Apple Watch Series 10 review: The all-rounder

Apple’s smartwatch has reached the ripe outdated age of 10 and has a number of upgrades to have a good time. Is ‘Thinstant traditional’ and acceptable tagline for the Apple Watch Collection 10 although? 

As a substitute of the ‘X’ overhaul that the iPhone noticed when it hit 10, the Collection 10 is essentially extra of the identical, although refinement at this stage is comprehensible. 

A bigger and extra spectacular display screen, thinner physique, new colors and an non-compulsory Titanium mannequin make it essentially the most fascinating Apple Watch but and should even persuade you an Extremely is overkill. 

Let me clarify why the Apple Watch Collection 10 is the candy spot of Apple’s smartwatch vary. 

Design & Construct

• Thinner & lighter
• Jet Black color
• Titanium possibility

A attainable design overhaul for the rumoured ‘Collection X’ didn’t occur however the Collection 10 has nonetheless had extra refinement that first meets the attention.  

It definitely seems to be very very like its fore bares and I nonetheless personally want a round smartwatch, however the sq. design has benefits, after all. 

The Collection 10 is the thinnest Apple Watch ever at 9.7mm which is a full millimetre lower than the Collection 9/8/7. It makes it really feel extra cosy and helps it match underneath clothes and many others.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Different dimensions are barely tweaked, too so this is available in 42- and 46mm sizes slightly than 41- and 45mm. It primarily permits for a bigger display screen which I’ll discuss later. 

Apple has barely simplified the completed for the Collection 10 which, for the aluminium possibility, is available in silver, rose gold and jet black. I’ve been testing the latter and I’m very keen on its trendy polished look. 

A part of the redesign features a new speaker grille which I believe seems to be good with its tiny holes however isn’t one thing you’ll see typically. 

These wanting the Titanium version (for extra money) can select slate, gold and pure. This replaces the Stainless Metal mannequin of the Collection 9.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Regardless of not loving this sq. design of the Apple Watch, I’ve discovered it extraordinarily snug – day and evening. Apple despatched a material Sport Loop band with the watch and a very good all-rounder. There are, after all, a great deal of strap choices and you may change them shortly and simply for various utilization. 

As typical Apple is excellent with its use of recycled supplies with loads of components created from 100% recycled aluminium, uncommon components, tin, copper and extra. The titanium mannequin is created from 95% materials for the case just like the Apple Watch Extremely 2. 

As typical, the Collection 10 is water resistant to 50m and swimproof. It’s extraordinarily sturdy and in a month of wear and tear I can’t see a single scratch or in any other case. 

Display screen & Speaker 

• Even greater 
• Broad-angle OLED 
• 1Hz refresh charge 
• Media playback 

The display screen is the most important {hardware} improve this yr and, in reality, is now bigger than the Extremely 2’s if you choose the 46mm case measurement (regardless of the Extremely being 49mm). There’s nonetheless a smaller 42mm possibility for those who want however I’m testing the bigger model right here.  

Other than the elevated measurement, with solely a touch greater case, which permits an additional line of textual content, the brand new display screen is significantly better in a few key areas. 

It’s nonetheless very vibrant, crisp and vibrant as you’ll count on, however now has a Broad-angle OLED panel which Apple says is as much as 40% brighter when seen at an angle. 

Observe that not even the Extremely fashions have this, although the Extremely 2 can go 50% brighter at 3,000 nits.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

The panel does certainly make the Collection 10 simpler to make use of with out having to look immediately at it. It means I can look on the time or a notification with out having to maneuver my wrist in any respect. 

The opposite large improve is the show’s 1Hz refresh charge. Should you’re used to seeing telephones and tablets rated at 90-, 120Hz and even increased then this may appear unusual. Telephones sometimes go right down to 1Hz to preserve battery energy however on the Collection 10 it allows watch faces to have a ticking second hand or equal. 

1Hz means it refreshes as soon as each second making it good for this. Nevertheless, only a few of Apple’s official watch faces can reap the benefits of it. 

Nonetheless, it’s among the finest shows on a smartwatch thus far, even when I do personally want spherical ones.

The speaker is first rate although I personally didn’t discover myself utilizing it a lot. Cellphone calls on a watch usually are not my factor and though now you can use it for media playback, once more, I don’t see the attraction. 

Health & monitoring 

• ECG 
• Sleep monitoring with apnoea 
• Coronary heart charge and far more 

This isn’t an space the place an entire lot has modified on the Collection 10 in comparison with earlier generations however that’s not a foul factor. At this age, it’s comprehensible that Apple has obtained all of it collectively. 

As anticipated, the smartwatch has loads of sensors and intelligent software program to trace every kind of issues from steps to coronary heart charge to coaching load. 

Apple isn’t forceful with many of the health and monitoring options which I like, although some may go unnoticed for those who don’t search around. Vitals is one I by no means actually used, partly as battery operating out and forgetting to cost leads to not sufficient information. 

You need to use it as merely as an affordable health tracker through the exercise rings or for far more difficult exercises and coaching for those who like. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

I’ve discovered the Collection 10 a pleasure to make use of in these methods, the place others can typically be too pushy with making you hit targets or overly difficult in how information is introduced.  

One key change is that you may pause the exercise rings so that you don’t overdo it for the sake of gamification and in addition set completely different targets for various days of the week (eg the weekend). The result’s a extra balanced method. 

The monitoring is correct and largely you don’t should do something apart from put on the gadget. It actually does the remaining except you need to particularly take an ECG or one thing.

One factor that’s completely different in comparison with non-Apple smartwatches and good rings is stress monitoring, a minimum of not natively although I imagine you will get third occasion apps for this. Nevertheless, it’s not one thing I’ve discovered helpful elsewhere anyway with erratic stats.

Mike Sawh

I ought to add that I’m not a health fanatic and my train is often strolling the canine and chasing a toddler spherical a playground. Nevertheless, a daily contributor to Tech Advisor examined the Collection 10 alongside an Extremely 2 for a half marathon and it got here out very shut certainly. 

On the subject of sleep monitoring, you get the same old type of information together with total time and a breakdown of sleep levels. I might say it’s on the extra beneficiant finish of the spectrum, sometimes stating I used to be asleep inside seconds of hitting the pillow once I know full properly I used to be nonetheless awake – although this method is best for the placebo feeling within the morning so I’d slightly this than the alternative. 

A brand new characteristic is sleep apnoea notifications which might help determine the situation, although it’ll eat extra battery. On a daily evening with out it, I discovered battery would go down 10%. 

Efficiency & Options 

• S10 SiP 
• Depth gauge & water temperature 

Not like the iPhone 16, I’ve had no efficiency points or glitches like random reboots and many others. The smartwatch runs very easily certainly and doesn’t wrestle with any duties I’ve requested of it. 

The brand new S10 SiP is clearly as much as the job so I’ll swiftly transfer on to speak about a number of the options out there on the Collection 10, a few of that are information. 

Swimmers and snorkellers will take pleasure in a beforehand Extremely-exclusive characteristic within the depth gauge which robotically prompts while you’re in water, although it solely works to 6m slightly than the 40m the Extremely 2 is able to. 

The Collection 10 additionally has a water temperature sensor which you may discover helpful.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Loads of current options are nonetheless out there together with Emergency SOS, Fall- and Crash Detection. None of which I’ve wanted gladly nevertheless it’s good to comprehend it’s there. 

On the software program aspect, watchOS 11 works very properly and is usually intuitive. Should you’re coming from one other smartwatch working system then it’ll take a short time to be taught your manner round. 

Basically, your notifications are a swipe down from the highest and swiping up or turning the crown summons the Good Stack which is a set of card-style widgets with data and shortcuts akin to climate, exercise rings, picture reminiscences and extra. 

In fact, you may customise which widgets you need in there and what order they seem.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Press the digital crown and also you’ll see the icons of all of your apps, a lot of which you’ll should be taught if it’s your first Apple Watch. I like how apps you put in in your cellphone robotically seem on the Collection 10 to make use of there. 

Lastly, urgent the aspect button opens the Management Heart the place you’ll discover all of your settings and issues like battery stage. 

One among my favorite options is the double faucet gesture the place you faucet your index finger and thumb collectively shortly to scroll and varied different issues like reply a cellphone name or snoozing an alarm. 

In fact, there’s far too many options to speak about in a single assessment, however that’s a testomony to how the Apple Watch can do all of it – from contactless funds to Siri to loud surroundings warnings. 

Battery Life & Charging  

• Nonetheless rated at 18 hours 
• Fast charging 

As is widespread with plenty of Apple merchandise, the battery ranking stays the identical as earlier generations.  

Granted it’s more durable to develop in a small gadget like a smartwatch, however no enchancment on the ‘as much as 18 hours’ in 10 years isn’t very spectacular. Although you may go 36 hours in Low Energy Mode when wanted. 

Many Put on OS rivals are related, however we’ve additionally seen some show that it’s attainable to go a lot additional. The OnePlus Watch 2/2R are key examples. 

The Apple Watch Extremely 2 gives double the stamina purchase maybe Apple needs that as a key motive to improve.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Again to the Collection 10 and I’ve discovered battery life to be fairly strong (with pretty mild utilization I would add), if a bit awkward. It’ll final me a day simply however at all times appears to expire at an unlucky time. And with a busy schedule it typically meant I carried it round with no cost for a day or two. 

In fact, a lot of this may be resolved by charging it at evening however at the price of sleep monitoring if that’s necessary to you. 

When you have chargers round the home to maintain topping it up, the Collection 10 costs in a short time. The equipped charger plugged into my laptop computer can get it from 0-83% in simply half-hour (barely greater than the 80% Apple claims). 

It’s largely about remembering to cost it and Apple helps a bit by supplying you with a reminder to cost forward of going to mattress if the battery stage is getting low. 

Value & Availability 

As per the Collection 9, the Apple Watch Collection 10 begins at £399/$399 for the most affordable 42mm mannequin however you may spend much more relying on the mixture of measurement, materials and connectivity you need. 

Right here’s a breakdown together with a typical rubber band: 

42mm 

• Aluminium GPS – £399/$399 
• Aluminium GPS + Mobile – £499/$499
• Titanium GPS + Mobile – £699/$699

46mm 

• Aluminium GPS – £429/$429  
• Aluminium GPS + Mobile – £529$529 
• Titanium GPS + Mobile – £749/$749

As you may see, worth varies wildly relying on what you need. To present some context within the wider market, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 begins at £289 for the smaller 40mm and the Google Pixel Watch 3 is £340 for the 41mm measurement. 

Should you do resolve on an Apple Watch Collection 10 you should buy it from Apple in addition to the likes of Amazon, Currys, John Lewis and Argos within the UK and the official retailer, Amazon and BestBuy within the US.

In fact, there are heaps extra choices on the market so try our greatest smartwatch rankings for the highest fashions.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Do you have to purchase an Apple Watch Collection 10? 

A sweeping sure or no is just not attainable right here however there are some key methods to resolve whether or not to purchase a Collection 10 – beginning with whether or not you’ve gotten an iPhone, after all. 

In that case, and also you need the most recent mannequin then it’s a easy sure. I believe the Collection 10 is the candy spot within the vary for those who can afford the precise mannequin you need. 

It’s not vastly completely different from the Collection 9 and even the Collection 8 however there’s sufficient right here to make it very fascinating together with the brand new display screen, refined slim design and doubtlessly helpful options relying in your private utilization. 

I’m slightly disenchanted Apple continues to be caught at as much as 18 hours battery life however that’s a serious motive to get an Extremely as an alternative in case you are pleased with the extra cumbersome design and price ticket of that. 

As is at all times the case with a lot tech, you’ll get a greater deal on a Collection 9 now it’s the earlier gen for those who can stay with out the brand new show, sleep apnoea, depth gauge and different new options. And also you’ll discover an even bigger improve bounce for those who’re nonetheless carrying a Collection 6 or older.

Specs

• 42/46mm casings
• 42mm x 36mm x 9.7mm (42mm)
• 46mm x 39mm x 9.7mm (46mm)
• S10 SiP with 64‑bit twin‑core processor
• IP6X mud resistant
• 50ATM water resistance
• LTPO3 OLED At all times-On Retina show, 1Hz
• Sleep monitoring with sleep apnoea notifications
• Blood oxygen, ECG, coronary heart charge and temperature monitoring
• Cycle monitoring
• Automotive crash detection
• GPS
• Wi-Fi 4, 802.11n
• Bluetooth 5.3
• Mobile (non-compulsory)
• Barometer
• At all times-on altimeter
• Depth gauge (6m)
• Water temperature sensor
• 18-hour battery life
• As much as 36 hours of use with Low Energy mode
• Aluminium or Titanium