Apple Watch Series 10 review

new apple The Watch Series 10 hits stores on Friday, and I’ve been testing it for the past five days, and there are enough improvements to make it appealing for first-timers or those considering upgrading.

I wasn’t necessarily thrilled when Apple unveiled its new Watch earlier this month — the company unveiled a slightly thinner design, a slightly larger screen, and some software features that apply to previous models — but overall, there’s quite a lot to like.

The Apple Watch is part of the company’s Wearables, Home and Accessories division, which had third-quarter revenue of $8.1 billion, down 2% from the same period last year. CEO Tim Cook said at the time that two-thirds of Apple Watch buyers were still first-time buyers of the device.

The Apple Watch Series 10, as the name suggests, marks the tenth year of the Apple Watch, and while the changes are minimal, it’s the best model yet.

Charging is great. The Series 10 has a new coil under the glass back that lets you charge to 80% in 30 minutes. Plug it in while you read a book or take a shower and you’ll have enough power for a day. It lasts 18 hours on a full charge, which has been the standard since the Series 1.

The slightly larger screen is handy for entering and selecting songs in a playlist, tapping buttons, etc. I’ve personally used the Apple Watch Series Ultra for the last few years and have grown accustomed to it, but the larger display makes a big difference when you’re trying to quickly reply to a text message.

I love my new speakers that let me listen to podcasts, music, and audiobooks without headphones. I’m rarely anywhere without my phone and AirPods, but sometimes I leave my phone charging downstairs. It was fun to continue listening to part of an audiobook I started in the car while I was putting my clothes away after work.

Apple has added new features, including the option to detect sleep apnea, which receives Food and Drug Administration approval on Monday and will be available when the watches reach consumers on Friday. The feature is already available on the Apple Watch Series 9. I’m excited to try it out, because I’ve been treated for sleep apnea in the past and know how much trouble it can cause if it goes undetected.

Finally, I like the change from steel to titanium on the premium models. Apple’s polished steel version has always been my favorite, but it was heavier than the aluminum options. Titanium is much lighter.

We really like the glossy black aluminum look, and although it looks more expensive than the matte silver or rose gold models, they still start at the same $399 price point.

The Series 10 is thinner than previous Apple Watch models, which weren’t particularly thick, and the previous thickness is fine if it means longer battery life.

That’s its biggest weakness. One of the things that makes the Apple Watch Ultra and Ultra 2 so appealing is that they have up to 36 hours of battery life, which makes a big difference when you’re traveling or if you forget to charge it overnight.

There aren’t many big health upgrades. Apple is reportedly working on glucose monitoring and blood pressure monitoring for the Apple Watch. I wasn’t expecting either this year, but I worry that spending money on a device now will make it obsolete once the big health features are gone.

The Apple Watch Series 10 is the perfect first purchase for two-thirds of first-time Apple Watch buyers. You get a new chip, a larger screen, a thinner design, and faster charging. If you have a Series 6 or earlier model, you might also find it worth upgrading. But if you enjoy more extreme sports like diving or hiking and want features like more accurate GPS and support for deeper underwater dives, or simply better battery life, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the way to go.

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