Apple Watch Series 10 Reviews: Solid Upgrade With an Unexpectedly 'Mind-Blowing' Feature

[spartan1967]

Honestly, I do not really see much reason to upgrade from my Series 7...

Agree as a S7 owner too. However, this S10 will be a great watch to buy next year at a significant discount & hopefully a settlement finally realized by Apple to bring back the blood oxygen measurements.

Edit: Exhibit A -> Seeing New Black 45mm GPS + Cellular S9 for $345 at a retailer already.

 

[Ramchi]

Apple Watch Call Quality feature may not go overboard as we can’t use it as a replacement for mobile or earphone. This can be used for responding quick call or send a quick message etc..but certainly cannot be expected to play like a Mobile Phone or BT headset like call quality. Whereas, I could not find a watch face with Steps information like it is available in other brand watches in the watch face itself. There are no new exciting watch faces (even if it is onetime payment). I am not expecting big Software Upgrades for AWU2 but definitely some utility oriented WF with some details would be good.

 

[Rogifan]

But i mean... that's a step backwards. I was hoping for thinner bezels, instead the got bigger

So you had a thinner black bezel but more case covering the display. I only use watch faces with black backgrounds so I never see the bezel.

 

[Webcat86]

Dude, compared to the Series 9, the thing has a thinner and lighter case (huge for a wearable) without compromising performance or battery life, and has fast charging, and improved GPS, and wide angle OLED (huge for a watch), a depth gauge, a water temperature sensor, and a larger display.

LMAO. How much more do you want in a year over year update?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying these are bad things. They're just pretty minimal and a whole lot less than what the iPad and iPhones have got, both of which received criticism for not being big enough upgrades.

My main disappointment with AW10 is a lack of additional health sensors. Sleep apnea is great but I don't think it's restricted to the 10, and there had been rumours of new hardware capabilities like an additional sensor.

My 9 already has fast charging, so again, not much of an upgrade there. Improved GPS on a device that already had good GPS, at least when logging my walks and runs.

Again, all really nice features if you're on an older watch and are about to upgrade. But to suggest this is as much of a year over year update as is possible, is remarkable hyperbole.

Also, probably the single most uttered complaint about AW has always been battery life. I've heard very little complaints about its size. I feel confident in saying most of us would have preferred to keep the 9's size and use the battery optimisations to have a bigger, longer-lasting battery.

 

[deeddawg]

If I buy a 10 or Ultra here in Japan, will it have the blood oxygen sensor be usable? Or because I have a US apple id, it won't even though I'm physically here?

There's an import ban on the technology, so Apple can't import and sell devices with it. Doesn't apply to individuals and thus you should be fine.

 

[Razorpit]

I'm still using my Series 5 (after taking advantage of the battery service last month), although I must admit there are occasional lags in the OS. Series 5 does have 32 GB storage and 1 GB RAM though, which is sufficient for its OS. Watch OS 10.6.1 works fine with iOS 18. I figure I won't upgrade until maybe Series 12 or something, or maybe earlier if I can get it on sale for cheap.

Stupid question but when you got this done did you get YOUR watch back, or do they give you a replacement one that’s had the battery changed at “the factory”?

 

[DMG35]

Haters gonna hate. I have no problem with her.

I'm not hating. Not a huge fan of hers but they will more than likely put her iPhone review up. She's got a massive following but I do wish that she could be a little more balanced sometimes.

 

[deeddawg]

Also, probably the single most uttered complaint about AW has always been battery life. I've heard very little complaints about its size. I feel confident in saying most of us would have preferred to keep the 9's size and use the battery optimisations to have a bigger, longer-lasting battery.

Absence of evidence isn't evidence of absence.

You likely see few complaints about the Ultra's size simply because those who dislike the size just don't buy one in the first place.

 

[Webcat86]

Absence of evidence isn't evidence of absence.

You likely see few complaints about the Ultra's size simply because those who dislike the size just don't buy one in the first place.

I'm not talking about the Ultra. And come on, let's not pretend people would keep complaints to themselves. The size of the Apple Watches is fine, the battery life has always been underwhelming especially as they offer more and more features.

 

[attila]

The only problem I have with that is that it will be a scratch magnet. Some people don't care if their watch gets scratched as it gives it some character but I guarantee this jet black will scratch just as bad as the iPhone 7 in jet black did. My only other gripe with the aluminum is that they don't use the sapphire glass. The ion X glass just scratches way too easily.

Indeed. My wife and I had the glossy and matte jet black iPhone 7s respectively. Both attracted scratches like moths to a flame.

 

[BelgianChoklit]

It's a great watch but I feel like if you have AW7 or newer you don't need to upgrade. And even AW6 is perfectly capable nowadays

No Apple Watch is a living being. Therefor it's "the Apple Watch". Yes I know Tim Cook and his little minions refer to Apple products as it they're living beings but they're not.

I'm coming from a Series 7 and I'm getting the Series 10 this Friday. Here the upgrades:
- brighter peak brightness of 2000 nits: very ufesul when outdoors
- brighter when viewed from an angle
- body temperature measurements
- water temperature measurements
- newer ultra wideband chip
- even faster charging
- listen to audio from speakers
- crash detection
- more storage: very useful for my offline music, podcasts, Apple Maps offline maps, Wikiloc offline maps
- faster chip: while not a must it's a nice upgrade
- on device Siri: will use it every single day
- lighter: I love this because I find the SS (only model with sapphire display) too heavy
- thinner: welcome upgrade
- newer bluetooth version
- depth gauge

There's probably more that I forgot but I find this a substantial upgrade.

 

[ghostface147]

Dude, compared to the Series 9, the thing has a thinner and lighter case (huge for a wearable) without compromising performance or battery life, and has fast charging, and improved GPS, and wide angle OLED (huge for a watch), a depth gauge, a water temperature sensor, and a larger display.

LMAO. How much more do you want in a year over year update?

That’s how I feel about people who say this is boring, that is boring, that is just iterative. Like what do you want see each year? There’s only so much you can do year to year. You’ll eventually run out of things to add to devices.

 

[seanmcbay]

Losing the blood oxygen sensor is too much for me. I would have upgraded if they were able to keep it. Pre lawsuit series 9 for me. I get sleep apnea detection too.

 

[james2538]

There's incremental and there's... this. The upgrades after 3-4 years are definitely worth it, but the caveat is that the upgrades are all present in the 9, for the most part. I don't think sleep apnea is restricted to the 10.

Sleep Apnea is available in the Series 9, so besides the display there’s not as much reason to upgrade.

Going back a few Watch generations it’s pretty easy to see a pattern in updates:

• Series 4
  • Last time we got all three: Design, Processor, Health Sensor
• Series 5
  • Same Processor/Design/Health Sensor
  • New Display
• Series 6
  • Same Design
  • New Processor/Health Sensor
• Series 7
  • Same Processor/Health Sensor
  • New Design
• Series 8
  • Same Design/Processor
  • New Health Sensor
• Series 9
  • Same Design/Health Sensor
  • New Processor
• Series 10
  • Same Processor/Health Sensor
  • New Design

As you can see Apple seems to be updating the Watch design every 3 generations (4/7/10), roughly doing the same with the processor (4/6/9).

Following the same cycle we can expect the Series 11 to have a new health sensor, while the Series 12 will likely get a new processor in 2026 based off the A19 used in the upcoming iPhone 17.

For those keeping their watches for a long time, end of support is pretty clearly tied to processor generation. So we’ll expect Series 6/7/8 will all lose support together, followed by Series 9/10/11.

Upgrading every 3 generations seems to really be where the bang for buck is.

 

[EugW]

Stupid question but when you got this done did you get YOUR watch back, or do they give you a replacement one that’s had the battery changed at “the factory”?

New Watch, with a different serial number. Came in a plain cardboard box with no accessories. It's the same model Series 5 (2019) I sent in, despite the fact it's been discontinued for years. (The oldest refurbished model Apple sells is the SE 2nd generation (2022).)

I don't know how the Watch serial numbers work but my original serial number began with "G9". My new one has a serial number that begins with "GQ". However, when I enter the new serial number in an online serial number checker, it says it's a new unit, not a refurbished one.

Following the same cycle we can expect the Series 11 to have a new health sensor, while the Series 12 will likely get a new processor in 2026 based off the A19 used in the upcoming iPhone 17.

For those keeping their watches for a long time, end of support is pretty clearly tied to processor generation. So we’ll expect Series 6/7/8 will all lose support together, followed by Series 9/10/11.

Upgrading every 3 generations seems to really be where the bang for buck is.

Yes, I'll keep my new Series 5 (see above) likely until around Series 12 or so to get that processor upgrade, unless I can find a pre-12 model really cheap.

 

[james2538]

I'm not talking about the Ultra. And come on, let's not pretend people would keep complaints to themselves. The size of the Apple Watches is fine, the battery life has always been underwhelming especially as they offer more and more features.

I’m one of the few people that is happy it’s thinner/lighter! Anything to make it less noticeable while sleep tracking and fit better under sleeves.

Apple has had several chances to improve battery life over past generations but always went with shrinking the device instead. Their answer to those who are concerned about battery life is the Ultra.

Until there’s a major improvement in battery technology I wouldn’t expect things to change.

 

[t0rqx]

Is the processor any faster than the series 9?

same as series 9, 8, 7, 6 and partially 5.

 

[endemize]

Sleep Apnea is available in the Series 9, so besides the display there’s not as much reason to upgrade.

Going back a few Watch generations it’s pretty easy to see a pattern in updates:

• Series 4
  • Last time we got all three: Design, Processor, Health Sensor
• Series 5
  • Same Processor/Design/Health Sensor
  • New Display
• Series 6
  • Same Design
  • New Processor/Health Sensor
• Series 7
  • Same Processor/Health Sensor
  • New Design
• Series 8
  • Same Design/Processor
  • New Health Sensor
• Series 9
  • Same Design/Health Sensor
  • New Processor
• Series 10
  • Same Processor/Health Sensor
  • New Design

As you can see Apple seems to be updating the Watch design every 3 generations (4/7/10), roughly doing the same with the processor (4/6/9).

Following the same cycle we can expect the Series 11 to have a new health sensor, while the Series 12 will likely get a new processor in 2026 based off the A19 used in the upcoming iPhone 17.

For those keeping their watches for a long time, end of support is pretty clearly tied to processor generation. So we’ll expect Series 6/7/8 will all lose support together, followed by Series 9/10/11.

Upgrading every 3 generations seems to really be where the bang for buck is.

I see this too. As a buyer you can decide. Is the new design, the new chip, or the new sensor the cycle you want to upgrade on. I prefer to do it on the design update.

 

[james2538]

same as series 9, 8, 7, 6 and partially 5.

Not quite. Series 5 is based on Series 4 and both recently lost support with OS 11.

Series 6/7/8 (7nm) are based on the A13 chip and have the same performance.

Series 9/10 (4nm) are based on the A16 and have the same performance.

This is why Sleep Apnea detection, double tap gesture, and on-device Siri are limited to Series 9 and above.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

Very tempting upgrade over my Ultra. I use the action button a lot, but that's nothing a shortcut can't replace.

 

[Veihl]

Honestly, I do not really see much reason to upgrade from my Series 7...

I was gifted one and don't mind it. I liked it for the slightly bigger screen, double tap, and better automatic workout detection.

 

[deeddawg]

Let’s see the titanium link band on the ultra!!! Why is no one talking about that matchup?

Is that for overseas markets? I don't see a titanium link band on the US site, not for Ultra or S10?

 

[Wizec]

No SpO2 sensor ☹️
Seems likes a downgrade from my AW8

The sensor is still there, but is disabled in software.

 

[DrRadon]

But i mean... that's a step backwards. I was hoping for thinner bezels, instead the got bigger

Well, it’s going to be hidden with the new shiny black and they never were a problem for me on my six. Clearly Apple extended in this way because the display bigger, bezels smaller, is going to be one of the easiest visible improvements in the next couple of years.

 

[deeddawg]

I'm not talking about the Ultra. And come on, let's not pretend people would keep complaints to themselves. The size of the Apple Watches is fine, the battery life has always been underwhelming especially as they offer more and more features.

Gotcha, I misunderstood.

Apple seems pretty well entrenched in the "18 hour" battery life target and I'm not sure you'll see that change anytime soon. Particularly since they seem to target the Ultra at those needing longer battery life.

So I wouldn't expect much difference in battery life until there is some change allowing for a significant increase.