The Apple Watch Series 10 is more than just a smartwatch and aligns with current trends. This blog will cover its new features, upgrades, and whether it’s worth the price. We’ll compare its specifications with the Apple Watch Series 9 and address common questions about display size and new features.
The Series 10 is 1 mm thicker than the Series 9, but still thinner than the Series 8. It features a larger watch face at 44mm and a dual-core processor. However, it does not support wireless charging. The new watchOS 11 offers improved weather details and customizable watch faces. What are your thoughts on the Apple Watch Series 10?
Key Takeaways:
- Larger Display: Available in 42mm and 46mm sizes for improved usability.
- Health Tracking: New features include sleep apnea monitoring and a Vitals app.
- Fast Charging: Achieves 80% battery in 30 minutes.
- Offline Maps: Downloadable maps for navigation without cellular service.
- Battery Life: Similar to previous models, enhanced by fast charging.
- Pricing: Starts at $399, offering premium features and materials.
Apple Watch Series 10: What’s New Recap
The Apple Watch Series 10 brings several improvements for users of Apple’s popular wearable device. The most obvious change is the larger screen, which greatly affects how the device is used. The watch is now available in two widths, 42 mm and 46 mm. The larger display enhances user experience, especially for those upgrading from older models like the Series 4, 5, or 6.
Check out our comparison between Apple Watch Series 10 vs Ultra 2.
Pricing & Models
Pricing for the Apple Watch Series 10 varies depending on the model features. The entry-level model, priced around $399.00, will serve to entice customers in lieu of a more expensive offering. Prices rise from here based on feature enhancements and materials (gold editions are priced over $1000.00). The pricing strategy focuses on offering a premium product and using technology to improve customer experience.
Activity & Sleep Tracking Basics
One important Apple Watch Series 10 functionality is that it tracks your activity and sleep. You can monitor your daily levels of activity. Set activity goals and track your progress over time. The addition to this functionality is that you can change your daily activity goal. You can make it an easy or tough day as you see fit.
New Vitals App (New)
Featured App: Vitals The new Apple Watch Series 10 comes with a handy app that gives users an overview of key health metrics throughout the day. The health metrics monitored with this new app include heart rate, respiratory rate, and wrist temperature, while for users outside of the U.S., blood oxygenation levels are also displayed.
Sleep Apnea Tracking (New)
The Series 10 now includes sleep apnea tracking, which monitors breathing disturbances during sleep when activated by the user. After 30 days of tracking, the watch will notify the user if they show signs of increased breathing disturbances. They can then consider consulting a healthcare provider. This kind of proactive monitoring of one’s health is a welcome development in DIY personal health technology.
Fast Charging (New)
The Apple Watch Series 10 features fast charging, reaching 80% battery in just 30 minutes. This feature is great for those with busy schedules, as it quickly recharges devices. To enjoy the fast-charging feature, users must use the cables that were introduced with previous constructions.
Sports Tracking Features & Changes
The Sports mode in the Apple Watch Series 10 will improve sports-tracking accuracy through enhancements in watchOS 11, despite not having new sport-specific features. You can predefine structured workouts and track your performance metrics, then build your own workout plans from the watch itself. The Apple Watch Series 10, Series 6, and other Series models are perfect companions for athletes and fitness enthusiasts.
Tides App
To go hand in hand with the snorkel, there was the new Tides app that tapped into your location and told you what the tides were doing. It too was excellent—a beautiful, clear interface and data for multiple locations—a must-have for any water sportsman.
Battery Life and Performance
The Apple Watch Series 10 has the same battery life as previous models, lasting a full day on a single charge. It also features fast charging, allowing you to quickly recharge if the battery is low.
Pros and Cons
What are the pros and cons of the Apple Watch Series 10? Let’s weigh them. Pros: the larger display; blood oxygen monitoring (on all models except US); better integrated workout and health features; faster charging; cons: no blood oxygen monitoring for US users (only Japan and Hong Kong versions); you have to use third-party apps for snorkelling.
Price and Value
When you consider that the 4G-packed Apple Watch Series 10 starts at $399, upgrading from a few generations back looks like an excellent buy. Whether you’re a new buyer or an Apple devotee striving to keep up with the endless options, you’ll find the combination of features, health, and Apple’s ecosystem almost unbeatable.
Offline Maps & Route Navigation
The latest Apple Watch, the Series 10, offers an offline maps feature that lets you download maps to the device so you can use them without an internet connection if you’re outdoors and the cell network drops. You can create a route on your iPhone, sync it to your watch, and go walking or running without having to worry about good network connections.
Creating Routes
To create a route, users highlight the desired area when viewing it on the Apple Maps app on their iPhone and then sync this information so that the offline map, upcoming turns, and directions show up on the watch. This increases the utility of the watch for hikers, trail runners and other users who are actually out in the field.
Training Load & Effort Rating
The Apple Watch Series 10 adds a new feature for improving fitness tracking: a scoring system by which every activity is rated for effort. This score from one to 10 reflects how hard a person feels they are working. Combining these new training load metrics with the effort-scoring system offers users an effective way of monitoring their fitness levels over time.
Understanding Training Load
Training load is calculated by multiplying effort rating by the duration of the workout. So although this provides a useful macro-view of workout intensity, the lack of numbers for comparative ease might be felt by some users. With all of these measures, however, the system largely delivers what it promises, helping athletes learn their own training patterns and recover needs.
Snorkeling & Depth Gauge/App
For underwater aficionados, the Apple Watch Series 10 comes with a depth gauge that keeps track of depths up to six meters—roughly 20 feet. Perfect for snorkelling.
Using the Depth App
The depth gauge is another brilliant addition, but, as with snorkelling, it is not a default activity on the watch and must be tracked using a third-party app. If you log your snorkelling under this app, you’ll only be able to see data and details for each individual descent, creating a potentially fragmented experience that doesn’t work when every descent triggers a new activity session.
Tides App
Alongside the new snorkelling feature, which is part of the Apple Watch Series 10, is a new app that provides tide data based on location: Tides.
Features of the Tides App
The Tides app allows the user to flip between views, quickly seeing tide times and heights for a few locations, but then also swell [that’s wave] information, which makes it even more useful for surfers or sailors. This is arguably one of the better native tides applications that has been provided so far for any smartwatch.
Heart Rate Accuracy
The heart rate sensor of the Apple Watch Series 10 is the same as that of the Series 9, which includes the same heart rate sensing technology, which I’ve found to be quite accurate. There have been claims that the accuracy can be affected by arm position, but I have found it to be consistent across numerous workout sessions, including interval runs and mixed terrain rides.
GPS Accuracy
The Series 10 lacks the Series 3’s new GPS sensor but still tracks distance and route accuracy extremely well—even better than some competitors with multi-band or dual-frequency GPS—which can cost more money and add bulk to a watch’s width.
Final Thoughts & Recommendations
While it might be a harder sell to users of current watches (Series 10 watches are only three to five years old, depending on the model), for users of Series 4, 5, or 6 watches, the larger display, enhanced health-tracking, and offline navigation will offer a compelling upgrade path. Fitness buffs and casual users alike will find it appealing.
Who Should Upgrade?
It begs the question: what’s in Series 10 to convince current Apple Watch Series 7 or 8 owners to upgrade? For some users, the improved fitness-tracking and larger display might click thanks to a new workout routine, athletic goals or different wristwear wardrobe, making Series 10 an ideal choice.
FAQ
- Is the Apple Watch Series 10 waterproof? Yes, it is waterproof and suitable for swimming and snorkeling activities.
- Can I use the Apple Watch Series 10 for outdoor navigation? Absolutely, thanks to the offline maps feature, you can navigate without cellular service.
- Does the Apple Watch Series 10 support blood oxygen monitoring? Blood oxygen monitoring is available on models purchased outside the U.S. due to regulatory issues.
- What is the battery life like on the Apple Watch Series 10? Users can typically expect a full day of use, with fast charging capabilities allowing for quick top-ups.
For those interested in comparing different smartwatch options, check out our Apple Watch vs Garmin comparison guide. If you’re curious about other top smartwatches, take a look at our reviews of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and the Pixel Watch 3.
For fitness enthusiasts looking to maximize their workouts, explore our guide on how to set fitness goals. And if you’re into running, don’t miss our article on mastering proper running form.
Lastly, for those interested in the latest developments in sports technology, check out our preview of the upcoming Garmin Fenix 8.
As a veteran fitness technology innovator and the founder of GearUpToFit.com, Alex Papaioannou stands at the intersection of health science and artificial intelligence. With over a decade of specialized experience in digital wellness solutions, he’s transforming how people approach their fitness journey through data-driven methodologies.