Apple Watch Series 10 in the test

The Apple Watch Series 10 is on the market and has been on my wrist ever since. Time for a few words. The Apple Watch has a familiar design, but now has the largest display to date, which even surpasses the screen of the Apple Watch Ultra – this is particularly noticeable when you switch from an older model. The larger font and additional space improve the presentation of content.

In addition, the display merges more seamlessly into the rounded housing, which leads to a more harmonious overall picture. The Series 10 is slimmer, which some will surely find more elegant. Equipped with a Wide Angle OLED display, it is 40 percent brighter when viewed from different angles while remaining energy efficient, even at a refresh rate of once per second. The watch is available in black, silver and rose gold, although Apple says it has optimized the aluminum alloy.

The Series 10 is also Apple’s thinnest watch to date, measuring 9.7 millimeters thick. Many internal components have been further downsized, including the speakers, which are now 40 percent smaller. Music and podcasts can be played directly via the speaker (please don’t do this in public). The smartwatch also remains waterproof up to a depth of 50 meters.

Inside is the new S10 chip, which is faster than previous SIPs (System-in-Package). The usual features such as Siri on Device etc. are even faster, and background noise can be hidden using AI when making calls. We have already said something about watchOS 11. What is really new is the detection of sleep apnea. This is a condition in which breathing repeatedly stops, disrupting sleep. If left untreated, it can lead to high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and heart problems.

The 10 series also gets the depth gauge and water temperature sensor. Until now, only the Apple Watch Ultra had this. This makes the watch more useful if you are a fan of diving or snorkeling. Coastal information has been improved in Apple Maps specifically for surfers etc.

About the design: You have to like it. I like it, but also that of the Ultra. The Series 10 takes it to a new level if you like things simple and elegant. Large display, thin and light smartwatch. But you have to look very closely to see the differences to its direct predecessor. I think Apple has found its design for the next 3 to 4 years.

I tested the color Jet Black in aluminum. Do you remember the iPhone in Jet Black? It’s exactly that color, just with less surface area for fingerprints. Of course, I looked a little at the battery life and the recharging time. I always find the discussions ridiculous when people say that they won’t buy a smartwatch unless it lasts at least a week. You just have to see how you handle it. If you go to bed with your Apple Watch, you might want to charge the thing while you shower or something like that – or grab the Ultra.

The Apple Watch Series 10 offers the advantage of faster charging compared to the Series 9 and Ultra 2 models. The Series 10 can be charged from 0 to 80% in around 30 minutes, compared to 45 minutes for the Series 9 and 60 minutes for the Ultra 2. In addition, the Series 10 can absorb enough energy to use sleep tracking functions after around 10 minutes on the charger. Apple officially claims a battery life of 18 hours, although you naturally use less energy in sleep mode than during the day. In the test I even managed to achieve a little longer runtime, but that’s really due to the use, the movements and the ambient brightness.

The problem with my report is that I can’t write anything about sleep apnea. I probably don’t have any. If I had one, I would need around 30 sessions with my Series 10. Apple Watch’s sleep apnea monitoring feature is not officially diagnosed. Rather, they will alert the user that there may be a risk of sleep apnea.

The data provided by the Apple Watch is intended to serve as a useful indication (technical details can be found here). Apple intends this information to encourage users to consult a doctor. The doctor may then suggest a traditional sleep test if necessary. I think it’s generally good, my father-in-law already had the function of detecting atrial fibrillation. This can sometimes be life-saving.

The display on the Apple Watch Series 10 has actually gotten better. It looks brighter from the side, but whether you have to have that is of course always up to the user. I usually look directly at the watch and even when I’m exercising I don’t have to look sideways or down to the side. But hey, the display makes the Series 10 a better watch, you can also see the seconds display, depending on the watch face. Oops!

Basically I use an Ultra 1. I definitely didn’t miss the Ultra’s display. The Series 10 is significantly more compact, weighing about half as much and 9.7mm thick, around 30 percent less than the Ultra (although I like the Ultra design more).

Series 10 vs Ultra v1

Otherwise, everything that users probably value about their Apple Watch is on board. As usual, I am not making a general recommendation. If you have the Series 7, 8 or 9 and are satisfied with no sensors for any kind of recording, you should continue to use the model. Everyone else now gets a top watch that is a bit like the iPhone. The latest giant innovations are missing; small, important and useful changes are presented. And if you’re an occasional or occasional athlete, you don’t really have to have an Ultra (which is a lot more expensive). Sure, action button, a loud siren and so on – but there are supposed to be people who want an elegant Apple Watch without any fuss. With the Series 10 you get the slimmest model currently with a great display. It is available from 449 euros, or 479 euros for the 46 mm model. I used the latter for my test, which would also be my personal choice if I were upgrading from an Apple Watch before the Series 7.

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