Apple Watch Series 10 vs. Series 9: Our advice after testing both smartwatches

The brand-new Apple Watch Series 10 is the culmination of a decade of steady evolution – yet, the company’s latest smartwatch isn’t all too different from the Apple Watch Series 9 launched in 2023.

When comparing the nitty-gritty of these two generations, the differences boil down to slight refinements in the design, size, and materials used in the cases and displays. As ever, there are also mini upgrades to other areas – namely, charging and speaker functionality – but nothing we would grade as upgrade-worthy.

Instead, thanks to the watchOS 11 update, most of the experience is identical whether you pick the Series 9 or Series 10.

So, which is the better watch for you? Below is a full and detailed comparison of the major differences to be aware of, and our advice to anyone choosing between them – whether you’re upgrading from an older model or are completely new to smartwatches.

Specs comparison

Prices and versions

Apple rarely changes the price when introducing a new set of Series models, and the Series 10 is no different. The aluminum version of the smaller 42mm GPS-only Series 10 (i.e. the cheapest version you can buy) is $399, with the range going up to $529 for the aluminum, 46mm case with cellular support tacked on.

For the titanium upgrade, the 42mm GPS-0nly edition is available from $699, while the top-end 46mm GPS and Cellular model can cost up to $1,049.

The Series 9, meanwhile, is no longer being made by Apple – and isn’t available through Apple (which tells you something about how close these devices are in nature). As ever with last-gen Series models, though, it’ll be available at various third-party retailers while stocks last.

You’re likely to find it a chunk cheaper than the RRP of the Series 10, while there will also be plenty of refurbished models kicking about.

As you can probably gather, there are tons of different SKUs to pick from here, and you’ll have to pick the right combination of case materials, case size, band type, and cellular support for your budget.

Design, display, and comfort

• Series 10 is 10% lighter, 10% thinner, and offers 10% more screen
• Display and case size increase means some may prefer smaller Series 9

If you weren’t an Apple Watch aficionado, we wouldn’t necessarily expect you to spot the differences between the Series 9 and Series 10. Such is the nature of Apple’s redesigns, though, this section comprises the biggest changes between the generations.

We’ve tested the 46mm Series 10 and 45mm Series 9 against one another, and we’ve been surprised at how the feel and function have changed due to the former’s size increase. Everything from the Series 9 – a design that’s slightly thicker with a screen that’s slightly less edge-to-edge – has essentially been squashed a bit for the Series 10.

So, what does that translate to in real terms – how does the experience change? Well, there’s more text viewable on the Series 10 (a line extra in most scenarios), more space for you to touch on the on-screen prompts and widgets, and – in a basic sense – the watch faces look even better than they did before.

That drop in thickness below 10mm for the first time also makes the Series 10 sit a touch flusher on the wrist than the Series 9, as you would expect.

In defense of the Series 9’s design, we think the newer models are a worse fit for those who don’t want a large smartwatch – predominately women. When our tester tried on the 42mm Series 10 during our initial hands-on time, it felt a perfectly reasonable size for their slim male wrists.

If you have small wrists, though, there’s a definite argument for considering the smaller, 41mm edition of the Series 9. This is still pretty big when you consider it’s roughly the same size as the bigger editions of Apple Watch Series 0-3.

While you might get a friendlier design for your wrist with the Series 9, though, we do appreciate Apple offering titanium builds (albeit for extra cash) of the Series 10. This is where additional weight reductions can be enjoyed (20% from Series 9, Apple says), and, as we noted in our full review, the titanium is carbon neutral (which the Series 9 stainless steel cases aren’t) and a more comfortable fit for workouts.

The newer edition doesn’t just have a bigger screen, either – it’s also a bit better performing. Peak brightness remains at a very solid 2,000 nits – bright enough to view even in direct sunlight – but the Series 10’s LTPO3 panel means that it appears 40% brighter than the Series 9 when viewed at an angle. It’s not a huge factor, but it is noticeable when the pair are side by side.

• Winner: Apple Watch Series 10

Battery life and charging

• 18-hour battery life estimation remains; testing shows 26-30 hours
• Series 10 is capable of faster charging

Another year, another Apple Watch Series model with 18-hour battery life. At least, that’s what Apple would have you believe.

Despite every single generation of this lineup featuring the same battery life estimation from the brand, performance has steadily improved over the last decade. Though that 18-hour estimation was roughly accurate with the very first Apple Watch, the reality is that the Series 9 and Series 10 can last around 26-30 hours even with moderate GPS use and sleep tracking.

We haven’t noticed any significant difference between the two when side by side – and would guess that’s also true when compared to the Series 8 and Series 7, too.

This drops a little with the smaller models, though not significantly. Any difference is offset, we would guess, by the drain from the bigger displays, meaning you can still expect a full 24 hours of wear no matter which small model you pick here.

As we’ve consistently noted in our full reviews, however, even this better-than-quoted battery life pales in comparison to some of the other top smartwatches on the market. Apple’s Watch Ultra 2 is also able to achieve at least double this battery life – something to think about if you require more staying power.

If you can make your peace with near-daily charging, though, you’ll likely be interested in understanding the charging speeds of each device. For the Series 10, Apple has upgraded the charging coil to be larger and more efficient, meaning it can now go from flat to 80% in 30 minutes.

This checked out in our testing – as did Apple’s claim of 8 hours of regular use from 15 minutes on the charger. For the Series 9, that 0-80% time is still respectable – 45 minutes – but not quite as impressive as the latest model.

Winner: Apple Watch Series 10

Health, smarts, and fitness features

• Sleep apnea is the headline new health feature – but it’s also available on Series 9
• Series 10 speaker capable of out-loud audio (not just on phone calls)
• Series 9 doesn’t have a depth and temperature sensor

When it comes to features – be they smart functions, fitness tracking, or health monitoring – the Series 9 and Series 10 are virtually identical due to the latest watchOS 11 update.

We won’t bog this comparison down by listing all the fun new tricks available through the latest software update – you can read about the 11 best features of watchOS 11 separately – but suffice it to say you’re not shortchanged if you opt for the older model.

And, of course, the Series 10 gets all of the powers that debuted on the Series 9 (and prior), such as Double Tap, the temperature sensor, access to tons of Apple Watch apps, and ECGs.

At the time of writing, an ongoing legal battle means SpO2 continues to be unavailable on Series 9 and 10, however.

There are still some minor differences between these devices, though – and we don’t mean the all-new, FDA-approved sleep apnea detection notifications, since they’ll be rolling back to the Series 9.

One of the lesser-spotted differences between Series 9 and Series 10 are the speakers, with the latter able to offer playback for select music/podcast apps – not just phone calls. It’s not something we’ve been compelled to use much in testing, but it remains a nice-to-have feature when you’re in a pinch and don’t have headphones to pair.

Water-based activity tracking is also boosted on the Series 10. We can already create custom pool swimming workouts through watchOS 11, but the latest model also packs a depth gauge (up to 6 meters) and water temperature sensor.

Data from the latter feature will be available in all swimming workouts, yet the depth gauge – and the fact the Oceanic+ is available on Series 10 – represents a big upgrade for snorkellers and shallow divers who would have previously been pushed toward the Ultra models.

Winner: Apple Watch Series 10

Verdict

Based on our testing, it’s clear that the Apple Watch Series 10 is the better overall smartwatch. It offers a slight improvement to the feature set, quicker charging, a thinner design, and more screen real estate – all for roughly the same price as you can pick up the Series 9. You also get the option of upgrading to titanium, rather than stainless steel, which is a change we rate.

Yet, it remains true that these updates are all incredibly minimal, and that’s why we recommend almost all Series 9 users stick with their current smartwatch. Unless you’ve been desperate for one of the upgrades outlined above – like the improved watersport powers or better viewing angles – the most meaningful year-on-year improvements will be accessible via the watchOS 11 update.

The Series 10 is the watch to pick if you’re completely new to the Apple Watch scene or donning a pre-Series 7 design. For everyone else, we recommend sticking it out until Series 11.

The post Apple Watch Series 10 vs. Series 9: Our advice after testing both smartwatches appeared first on Wareable.

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