At the beginning, I wanna announce very clearly that if you have an Apple Watch Series 9, it should not be about your concern to upgrade it to Series 10. You can get a clear idea about the Apple Watch Series 10 and why I recommend it. So get this article with patience. But I wanna give you a brief pros and cons before that.
The Apple Watch Series 10 introduces several updates and refinements, making it a compelling option for iPhone users while maintaining its familiar design and functionality. Here's an elaborate and descriptive look at its pros and cons:
Pros
Enhanced Design:
- A slimmer, lighter body and larger screen (up to 46mm) improve aesthetics and usability.
- Polished aluminum and titanium options offer durability and a premium look.
- Flat design with sapphire glass (titanium models) or Ion-X glass (aluminum models) adds durability and elegance.
Health and Fitness Features:
- Sleep apnea detection is a standout addition.
- Standard health features include ECG, temperature sensing, and heart rate monitoring.
- Training Load analysis helps track long-term workout impact.
Quick Charging:
- Charges 80% in just 30 minutes, making it convenient for busy schedules.
Updated watchOS 11:
- New features like customizable activity goals, live activity updates, and improved Smart Stack enhance usability.
Larger, High-Resolution Display:
- Better readability for notifications, apps, and health metrics.
Improved Durability:
- IP68 dust resistance and WR50 water resistance ensure reliability in challenging conditions.
Cons
Battery Life:
- The battery life remains limited to about 18 hours with typical use, requiring daily charging, unlike the Ultra models which last longer.
Limited Innovation:
- Offers few new features over the Apple Watch Series 9, making it a less compelling upgrade for recent users.
Inactive Blood Oxygen Sensor in Some Regions:
- The feature is disabled in the U.S. due to patent disputes, limiting its functionality compared to models available elsewhere.
Color and Customization:
- Fewer body color options and a lack of new exclusive watch faces like those on the Ultra lineup.
Price:
- Starting at $399 for aluminum and $699 for titanium, it remains a premium device in its category.
Verdict
The Apple Watch Series 10 excels with its sleek design, updated health features, and fast charging. However, if you already own a Series 9 or are drawn to extended battery life and rugged capabilities, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 might be a better fit. For older models, the Series 10 offers meaningful upgrades, especially for health-conscious users and those valuing design refinements.
Okay, so there were rumors. There were serious rumors that the 10th generation Apple Watch Series 10 was gonna be one that gets this huge redesign. Like, remember the iPhone 10, that sort of resets the design language of the whole iPhone line.
And 10 is just such a nice round-even number, right? So we just kind of figured that maybe the Apple watch would do the same thing.
Just reviewed the series 8 and series 9, and I was like, "Look, these are good watches but clearly very incremental improvements." So if you want a big upgrade, maybe wait for the 10th gen one.
And so now here I share the Apple Watch Series 10 review. The reviewer has been using Apple Watch Series 10 for the past week. And it's definitely another incremental update. That's not necessarily a bad thing.
Obviously, it's not as exciting as a total redesign but that definitely makes the review pretty simple. As far as whether you should get one or not.
Apple Watch Series 10 main physical differences on the outside are it's slightly thinner, lighter, and bigger.
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Image credit: Marques Brownlee |
So the numbers say, 10% thinner and 10% lighter for the aluminum one. They actually drop stainless steel in favor of titanium on the higher-end ones so, that's 20% lighter.
And the screens of both sizes are now even bigger. The result is really just that you can see more comfort on the wrist.
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Image credit: Marques Brownlee |
In fact, it actually just feels like someone took last year's Apple watch and just squashed it down a little bit. There you go, that's the new design.
Of course, it's more complicated than that. Lile, there is a new metal back that's one piece now and there's a new re-engineered speaker that's 30% smaller and it can fit in this.
Just other pieces like shuffle around to fit in this new shape. But the end result is very much still an incremental update instead of some dramatic new form factor.
I actually think now this visually reminds me more than ever of a pixel watch just depending on what face you have. Because the top edges are curved even more and the way everything just kind of melts into the sides, especially with these new jet-black colors.
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Image credit: Marques Brownlee |
It's just way bigger. In fact, it's true the larger 46-millimeter Apple Watch series 10 basically now runs the same screen size as the Apple Watch Ultra.
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Image credit: Marques Brownlee |
Apple loves to do that thing where they show an older watch on the screen and then the newer watch with a bigger screen next to it. And brag about how, "Hey, there is a bigger screen so you can get even more text and even more content on the screen.
It's easier to type on that onscreen keyboard. To be honest, it never really made that much of a big difference to me other than maybe the ultra.
But this year I noticed something very specific. The disc sports workout now shows one extra line of information. So instead of time, active calories, total calories, and heart rate.
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Image credit: Marques Brownlee |
It now shows time, active calories, total calories, heart rate, and miles. So, there's that.
I think watchOS 11 literally just adds an extra line of text in some instances with this bigger screen which is kind of funny.
Speaking of watchOS 11 that launches on these new watches and gets pushed as a software update to some older Apple Watches.
So you're gonna get things like the new vital apps, which gives you a sort of energy score kind of like the Garmin Body battery. There's a sleep apnea detection also which just got FDA approval to detect and notify you of potentially high levels of sleep apnea using only the accelerometer.
There's is training load as well which keeps track of the perceived intensity of workouts.
That stuff is nice and it also like I said, coming to some older Apple watches as well. So if you really wanna know what stuff is specifically coming just to this newest watch, like a reason to get this one. Then there are about four that you should know about.
Okay, so let me know if these are enough to convince you to get this newest watch.
Number 1, with these redesigned speakers. You can now listen to media out loud on the watch. This means you could already take phone calls and set alarms and kinds of stuff. But now you can just literally play the media like audio or podcast out loud.
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Image credit: Marques Brownlee |
So you could be on a hike and just forget your headphones.
Number 2, Apple Watch Series 10 is now an updated LTPO 3 display which means all the way down to 1 Hz instead of 10 Hz. It has slightly noticeable off-axis viewing angles which actually helps for a watch.
So you can sort of glance and check the watch and still see it without looking like weirdly checking the watch.
Then number 3, there is a new water temperature sensor. Hey, I don't check it. Whether it's Apple's claim, it's gonna be true. Actually, I don't have enough time to check it in deep water and don't have any test results for this particular new sensor. But this feature, going to be great.
The number 4 is faster charging. Caring about this one, if you use the puck that comes with it. This is how you maximize your charging speed. You can get it up to somewhere around 65% from dead in half an hour.
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Image credit: Marques Brownlee |
It was supposed to be 80% actually but we couldn't get it quite that first. But nevertheless, the faster charging speed is very welcoming. That's it, that's the new 10th-generation update.
About the Apple Watch Series 10 being cheap, there's the new S10 Sip inside has a 64-bit dual-core processor, a 4-core neural engine, and 64GB capacity. I think that's huge.
But it doesn't seem to be noticeably faster or better at anything than in the S9. Although it has a neural engine but hasn't been enabling anything that the S9 can't do. Yeah, so is that enough?
Honestly, I thought more about it, my take is that Apple has called this a redesign. Like if you watch the keynote they were like, "This is a huge deal. This is a big new 10th-generation redesign.
Now that they've done that. I'm fairly sure that means this is what the Apple Watch is going to look like for the next 5 to 10 more years. If this is a real redesign for Apple, we're gonna be back to even smaller changes from here on.
Really, the only parts of this update that made a big difference to me are the larger display and faster charging. The larger display for obvious reasons.
The faster charging is nice. Especially just cause if you wanna drop it on a charger for a few minutes and get a bunch of use l, then you can.
If you have an older Apple watch like series 4,5,6,7 and you want a new one yeah, this is the upgrade to get. That's like the easiest, no-brainer-conclusion in the world for this product.
But I'm going the extra step as a reviewer and predicting the future of this product and just based on Apple's language in their presentations, I really don't think we're getting any planned big upgrade to this watch for a while, which is unfortunate.
For you,
But all those major features we are thinking about like a rotating bezel, a circular shape, a meaningful improvement to the battery. Any of which would've been the biggest change to the Apple watch in years. We didn't get any of that with this 10th gen redesign.
So, it feels like they're not planning on doing any of it.
Apple Watch Series 10 is the 10th gen. Apple Watch and it feels like Apple's big statement of, "This is the Apple Watch".
It's the squircle, no rotating bezels, these are the side-mounted buttons, this is the shape with 18-hour battery life over and over again.
Take it or leave it. That's the Apple Watch Series 10 review.
Apple Watch Series 10 FAQ
1. What is the Apple Watch Series 10?
The Apple Watch Series 10 is the latest generation of Apple's smartwatch, featuring advanced health, fitness, and connectivity features. It builds on previous models with new technology, improved performance, and an updated design.
2. What are the key features of the Apple Watch Series 10?
- Larger, more vibrant display: Offers better readability with LTPO3 OLED display offering 2000 nits max brightness, and color accuracy.
- Upgraded health sensors: Includes advanced health features like blood oxygen monitoring, ECG, sleep apnea, heart rate counting, and temperature tracking.
- Battery life: Lasts up to 18 hours with regular usage.
- Performance: Powered by a new, faster S10 chipset for smoother performance and improved efficiency.
- Advanced fitness tracking: Enhanced workout tracking with more sports modes and custom metrics.
- Enhanced connectivity: Features like Ultra-Wideband (UWB) for improved location tracking and better integration with Apple’s ecosystem.
3. Is the Apple Watch Series 10 design different from previous models?
Yes, the Series 10 introduces a sleeker, more streamlined design with thinner bezels and a larger screen, making it more visually appealing and easier to interact with.
4. Does the Apple Watch Series 10 have new health features?
Yes, the Series 10 includes new sensors and software updates to improve heart health, blood oxygen monitoring, and temperature tracking, which helps in better overall health insights. It also expands the ECG functionality for more users globally.
5. Can I use the Apple Watch Series 10 without an iPhone?
While many features require an iPhone for initial setup, the Series 10 can be used independently for many functions such as tracking workouts, monitoring health data, and using Apple Pay, especially when connected to Wi-Fi or cellular.
6. How long does the Apple Watch Series 10 battery last?
The Series 10's battery lasts up to 18 hours with typical use, including features like notifications, fitness tracking, and heart rate monitoring. It also includes a low-power mode to extend battery life further.
7. Is the Apple Watch Series 10 water-resistant?
The Apple Watch Series 10 is water-resistant up to 50 meters, making it suitable for swimming and other water-based activities.
8. Does the Apple Watch Series 10 support cellular?
Yes, there are cellular models of the Series 10 that allow you to make calls, send messages, and use data without needing your iPhone nearby.
9. How much does the Apple Watch Series 10 cost?
Pricing varies based on the model (GPS vs. GPS + Cellular) and band choice. Prices start at approximately $399 for the GPS version and $499 for the GPS + Cellular version but may vary based on configurations and promotions.
10. What is the release date of the Apple Watch Series 10?
The Apple Watch Series 10 was announced in September 2024, and it became available for purchase shortly thereafter.
Check the official Apple website or visit an Apple Store for more detailed information.
Reviewed by: Marques Brownlee