Although many commentators expected a huge Apple Watch redesign for its tenth anniversary, Apple ignored the “X” naming scheme it used for the tenth iPhone and instead gave us a rather more muted Series 10 upgrade. Still, there’s plenty to be excited about with pretty significant design changes and health features taking the spotlight this year amongst a slew of other changes.
Here’s everything Apple announced about Apple Watch Series 10, which launches on September 20, plus a smaller update for Apple Watch Ultra 2.
Apple Watch Series 10
“Around the world, Apple Watch has had an immeasurable positive impact on people by helping them stay healthy, active, safe, and connected to the things that matter to them — and it’s helped save countless lives along the way,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer.
Series 10 is around 10% thinner than before, with a larger display that treats users to 30% more useable screen area. Thanks to a new wide-angle OLED screen that wraps around the edges, and a display technology that keeps those edges legible from tight angles, this change only increases the overall dimensions of the device by a measly 2mm. It also maintains the same 18 hour (ish) battery life thanks to improvements in power efficiency. Oh, and it’s lighter too.
A new design
Take a look at the new design and what strikes you is how it differs from the preview few generations, which all looked basically identical. Series 10 is noticeably thinner and lighter, which should improve comfort throughout the day. And thanks to a slightly bigger frame and a new wraparound display, the usable screen area is up by a considerable 30%, meaning much more information can fit on screen. watchOS 11 includes new watch faces designed to take full advantage of the larger display, such as the bold and colorful Flux face and the subtly reactive Reflections face.
Improved display
The display isn’t just bigger – it’s smarter. The innovative wide-angle OLED screen optimizes each pixel to emit more light at wider angles, making the display up to 40% brighter when viewed from the side. This means you can easily read notifications or check your workout metrics without having to adjust your wrist. The always-on display now refreshes once a second instead of once a minute when your wrist is down, allowing you to see a ticking seconds hand without lifting your arm.
Battery life
Despite the enhanced features and larger display, the Series 10 maintains the same all-day 18-hour battery life, thanks to improvements in power efficiency. Charging is faster than ever: a 15-minute charge gives you up to 8 hours of use, and an 8-minute charge provides enough power for 8 hours of sleep tracking. You can reach 80% battery in about 30 minutes, making it easier to keep your watch powered throughout the day.
Performance
Under the hood, the Series 10 is powered by the new S10 SiP (System in Package), engineered for enhanced performance and power efficiency. This doesn’t just speed things up, but powers improvements to Siri, dictation, Crash Detection, and more.
Health
Amazingly, Apple Watch can now detect and monitor sleep apnea, a condition that’s estimated to affect over 1 billion people worldwide. There are other health tracking improvements in watchOS 11, but they’re not specific to Apple Watch Series 10.
Water activities
Series 10 remains swim-proof up to 50 meters but now includes a new depth gauge that measures down to 6 meters, perfect for snorkeling or shallow dives. Additionally, the new water temperature sensor adds another layer to your swim metrics. There’s also a new Tides app to help surfers and beachgoers keep track of tidal forecasts and more.
Availability and Pricing
Series 10 is sold in new size options to reflect the design changes: 42mm and 46mm. It still offers both aluminum and titanium finishes, with some new color options available to choose from.
Starting at $399/£399, the Apple Watch Series 10 is available for preorder immediately, with availability beginning on September 20.
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Apple decided against releasing a third-generation Apple Watch Ultra for now, but the existing Ultra 2 is now available in a brand new black titanium finish.