The new Apple Watch is here. A decade after the company revealed its first model, the Apple Watch Series 10 has a bigger screen and thinner design than all its predecessors. The watch also has wider viewing angles and a redesigned speaker. It adds up to the biggest design change since Series 4.
Although the company didn’t mention the exact screen sizes in its presentation (or confirm that it comes in two sizes), Apple says the screen on the Series 10 wearable has 30 percent more area than that of the Series 6. It’s even slightly bigger than that of the Apple Watch Ultra. The watch’s wide-angle OLED screen is 40 percent brighter at angles than its predecessor, which Apple says will help with digesting info at a quick glance. The screen updates once per second, and the ticking second hand even shows while in ambient mode. Both the display and case have more rounded corners than before.
The Apple Watch Series 10 is 10 percent thinner than the Series 9 model. It’s also 10 percent lighter than last year’s watch (20 percent lighter if you opt for the new titanium model). The latter replaces stainless steel as the wearable’s premium casing option, although we’ll have to wait a bit to find out about pricing.
Powering the device is the new S10 SIP (System in Package), which Apple claims will enhance performance and efficiency. Its speakers are 30 percent smaller without sacrificing audio performance. And it can play media (like music and podcasts) for the first time — handy if you forget your AirPods.
The S10 helps to give the Apple Watch Series 10 longer battery life at an estimated 18 hours. The company claims its improved fast-charging can get it from empty to an 80 percent charge in 30 minutes.
The watch’s metal back integrates with the antenna, which Apple says will enhance cellular performance and water resistance (up to 50m), which combines with its built-in depth gauge and water temperature sensor for extra diving capabilities. It adds the Tides app for surfing, fishing and other underwater tracking. There’s also an Oceanic Plus app for the snorkelers out there.
The Apple Watch Series 10 includes sleep apnea tracking, another first. The company says it uses machine learning to look for breathing disturbances overnight. Apple expects FDA approval soon.
Of course, the new Apple Watch (along with older models starting with Series 6 and the second-gen SE) will run watchOS 11. The 2024 software adds the ability to pause and further customize Rings and Activity goals, as well as a new Vitals app to check overnight metrics, training loads, and pregnancy data.
The Apple Watch Series 10 starts at $399 for a GPS-only variant. The GPS + cellular model costs $499. It’s available in jet black (for the first time), rose gold and silver aluminum.
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