Looking to pick up a new Apple Watch, but can’t decide between the Series 9 or Series 10? Here’s a breakdown of what to consider.
The Apple Watch has officially crossed the 10-year mark, which is a huge milestone. It’s been a decade for a smartwatch that has changed the industry for good, put smartwatches on the map, and even saved lives.
If you’re in the market for a smartwatch and health tracker, then you really can’t go wrong with an Apple Watch, especially if you are already invested in the Apple ecosystem. But should you buy the Apple Watch Series 10 over the Series 9? Or, if you already have a Series 9, is the Series 10 worth the upgrade cost? Let’s break it all down.Apple Watch Series 10 vs. Apple Watch Series 9: specsApple Watch Series 10 vs. Apple Watch Series 9: design
The Apple Watch has largely stayed the same in terms of aesthetics year after year (with the exception being the Apple Watch Ultra). But things have changed a bit this year with Apple Watch Series 10.
The Apple Watch Series 9 looks like all of the Apple Watches before it. Shaped like a rounded square, with body made from aluminum or stainless steel and a ceramic and sapphire crystal back, the Series 9 comes in either 41mm or 45mm sizes. The aluminum has a matte finish, while the stainless steel is polished and glossy. The aluminum Series 9 comes in Midnight, Starlight, Silver, Pink, and Product(RED) colorways, while the stainless steel variant comes in silver or Space Black.
Apple has shaken things up with the Apple Watch Series 10. Though it retains the same “squircle” shape as before, Apple has made the body thinner and the display larger. It comes in two new sizes: 42mm and 46mm. With the 46mm size, the display is actually a bit larger than even the 49mm Apple Watch Ultra thanks to the new wide-angle OLED display, which expands farther down the sides of the case than before, making it easier to see your watch from an angle.
The Apple Watch Series 10 also is the first time that Apple has eliminated stainless steel from the color lineup. Instead, the Series 10 now comes in aluminum or titanium. Aluminum Apple Watch Series 10 models come in rose gold, silver, and a new jet black finish. Of the aluminum variants, the silver and gold have a matted finish, while the jet black looks polished and glossy. For titanium, Series 10 comes in slate, gold, or natural options, all of which have a glossy and shiny finish to them.
Another design change is that instead of using zirconium, the Series 10’s back now matches the rest of the body, which aids its slender looks.
Before the announcement, there were whispers that Apple would change up the watch band attachment system, but thankfully (or not, depending on how you look at it), that did not change. However, Apple did release a new Titanium Milanese band, with a new and fascinating buckle mechanism, alongside the new black variant of the Watch Ultra 2. Despite being marketed as a strap for the Watch Ultra, you can also pair it with the 46mm variant of the Apple Watch Series 10, as well as the 45mm Series 9.
