Lights, camera, action! Now that Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event has come and gone, the Apple Watch Series 10 has officially been announced. There’s a lot of news that comes with it, including details on its specs, how it works, and how soon you’ll be able to get your hands on it.
This also marks 10 years since the release of the original Apple Watch, so we can see just how far we’ve come since that initial model. From the specs, price, new features, and more, here’s everything you need to know about the Apple Watch Series 10.
Apple Watch Series 10: price and availability
You can preorder the Apple Watch Series 10 starting today, and it will be available on September 20. The GPS-enabled model starts at $399, and the cellular-enabled model starts at $499. This new Apple Watch will be available in three colors: Jet Black, Rose Gold, and Silver Aluminum.
As far as accessories go, you’ll also be able to pick up new bands from Nike and Hermes, too. Can you stay style?
Apple Watch Series 10: hands-on
Before we dig into all of the new features and changes with the Apple Watch Series 10, here’s an important question: What’s it like to actually use the newest Apple Watch? Thankfully, we have an answer for you!
We got some early hands-on time with the Apple Watch Series 10, and first impressions are solid. While not immediately remarkable, Apple’s new design is impressive in person. The new display also looks lovely, and we got to hear what the new speaker sounds like.
Apple Watch Series 10: design and display
The Apple Watch Series 10 brings several brilliant changes to the design that we didn’t even know we wanted. For starters, this is the thinnest design of any Apple Watch, paired with the biggest display we’ve ever seen — yes, even more so than the Apple Watch Ultra. It’s the first-ever wide-angle OLED display on an Apple wearable, an increase of up to 30% in screen size over previous generations.
Why does this matter? Easy: You can see an extra line of text in apps like Messages, Mail, etc. The screen expands farther down the sides of the case and provides up to 40% more brightness when viewed at an angle. Say goodbye to squinting at your Watch while on the go; just a glance will tell you everything you need.
Built from a more durable aluminum alloy than earlier models, the Apple Watch Series 10 has become more compact. At only 9.7mm thick, it’s almost 10% thinner than the Apple Watch Series 9, although Apple had to miniaturize internal components to fit everything within this slim form factor. A speaker built into the side of the watch means you can play media like music and podcasts directly on your wrist — a first for Apple.
Apple Watch Series 10: battery and performance
A bigger screen and brighter display might sound like it will impact battery life, but Apple says the wide-angle OLED is “extremely power efficient.” The brighter screen doesn’t mean a loss of battery life. Even if you do burn through your charge, another upgrade means you don’t have to worry about battery life. This is the fastest-charging Apple Watch ever made, capable of reaching 80% charge after just half an hour. Apple estimates the Series 10 to have a battery life of around 18 hours under normal usage conditions.
The Apple Watch Series 10 also comes loaded with new features, like a neural network that reduces background noise while chatting. You can easily make calls, record notes, and much more while on the go. The Series 10 also has the new S10 chipset that maximizes its efficiency. It’s also worth noting that the Series 10 ships with watchOS 11.
Apple Watch Series 10: health and fitness tracking
One of the core elements of the Apple Watch has always been health and fitness tracking. Even the original models were marketed as a great way to keep track of your steps, with more advancements made with each iteration. The Apple Watch Series 10 is no exception and lends itself well to people on the go. It’s lighter than any Apple Watch that’s come before, but in spite of this smaller size, it comes with new, exciting features.
The most significant announcement by far is its ability to detect sleep apnea. The Apple Watch Series 10 uses its accelerometer to detect movement during the night. Every 30 days, it analyzes the gathered data and presents a report if it detects possible signs of sleep apnea. You might not think that’s such a big deal, but this condition affects millions of people, and as many as 80% are undiagnosed. The feature is pending FDA approval, but Apple expects it to come through soon.
Another excellent feature is the depth gauge and water temperature sensors. Swimmers and divers can easily tell not only how deep they are at any given moment (or at least how deep their wrist is), but also how warm or cold the water is. It also includes Apple’s Tides app for beach walkers, surfers, and more.
On top of all of this, the Apple Watch Series 10 includes the new Vitals app. Think of it as a souped-up Health app; it measures things like your Training Load to let you know if you’re working out too hard or if you can push yourself a little more, options to take a rest day without breaking your Activity streak, and so much more.
The Apple Watch Series 10 is the culmination of a decade of gradual improvements, but what a decade it has been. The Series 10 looks like a fantastic Apple Watch, and we’ll have much more to say about it soon.