Another year, another Apple Watch. The Apple Watch Series 10 is this year’s hot new Apple smartwatch. Should you buy it? I found out in my review.
As I was sitting in the Steve Jobs Theater watching Apple announce the Apple Watch Series 10, I wasn’t immediately sure what to think. Apple was hyping up the Series 10 to be an exciting and big upgrade, but looking at the renders and images of the Series 10 during its unveiling, it sure looked a lot like the Series 9.
After wearing and using the Apple Watch Series 10, though, I have to admit that I’m impressed. The Series 10’s hardware is the best I’ve ever seen on an Apple Watch. The new display is unmatched, and the upgraded speaker is fun and convenient. Is that enough to justify it being your next smartwatch? Yes, with a small catch.Apple Watch Series 10: design
Visually, the Apple Watch Series 10 is very similar to the Apple Watch Series 9. All the expected elements return for another year, including the square display, the Digital Crown, and the same watch band system we’ve had since the beginning.
However, there is one significant hardware change, and that’s how much more compact the Series 10 is. Apple says this year’s watch is 10% thinner and lighter than the Apple Watch Series 9, and while that doesn’t sound like a remarkable change on paper, it does make a noticeable difference when you’re actually wearing it.
The Apple Watch has never been an uncomfortable wearable; it’s long been one of the comfiest smartwatches around. However, I do see and feel the decreased bulkiness of the Series 10. It’s particularly apparent with how the watch sits on your wrist. Wearing a Series 10 and Series 9 next to each other, you can see how the Series 10 sits flusher with your wrist, whereas the Series 9 juts out more.
Is this a game-changer? No, but it’s still darn impressive. The Apple Watch already had some of the best smartwatch hardware in the business, and the Series 10 makes it better. Especially coming into this review after wearing the much bulkier and heavier Apple Watch Ultra 2 for much of this year, the Apple Watch Series 10 is a phenomenal-wearing smartwatch.
Also new this year for the Series 10 is a polished aluminum finish. You can still get the usual matte design with the silver and rose gold colors, but my review unit is the new Jet Black style. It’s an aluminum Apple Watch, but for the first time, it has a glossy, reflective finish. Initially, I didn’t think I’d care much for it, but after living with it for a while, it does add an extra touch of elegance you don’t get with the matte colors. I’m a fan.
The final hardware change is very subtle, and it’s that the back of the Apple Watch Series 10 is now metal. In previous generations, the backside was made of zirconium and was visibly separate from the rest of the watch body. Since the Series 10 now uses the same metal, the underside of the Series 10 looks more like a watch and less like a fitness tracker. How often you actually look at the back of your Apple Watch and will notice this is up to you to decide, but it’s a nice tweak nonetheless.Apple Watch Series 10: screen and speaker
Despite being thinner and lighter, the Apple Watch Series 10 also manages to have a larger display. The previous 41mm size is now 42mm, while the 45mm case increases to 46mm. This size increase is nice, though it’s not a dramatic difference. Compared to the Series 9, for example, you can see up to an extra line of text for notifications and in apps like Mail and News.
What I’ve found more impressive is the new wide-angle OLED display. The main benefit is that it improves the off-axis viewing angles of the Apple Watch Series 10, making the screen up to 40% brighter compared to the Series 9 when looking at it from an angle.
Whether it’s a watch face, a notification, or something in my Smart Stack, it all looks visibly sharper, brighter, and more colorful when looking at those things from an angle. Considering how often you look at your watch like this — whether glancing at it while running or if your hand’s resting in your lap — it’s a very welcome upgrade.
