star, from 12-15 October at Dubai Harbour, hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy. Celebrating its 10th edition, the show connects 2,000 of the world’s most promising startups, with the highest percentage of growth & late-stage startups anywhere, with over 1,200 investors managing US$1.1 trillion assets. 

Trixie LohMirmand, EVP of DWTC, the organiser of GITEX globally, shared, “Future-critical sectors including data centres, biotech, quantum, and robotics are where AI ingenuity is converging with humanity’s most pressing challenges. GITEX GLOBAL 2025 gives new impetus to these transformative technologies, while continuing to being the harbinger of innovation-led progress across industries and global economies.”

Record Participation from Fast-Emerging Tech Economies – Brazil, Serbia, Chile

The show marks a record year for international participation, with Brazil joining as Country Partner with its largest-ever tech delegation, alongside the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Tech Destination Pakistan as key partners. New pavilions debut from Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Spain, and Türkiye, in addition to expanded representation from Europe, Central Asia, LATAM, Africa, and the Levant.

Tatiana Riera, COO, ApexBrasil, shared: “ApexBrasil is excited to be at GITEX GLOBAL and Expand North Star with over 50 incredible startups and innovation hubs. It’s a great opportunity to show how Brazil is driving innovation and creating tech solutions for global challenges.”

Marko Čadež, President, Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, added: “In the age of ubiquitous AI solutions, Serbian startups at this year’s edition demonstrate practical examples of AI applications across diverse fields: from well-being and energy to sentiment diagnostics on social media, showcasing the full depth and breadth of Serbian tech.”

Super Data Centres – The AI Factories of the Future

With global data centre investments set to exceed $500 billion in 2025 (BofA Research), GITEX GLOBAL welcomes one of the biggest global investors in this sector, O’Leary Ventures, building the world’s largest AI data centre industrial park in Canada. Paul Palandjian, CEO & Co-General Partner, O’Leary Ventures, commented: “The UAE has become the crossroads and a world leader in the development of technology and AI. No other place has the leadership vision, resources and commitment to attract a world-class cohort across every industry.” 

Adding a regional perspective, Hassan Alnaqbi, CEO of Khazna, MENA’s largest hyperscale data centre provider and a G42 company, leads the discussions on whether infrastructure, energy and policy can scale fast enough to keep pace with giga AI factories.

GITEX Digi Health & Biotech – The Next Frontiers of Medicine

Breakthroughs in gene editing, mRNA vaccines and AI-led drug discoveries are driving biotech spending towards $1.7 trillion in 2025 – setting the backdrop for the fastest AI deployment in this sector. At GITEX GLOBAL, Trevor Martin, CEO of Mammoth Biosciences, presents how CRISPR, their Nobel winning gene-editing technology, is using AI to potentially cure genetic diseases.
Matt Angle, CEO of Paradromics, the company behind the world’s first successful computer-brain implant, dives into decoding thought with AI and neurotech. Adding to this momentum, South Korean startup HurayPositive unveils AI-powered SaaS to deliver precision medicine for one million patients with chronic conditions.

Physical AI in Motion

At GITEX GLOBAL, Tensor unveils the world’s first personal robocar – globally applauded as “agentic AI on wheels”. Whilst K2 introduces new humanoids and a concept vehicle designed to extend robotics into industrial environments. With the robotics AI market projected to quadruple to $94 billion by 2031, these innovations illustrate how Physical AI is becoming an essential pillar of industry productivity and business edge.

GITEX Quantum Expo (GQX) – Advancing Quantum Readiness 

On the show floor, IBM unveils Quantum System Two, a major step towards large-scale fault-tolerant systems capable of solving computing scale challenges. Shukri Eid, VP and General Manager of IBM Gulf, Levant, and Pakistan, shared “GITEX GLOBAL is a global stage, but more importantly, it is a platform for action. It brings together the ecosystems that matter: policymakers, business leaders, and innovators driving AI forward.”

Prof. Mark Thompson, Co-Founder of PsiQuantum, a $6 billion unicorn, outlines the path towards quantum sovereignty. Among the headline exhibitors is also IONQ, the world’s first public pure-play quantum computing company trading at the New York Stock Exchange.

Ai Semicon – The Chips Behind Sovereign AI

Global leader in high-performance processors, AMD presents its Instinct™ GPUs and EPYC™ CPUs, built to handle the most demanding AI workloads and energy-efficient data centre deployments. Jim Keller, CEO of Tenstorrent, the $2.6bn AI chipmaker on the Forbes AI50 List, expands on this theme with his talk on “Taking Control of Your Sovereign AI Future,” as semiconductors become a geopolitical lever.

Startups, Scaleups & Unicorns Lead in AI Supercomputing

Expand North Star features more than 40 unicorns this year, reinforcing the UAE’s position as a hub for global scale-ups. Among them, Cerebras presents the world’s largest AI supercomputer (built in partnership with G42), Fluidstack unveils the world’s first 1GW decarbonised AI supercomputer, and Xpanceo introduces five prototypes of AI-powered smart contact lenses -advancing AR, healthcare, and consumer hardware simultaneously.

For more information, visit: www.gitex.com.

VOYAH has entered the UAE with a clear ambition: to redefine modern mobility for the Emirates. Distributed exclusively by Performance Plus Motors, a homegrown mobility enabler founded in 2021, the brand brings together premium design, advanced technology and sustainable performance. More than a new automotive marque, VOYAH UAE positions itself as both a luxury EV player and a sustainability partner, aligning closely with the UAE’s vision for smart, technology-driven progress.

The brand’s design philosophy is shaped by cultural heritage and harmony with nature. At its heart lies the Kunpeng, a mythical creature from Daoist tradition that symbolises limitless ambition and the pursuit of greatness. This inspiration is reflected in VOYAH’s winged logo and in the flowing light signatures across its vehicles. The result is a design language that blends elegance, balance and innovation, uniting craftsmanship with advanced technology to create a holistic identity for the UAE market.

Leading the charge is the VOYAH Free, an Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) that embodies the promise of sustainable luxury. With a pure electric range tailored for daily commutes, the Free engages a compact petrol engine only when needed to recharge the battery on longer journeys. Drivers, therefore, enjoy the benefits of electric mobility without being restricted by charging availability, a particularly relevant solution in the Emirates, where infrastructure is developing. By delivering electric-first performance with the reassurance of extended range, the Free removes barriers to adoption and supports the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Strategy, including the national target for half of all vehicles on the road to be hybrid or electric by mid-century.

Inside, the Free offers a distinctly premium experience. Its cabin features sustainable materials and a tri-screen digital cockpit that pairs next-generation technology with refined design. The spacious layout creates first-class comfort, ensuring that every journey feels both immersive and elegant. Ownership is enhanced with complimentary 1-year car insurance, registration, tinting, and a home wall box charger with installation. Confidence continues long term through 5 years or 100,000 km vehicle warranty, 8 years or 150,000 km battery warranty and 3 years or 60,000 km service contract. Combined with expert after-sales care and customer education, these measures provide an ownership experience that is seamless and reassuring.

VOYAH UAE also seeks to inspire a wider shift towards sustainability in everyday life. Each Free model contributes to reducing transport-related emissions and encourages greener choices among consumers. Intelligent battery management, AI-enabled mobility, advanced safety systems and seamless connectivity all demonstrate how innovation, luxury and responsibility can progress together.

Through the Free model, VOYAH UAE and Performance Plus Motors are introducing more than a car to the Emirates – they are setting new standards for premium mobility. By combining cultural inspiration, extended-range electric innovation and uncompromising craftsmanship, VOYAH presents a vision that is both practical for today and transformative for the journeys of tomorrow.