Apple Watch Series 10: A Refined Design for the Everyday Smartwatch

The Apple Watch Series 10 is the latest iteration of Apple's popular smartwatch. It builds upon the success of the Series 9, but rather than a radical redesign, the Series 10 focuses on refining existing features and adding new health capabilities. This review will dive into the key changes and improvements made in the Series 10, with a particular focus on its design, display, battery life, health features, and the new watchOS 11 software.

• The Series 10 offers a thinner and lighter profile with more rounded corners.
• It features a larger display with a wider viewing angle, making it easier to see from different perspectives.
• Apple has improved charging times, with the Series 10 reaching 80% charge in just 30 minutes.
• The Series 10 introduces a new health metric: sleep apnea detection, but removes blood oxygen monitoring in the US due to legal reasons.

Key Design Improvements in the Apple Watch Series 10

Apple has made significant design refinements in the Series 10, resulting in a more comfortable and stylish smartwatch. The most notable changes include a thinner profile, lighter weight, and more rounded corners.

• The Series 10 is 1mm thinner than its predecessor, resulting in a more comfortable fit on the wrist.
• The Series 10 is also lighter, with the 42mm model with cellular connectivity weighing 29.3 grams (9% reduction from the Series 9).
• The more rounded corners contribute to a more refined and modern aesthetic.

Enhanced Display on the Apple Watch Series 10

The Apple Watch Series 10 features a larger display with a wider viewing angle, making it easier to see from different perspectives. This improvement is especially noticeable on the 46mm model, which now boasts a 1,220 square millimeter screen, providing more space for content and making interactions easier. The brighter display with 2,000 nits makes it easier to see in sunlight.

• The display is "up to" 30% larger than the Series 6 and 75% larger than the Series 3.
• The wider viewing angle allows for easier viewing from different perspectives.
• The display is brighter and more vibrant, with a maximum brightness of 2,000 nits.

Improved Battery Life and Charging

The Apple Watch Series 10 has an improved battery life compared to its predecessor, offering up to 18 hours of usage. However, the battery life still remains a challenge, especially when using features like sleep tracking. Apple has focused on faster charging, making it easier to top up the battery throughout the day. Now, you can achieve an 80% charge in 30 minutes, which is a significant improvement.

• The Series 10 can achieve an 80% charge in just 30 minutes.
• 15 minutes of charging will provide 8 hours of normal usage.
• The battery life is still a concern, especially when using sleep tracking features.

Apple Watch Series 10 Health Features: Sleep Apnea Detection and Blood Oxygen Monitoring

The Apple Watch Series 10 introduces a new health feature: sleep apnea detection. This feature utilizes the watch's accelerometer to track breathing patterns during sleep and can alert users if it detects a possible sleep apnea condition. This feature can encourage users to seek professional medical advice if necessary.

However, the Series 10 loses blood oxygen monitoring in the US due to a legal battle with another health device manufacturer. While blood oxygen monitoring remains available in other parts of the world, the Series 10 launched in the US without this feature.

• Sleep apnea detection uses the accelerometer to track breathing patterns during sleep.
• The feature requires 10 nights of sleep tracking over a 30-day period.
• The Series 10 loses blood oxygen monitoring in the US due to legal reasons.

WatchOS 11: New Software Features for Apple Watch

The Apple Watch Series 10 runs watchOS 11, the latest version of Apple's smartwatch operating system. watchOS 11 introduces a range of new features, including Smart Stack, Translate, Vitals app, Training Load app, and improved mic and speaker quality for calls.

• Smart Stack provides a scrollable list of widgets for quick access to apps and information.
• Translate allows for offline translation of spoken words, making it easier to communicate with others who speak different languages.
• The Vitals app collates all health metrics into a single interface.
• The Training Load app helps athletes track the intensity of their workouts.
• The mic and speaker quality have been improved for calls, making conversations clearer.

Is the Apple Watch Series 10 an Upgrade Worth Considering?

The Apple Watch Series 10 is a solid upgrade over the Series 9, offering a refined design, a larger display, and faster charging. However, it's not a drastic change from previous generations. If you're currently using a Series 7 or 8, you may not feel the need to upgrade immediately. However, if you're using a Series 6 or older, the Series 10's improvements are worth considering.

• The Series 10 offers a refined design, larger display, faster charging, and new health features.
• It is a good upgrade from the Series 6 or older models.
• If you're using a Series 7 or 8, the upgrade might not be necessary.