Apple Watch Series 10 Review: Is It Worth the Upgrade?

The Apple Watch Series 10 arrives as one of the most incremental updates to the Apple Watch lineup. While it brings a slimmer, lighter design and a noticeably larger display, the core experience remains familiar to users of recent models. For those with an Apple Watch Series 7, 8, or 9, the changes are modest enough that an upgrade may not be justified. However, users with older devices, such as the Series 5 or 6, could find the new features and improvements compelling.

The design shifts to 42mm and 46mm case sizes, offering a 10% thinner profile compared to recent generations. Both aluminum and titanium options are available, with the titanium model adding cellular support and a durable sapphire crystal display, though at a significantly higher cost. The display measures 1.89 inches for the 42mm and 2.04 inches for the 46mm model, utilizing LTPO3 OLED technology with enhanced brightness and reduced bezels, providing a more spacious viewing area.

Under the hood, the Series 10 utilizes the Apple S10 SiP chip, which matches the performance of the S9 found in last year's models. Paired with watchOS 11, the watch remains responsive for daily tasks, with new smart stack suggestions and an improved 'Translate' app. Health and fitness tracking sees meaningful additions, including sleep apnea detection and the Vitals app, which monitors heart rate, blood oxygen, temperature, and respiratory rate over several sleep cycles. The depth gauge and water temperature sensor from the Ultra models are present but limited to 6 meters for swimming.

Battery life stays consistent at around 18 hours under typical use, with the ability to charge from 0 to 80% in approximately 30 minutes. New software features allow users to pause activity rings without breaking streaks and adjust goals based on the day of the week, adding flexibility for rest days.

Ultimately, the Apple Watch Series 10 is a reliable and capable smartwatch, but its evolutionary nature means it may not compelling enough to upgrade from recent models. For those ready for a new wearable, it offers a polished experience with useful health insights and a more comfortable design.