Bigger, thinner, lighter… similar. Those are the key takeaways from spending time with the Series 10 – and a whole decade of Apple Watch.
It’s the first Apple Watch design change since 2021, and the fourth evolution of Apple Watch in 10 years. And as usual, this design shift subtly tweaks the dials of the winning formula that has made the Apple Watch the most successful watch ever made.
But it’s an acknowledgment that either Apple, or its customers, want a future with a bigger Apple Watch—one that plays a more active role in our lives.
We got hands-on with the new Apple Watch Series 10 at Apple Park. This is what you need to know.
Bigger screen – but is this the future we want?
It would be fun to put an Apple Watch Series 0 next to a Series 10 to really show how the design has changed over the last decade. It’s been a slow, almost imperceptible creep of progress in every department, including its size.
The screen of the Series 10 is again 30% larger than the Series 9, but thanks to the laws of physics, this means an increase in the overall case size. The Series 10 now measures 42mm and 46mm – up from 38/42mm, 40/44mm and 41/45mm over the last 10 years. That means the smallest Apple Watch is now the size of the largest from back in 2014. It’s grown nearly half a centimeter over that time. In watch terms, that’s a lot.
What does the extra screen real estate give you? Extra text, a larger on-screen keyboard, more room for your workout data, making information easier to read. It makes the Apple Watch easier to interact with and more useful.
I’ll probably write about this in more detail elsewhere, as it sparks an interesting debate about how big is too big – and whether digital maximalism – another screen to stare at – is what we need. I wear a 49mm Apple Watch Ultra, which I enjoy, while admitting that it’s a big and slightly unwieldy watch. The 46mm Series 10’s display is now 1% larger than the Ultra. Look at the picture above – they’re now almost the same size. Make of that what you will.
In fact, the 42mm didn’t seem overally small on my wrist. So perhaps this change makes that size more unisex.
Apple has done its research and knows its market. But if you’ve been put off by having a massive screen on your wrist before, the Series 10 isn’t for you.
Thinner, Lighter, Smarter
But while the watch has gotten wider, it’s also gotten thinner. It’s now 9.7mm, and the 10% reduction in thickness is welcome. This is especially noticeable on the 46mm model.
The Series 10 also sees titanium replace the stainless steel option. That makes for a lighter watch, and it’s also carbon neutral.
The Series 10 manages to be sleeker, though this is a less noticeable design change compared to the Series 7 back in 2021. I’d be surprised if a non-Apple aficionado could tell the difference between a Series 9 and 10.
Likewise, during my time at the busy hands-on stations, the improved viewability from angles of the new OLED display didn’t seem game-changing—but it’s nice to have.
But there are a host of other changes:
- A metal back, which acts as an antenna for improved LTE.
- A new black aluminum color that uses silicon nanoparticles and a 30-step anodization process.
- A redesigned speaker with the ability to listen to music from the wrist.
- A depth gauge and water temperature sensor for the Series 10.
Sleep Apnea and New Workout Features
Sleep apnea detection lands on the Series 10 (and rolls back to Series 9/Ultra 2). I got a chance to see this in action within the Apple Health iPhone app.
Each night’s sleep is graded in terms of sleep disturbances, measured not by the SpO2 sensor as one might expect, but by the accelerometer detecting tiny changes in the body.
The visual experience of breathing disturbances within the Health app continues the trend of being brilliantly detailed, able to be segmented over weekly, monthly, and yearly trends—while remaining fairly baffling to the average person. Luckily, the Health app will alert users to possible sleep apnea via a notification. Raw data can be exported from Health to show your doctor.
In terms of health features, Apple has added depth and water temperature sensors, and snorkeling is boosted with new Oceanic+.
I also love the new Tides app—and the complication is excellent too.
That information is also useful for those taking advantage of the new data for kayaking and other water sports. That wasn’t available to test in the Steve Jobs Theater.
Wareable Says
The Apple Watch Series 10 is a more significant change than we’ve seen in recent years, thanks to the changes in design, materials, and screen tech. The addition of sleep apnea detection and extra sports features is welcome.
It’s Apple doing what it does best—evolving its smartwatch, keeping the competition far behind in its rearview mirror.
The increase in size interests me. In the era of smart rings, I’ve become fascinated with the idea of digital minimalism. The Series 10 marks another step in the opposite direction—more interaction, more screen, more features.
I’m curious whether people will balk at its size, as they would have done 10 years ago. My gut feeling, however, is quite the opposite
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