I finally got my hands on the Apple Watch Series 10, and let me tell you, it has been worth the wait. The Apple Watch Series 10 is a big improvement, featuring a slimmer design, improved health tracking, and a brighter display. But is it worth the investment? After a month of testing, here’s my take on whether it lives up to the hype. I’ll also compare it to the Apple Watch Series 5 for those of you wondering if it’s worth the upgrade. These are my honest impressions, highlighting the key takeaways and what I believe truly sets this version apart.
Table of contents
What’s New and Exciting in Series 10?
There are some exciting additions to the newest edition of Apple Watch:
- ✅ Thinner & Lighter: Thinnest design yet at 9.7mm. Aluminum models are 10% lighter, and titanium is 20% lighter than stainless steel.
- ✅ Largest Display: Features a bright wide-angle OLED display, 40% brighter at an angle, with an always-on mode that shows continuous seconds.
- ✅ Faster Charging: Charge up to 80% in just 30 minutes, making quick recharges easy.
- ✅ New Health Features: Sleep apnea notifications provide insights after 30 days of tracking.
- ✅ Water Depth & Temperature Sensing: Supports depths of up to 6 meters and tracks water temperature, ideal for swimming and snorkeling.
- ✅ New Apps & Metrics: The ‘Vitals’ app tracks heart rate, respiratory rate, and wrist temperature. The ‘Tides’ app offers global tidal data.
- ✅ Updated Finishes: Available in jet black aluminum, rose gold, brushed silver, and polished titanium finishes.
- ✅ Enhanced Audio: Improved voice isolation ensures clearer calls, even in noisy environments.
First Impressions: User Experience at Its Peak
I really like several things about the Apple Watch compared to other smartwatches I’ve tried. I have recently tried Garmin Venu 3 (check out my detailed review here), which was an impressive watch, but I still missed several things about the Apple Watch.
1) The notifications are visually clearer, and it’s easy to see what’s coming in since different types of notifications look distinct. For example, on my Garmin, all the notifications used the same icon and look, no matter what they were. With the Apple Watch, I can instantly tell whether it’s a text, email, or something else, and I can reply directly from the watch.
2) The activity rings are also super handy. It gives me a quick overview of my activity for the day or week.
3) The seamless sync with my iPhone makes managing music and other features from my wrist really simple.
4) I also love how Siri lets me add reminders with just my voice, which is perfect when I’m out and don’t want to take out my phone.
5) The new double-tap gesture to answer calls is really useful too.
6) The health tracking features, like monitoring vitals, offer great insights by combining different health metrics to catch anything unusual.
Lastly, having the cellular and GPS capabilities, the Series 10 makes staying connected easier when I’m out for a run without my phone. Whether it’s streaming music or responding to a quick text, I have more freedom to leave my phone behind and still access everything I need directly from my wrist.
Unboxing the Apple Watch 10
Unboxing the Apple Watch 10 was an experience in itself, something that Apple seems to have perfected over the years. As soon as I lifted the lid off the sleek, minimalistic box, I was greeted by the watch, neatly presented in its own compartment. The packaging is clean and elegant, with the watch’s band and charging cable tucked away in separate sections. It’s a small detail, but the way everything is arranged adds to the excitement of getting a new device.
The watch itself was wrapped in a soft, protective cover, which kept it safe during transit. Underneath the watch, I found the usual documentation – quick start guide, warranty information, and some Apple stickers. The magnetic charger is a familiar sight, but it’s now equipped with faster charging capabilities, something I’ll dive into later in this review.
Design and Build Quality
I find the design of the Apple Watch Series 10 to be incredibly refined, with its largest and most advanced display yet. The thin bezel and 10% thinner case make it more comfortable to wear. Its polished aluminum finish adds a glossy, premium feel, and I love that there’s a jet black option available. The watch feels more durable too, thanks to the advanced anodization of both the aluminum and titanium cases, and the rounded corners definitely add to the overall comfort.
You can really feel the difference in build quality compared to the earlier series, it feels more premium and just more comfortable to wear when sleeping, working out etc.
Display Enhancements
The new wide-angle OLED display, which can reach up to 2000 nits of brightness, double what my Series 5 offered, makes it easier to see from any angle. Plus, the always-on display now has a ticking second hand, adding a nice touch of detail. It’s a great mix of style and practicality.
Performance and Battery Life
The performance and battery life of the Apple Watch Series 10 positively surprised me. It’s powered by the new S10 SiP (System in Package), which boosts both its processing power and efficiency. Thanks to this chip, using apps and tracking workouts or health data feels smooth and quick. Despite having a thinner design, the Series 10 still gives about 18 hours of battery life with regular use, just like the previous model.
What really caught my attention, though, is its fast charging. With a 30-minute charge, it reaches 80%, meaning less downtime and more time staying active all day. Even when I’ve used GPS during workouts, I’ve noticed the battery lasts longer than expected, which is perfect for those longer sessions. My tip here is to find a suitable time to charge, like when you shower, cook dinner etc. Even 20 minutes charge will give you enough for the full day.
All in all, compared to my old Apple Watch Series 5, I’m satisfied with the Series 10’s better battery life. With its quick charging, it’s just about remembering to plug it in at convenient times, like when I’m showering or cooking.
Health and Fitness Features
I’ve always been impressed by how Apple leads the charge in health and fitness tracking, and the Watch Series 10 doesn’t disappoint. It builds on that legacy with new features that genuinely stand out.
New Vitals app
The new Vitals app tracks key overnight stats like heart rate, breathing, and wrist temperature for quick insights. It simplifies health tracking, making the Apple Watch a reliable and essential health companion.
The other day, I woke up feeling completely off, tired and not myself. When I checked my Apple Watch, the Vitals app showed a spike in my wrist temperature overnight. That got me thinking: could this be my body’s way of telling me I’m about to get sick? Sure enough, as the day went on, I started feeling worse. It’s incredible how these small insights from wearable tech can give us a heads-up about our health. Paired with the Apple Health app, it all started to make sense. It’s not a doctor, but it sure helps me stay more in tune with my body.
Sleep Analysis
After using both Garmin and Apple Watches, I find that the Apple Watch is more comfortable to sleep with. The smooth design of the band and watch face slides easily under the pillow without causing friction. In contrast, my Garmin Venu 3’s strap frequently came loose, and the overall bulkiness created friction, making it uncomfortable when placing my hands under the pillow.
Sleep Stages
- Awake: Periods when you’re not sleeping or briefly awakening during the night.
- REM (Rapid Eye Movement) Sleep: Characterized by rapid eye movements, changes in respiration patterns, and brain activity similar to the awake state. REM sleep is associated with dreaming and is believed to be important for memory consolidation and cognitive function.
- Deep Sleep: Also known as slow-wave sleep, this stage is crucial for physical recovery, muscle repair, and immune system function.
- Core Sleep: This stage encompasses light sleep and is the most common sleep stage throughout the night.
Sleep Apnea
One feature that really stands out is the sleep apnea detection. It’s a big step forward and shows Apple’s focus on health and wellness. But while I like the improvements, I have to admit that some of the changes feel more like refinements than game-changers. It can now alert me if it detects signs of sleep apnea while I’m sleeping. This matters to me because untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious health problems like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and heart issues. What I find most useful is that the watch not only alerts me but also generates a report I can share with my doctor. This feature gives me peace of mind, knowing I’m actively monitoring a condition that could affect my health.
Fitness and Activity Tracking
With the Apple Watch Series 10, fitness tracking has improved! It auto-detects workouts, whether I’m running or swimming, and provides accurate metrics like lap counts and stroke types. I love its water temperature and depth gauge for snorkeling. The new Training Load feature uses heart rate and sleep data to optimize my performance, while offline maps are perfect for hiking. Plus, customizable Activity goals and sleep apnea detection keep me on track with health and fitness. The Series 10 makes staying active more engaging and personalized!
Effort Rating and Training Recovery
One of the standout features of the Apple Watch 10 is its enhanced Training Recovery tool, which now includes an Effort Rating for more tailored feedback. After each workout, I noticed that Apple assigns a 1-10 rating based on my heart rate data, indicating how intense the session was. What’s great is that I can fine-tune this rating either right after my workout or even days later if I realize the effort felt different. Enabling the ‘Post-Workout Reminder’ in settings makes this process even simpler. It’s a small adjustment that’s helping me stay more in tune with my training and overall recovery.
Smart Notifications and Siri Integration
Smart notifications and Siri Integration is something I particularly like about the Apple Watch compared to other smartwatches I have tried. Notifications are visually appealing, quick to identify whats incoming and responding on the watch face is simple and effective. The Apple Watch Series 10 improves my daily routine with Smart Notifications and Siri integration. WatchOS 11 features a more intelligent Smart Stack to help users quickly access important information, a redesigned Photos face that uses machine learning to curate the best photo options, and new tools like the Translate app and Check In feature. Additionally, the ability to scroll through any app with the double-tap gesture makes navigation even more seamless. With on-device Siri, I can access health data and control functions hands-free, making it easy to track workouts or send messages on the go. This seamless connectivity boosts productivity and makes the watch an essential part of my day.
Comparing Apple Watch Series 5 with Series 10
If you’re considering upgrading from the Apple Watch Series 5 to the Series 10, here’s a comparison of the most essential features and improvements. As someone who owned a Series 5 before purchasing the Series 10, I noticed key changes like the brighter display, faster Siri, and enhanced health tracking. This table should help you decide if the upgrade is worth it based on your needs and whether these new features make a noticeable difference in daily use.
Final Thoughts
After spending some quality time with the Apple Watch 10, I can confidently say that this is the best Apple Watch yet. The Apple Watch Series 10 feels like a solid upgrade with a slimmer design and a bigger display. Apple Watch 10 is more comfortable to wear and easier to read the screen. I really appreciate the new wide-angle OLED screen, which makes it easy to see from any angle. The premium price tag is still something to consider, as there are many other smartwatches at a more reasonable price. In general, as an iPhone user, I have to say Apple does a fantastic job of pulling you deeper into their ecosystem, creating a seamless experience across devices that’s hard to beat. Everything feels interconnected, making the Apple Watch an extension of your iPhone rather than just a standalone accessory.
The battery life is a bit better, but I still wish it lasted for multiple days without needing a charge. That said, for me as an iPhone user, it’s still the best smartwatch out there, thanks to its performance, app options, and how well it works with all my Apple devices.
If you’re upgrading from an older model, like the Series 4 or 7, you’ll really notice the difference. Even though it’s not a complete redesign, I think the Series 10 proves that refining a great product can be just as impactful as a big overhaul.
Sources:
https://www.apple.com/watch/compare/?modelList=watch-series-5,watch-series-10
https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-series-10
This content was created with the assistance of AI to help structure my thoughts and communicate more clearly. All ideas, insights, and personal experiences shared here are my own.
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