Pros:
– Stunning OLED display
– Solid sounding speakers
– Slimmer and lighter design
– 46mm’s display feels as big as Watch Ultra 2
– Faster charging
– Cool new health features
Cons:
– Aluminium scratches more easily than steel
– No AI features that stand out
– No increase in battery life
– Titanium models are very expensive
Apple is marking the 10th anniversary of the Apple Watch this year, and with that milestone comes the Apple Watch Series 10. At first glance, the design seems familiar, closely resembling the Series 9 and even the Series 8. However, take a closer look, and you’ll notice some subtle yet significant improvements.
The Series 10 is about 10% lighter than its predecessors, and with a thickness of just 9.7mm, it feels noticeably sleek. While these changes might not be immediately apparent, the display is where things truly stand out. For the first time, Apple Watch offers a wide-angle OLED display with the latest LTPO standards. This results in enhanced viewing angles and an always-on display that refreshes every second—features that are not commonly seen in other smartwatches.
The Series 10 also brings improvements in charging speeds, sound quality with better speakers, and a host of new health features. Some of these features are available right now, while others will be rolled out in the near future.
However, not everything is perfect. Battery life remains the same as previous models, and the much-loved Double Tap feature from the Series 9 doesn’t get any major updates.
After spending over a month with the Apple Watch Series 10, I can confidently say that despite a few minor shortcomings, it remains the best smartwatch for those invested in the Apple ecosystem.
Apple Watch Series 10 Review: Design & display
The Apple Watch Series 10 introduces a redesigned look that enhances comfort while retaining the familiar features we love. Apple has made the Series 10 thinner, lighter, and more comfortable compared to previous models. At 9.7mm, it’s 10% thinner than the Series 9, which makes a noticeable difference in how it fits on your wrist.
With a weight reduction of up to 10% for the aluminium versions, the watch feels more comfortable during long wear, whether you’re at the gym, in yoga poses, or even sleeping. These design changes are more than just cosmetic; they have a real impact on the wearability and user experience.
The new Series 10 is also available in slightly larger case sizes — 42mm and 46mm — compared to the previous 41mm and 45mm options. This results in a 30% larger display, and the 46mm version, which I’m reviewing here, offers 3% more display area than the Apple Watch Ultra 2. The larger screen is further enhanced by its curvature, which makes the display feel even bigger and more immersive.
One of the key upgrades is the display itself. The Series 10 boasts Apple’s first wide-angle OLED screen, delivering a 40% brighter off-angle view compared to previous models. This makes the screen much more readable from different angles, with 500 nits of peak brightness in regular conditions and the ability to drop to 1 nit for comfortable nighttime viewing.
The display on the Apple Watch Series 10 offers the same maximum brightness of 2,000 nits as the Series 9, meaning you won’t notice a difference when using the watch outdoors on a bright, sunny day. The OLED display is vibrant, sharp, and incredibly responsive, enhancing everything from apps to notifications. Whether you’re checking notifications or using apps in direct sunlight, the display remains clear and easy to read, ensuring great visibility under various lighting conditions.
Apple has also worked on the materials and finishes. The aluminium models now come in a glossy Jet Black finish, in addition to the matte gold and silver options. The Jet Black finish is more durable than the one seen in previous Apple Watch models.
For a more premium feel, Apple has introduced new titanium models that replace the stainless steel of previous models. Available in gold, natural, and slate finishes, these titanium variants are lighter than their steel counterparts and feature a sapphire crystal display coating for added durability. The aluminium watches come with the trusted Ion‑X glass.
Under the hood, Apple has rearranged the internal architecture around the new S10 SiP (System in Package), with a chassis-integrated antenna that makes the Series 10 slimmer and more efficient.
The speaker has been pushed to the edges and is now protected by a perforated mesh, offering a sleeker and more durable design. The band system remains the same, so all of the best Apple Watch bands are still compatible with the Series 10.
Apple has also focussed a lot on sustainability. The aluminium models are carbon neutral when paired with certain straps and are made with 100% recycled metal. The case for the titanium watches is made using 95% recycled titanium. Furthermore, we get 100% recycled cobalt in the batteries, and 100% recycled copper in the PCBs, with plating using 100% recycled gold. Plus, all of the energy used in making the Apple Watch Series 10, is from renewable sources, no matter where you buy the watch from.
Apple Watch Series 10 Review: Performance, features and software
Apple has introduced the Apple Watch Series 10, featuring the all-new S10 SiP (System in Package), powered by a 4-core Neural Engine that significantly boosts its performance over the previous Series 9. The Series 10 is also the first to ship with the latest watchOS 11, which brings a comprehensive set of updates, enhancements, and new features aimed at making the smartwatch experience even more seamless and useful.
The Apple Watch Series 10 carries a decade’s worth of Apple Watch features. This means that the device includes pretty much every feature ever released for the Apple Watch up until now. The inclusion of these long-established features adds a lot of value for users upgrading from previous models. The Series 10 is a culmination of Apple’s efforts to create a smart wearable that does it all — from fitness tracking to communication, and everything in between.
The introduction of watchOS 11, the software that powers the Series 10, is packed with exciting new tools and functionalities. For example, there’s now a much more customizable Photos watch face, allowing you to choose a variety of pictures to display on your wrist, making it feel more personal. There’s also a new Vitals app that consolidates all of your key health metrics — such as heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and even temperature — into one convenient place. This app not only tracks your real-time data but also helps you identify trends over time, offering insights into your health that could be useful for spotting patterns or changes.
Another key addition to the watchOS 11 update is the long-awaited ability to pause your activity rings. This feature, which allows you to temporarily halt your daily activity progress (for instance, on rest days or after a workout), is a welcome relief for those who want to maintain their fitness streaks but need a break from their regular exercise routine. The flexibility of this feature can help users better manage their fitness goals, keeping them motivated without the pressure of feeling like they’re falling behind.
The Apple Watch Series 10 comes with all the classic sensors we’ve come to expect from Apple’s wearable devices. This includes the Electrical Heart Sensor, Optical Heart Sensor, Blood Oxygen Sensor, a compass, an always-on altimeter, an accelerometer, and a dynamic range gyroscope. These sensors provide the detailed health and fitness data that users rely on to track their performance, monitor their well-being, and stay connected.
However, what makes this year’s model stand out are the two new sensors: the water temperature sensor and the depth gauge. These additions significantly enhance the Series 10’s ability to monitor underwater activities, whether you’re swimming in a pool or exploring the depths of the ocean. With the depth gauge, users can track their immersion depth, while the water temperature sensor offers real-time readings of water conditions, both of which are useful for divers, swimmers, and those who enjoy water-based activities.
The fast performance of the S10 SiP, ensure that applications load quickly, and tasks like sending messages, using apps, or controlling media are completed seamlessly. Even with third-party apps, the speed and responsiveness are noticeably improved, making the Apple Watch Series 10 a reliable companion throughout the day.
watchOS 11 introduces a significantly improved Smart Stack, which is one of the most useful new features in the Series 10. By swiping up on the watch face or rotating the Digital Crown, you can quickly access a stack of widgets that provide valuable information at a glance. These widgets can include things like Now Playing, weather forecasts, or even a quick look at your Activity Rings.
One of the most impressive upgrades to the Smart Stack is the addition of Live Activities support. With this feature, you can now see real-time updates from your iPhone’s Live Activities directly on your watch. For example, when you’re waiting for an Uber or Lyft ride, you can track how far away your driver is or monitor your arrival time without having to pull out your phone. This feature makes it easier to stay updated on important events without constantly checking your phone, offering an enhanced level of convenience.
This new addition is especially beneficial on the 46mm Series 10, which allows you to see more information at a glance. Whether you’re reading an email, text, or a news article, the larger display enables you to view more lines of text without needing to scroll. This makes it easier to stay informed and multitask, even when you’re on the go.
On the health and fitness front, the Apple Watch Series 10 with watchOS 11 includes a range of features aimed at helping you live a healthier lifestyle. For instance, users now have the ability to adjust their daily activity goals, so if you’re taking a rest day or need a little more time to complete your goals, you can pause your rings without losing your progress. This new flexibility is a welcome addition for those who want to maintain a healthy balance without feeling restricted by rigid fitness targets.
A new feature, Training Load, has also been added to give users a better understanding of how a workout affects their body over time. Instead of just tracking immediate results like steps or calories burned, the Training Load feature looks at the longer-term impact of exercise on your body, providing a clearer picture of how your fitness routine is evolving.
Additionally, sleep tracking has been improved, with the Series 10 offering more robust features. A standout addition is the sleep apnea detection feature, which was activated in India in October. This feature monitors your sleep patterns for signs of sleep apnea and notifies you if it detects any disturbances. By tracking your breathing during the night, the Series 10 helps you become more aware of potential health issues that could affect your overall wellness. Once enabled, this feature works in conjunction with the Health app on your iPhone, offering detailed insights into your sleep quality and any breathing irregularities you may experience.
The Apple Watch Series 10 features a redesigned, larger speaker located on the left side of the watch. Despite the thinner body, this new design allows the speaker to produce the same volume as the Series 9, meaning you can now enjoy music, podcasts, and audiobooks directly from your watch. While the speaker’s output is good, for an enhanced listening experience, it’s still recommended to pair your Apple Watch with AirPods or use your iPhone for better sound quality.
The Series 10 has also made improvements to call quality, with a new neural network designed to work with the onboard microphone to filter out background noise and ensure your voice is heard clearly. Whether you’re walking through a busy street, attending a loud event, or simply in a noisy room, this feature works similarly to the voice isolation available on iPhones. The neural network can identify your voice and block out distractions, making phone calls clearer and more reliable. During my tests, I was able to carry on conversations in noisy environments, and the person on the other end of the call could hear me as if I were in a quiet room.
Apple Watch Series 10 Review: Battery
When it comes to battery life, there’s not much to celebrate with the Apple Watch Series 10, which is honestly a bit of a letdown. My tests showed that, even with moderate use—including mirroring notifications from the phone, a 30-minute cycling session with the GPS on, and overnight sleep tracking — the battery only managed to stretch to a maximum of a day and a half. That’s about the same as what the Series 9 offered, so it’s a case of déjà vu rather than any improvement.
On more demanding days, like when I made calls from the watch with the iPhone nearby or got a bit too enthusiastic playing with the display, I had to top it up at the end of each day.
However, Apple did introduce a more faster charging coil in the Series 10, and that’s at least a small win. The watch can now go up to 80-85% in just under 30 minutes; a quick 15-minute charge, will get you about 8 hours of regular use
Despite the fast charging, if you’re really in a pinch, there’s always Low Power Mode, which can stretch the battery life to 36 hours.
Apple Watch Series 10 Review: Verdict
The Apple Watch Series 10 might not be the dramatic redesign many had hoped for to mark the 10th anniversary, but it still packs in some impressive upgrades, especially if you’re upgrading Series 4, 5, or 6.
If you’re coming from Watch Seris 8 or 9, the changes might not be that big. The Apple Watch 10 does not bring any major AI update like the iPhone series this year, so the perceived leap in performance is not that profound.
However, for those coming from an older watch, the improvements are significant. You’ll enjoy a bigger, brighter display that makes a world of difference, especially off-angle, and features like crash detection that could potentially be life-saving.
The watch’s design is more comfortable, making it ideal for all-day wear, and the optimised experience with watchOS 11 and faster charging only add to its appeal. These upgrades make the Series 10 arguably the best choice for most people looking for an Apple Watch.
Though it might not rival high-performance fitness trackers like those from Garmin, the Apple Watch Series 10 has certainly improved as a running companion. With every hardware and software update, it’s becoming a better partner for workouts and runs.
If you’re looking for a more compact and comfortable smartwatch you can wear around the clock, the Series 10 delivers. There are a plethora of third-party apps, and you’ll find plenty of tracking, training, and racing tools for your specific needs. Whether it’s daily health insights, workout tracking, or just a stylish everyday wearable, the Apple Watch Series 10 has something for everyone.
