Is the Apple Watch Series 10 worth the upgrade? A deep dive into Apple’s latest wearable

The Apple Watch has come a long way since its debut in April 2015. The device which was initially seen as a convenient timepiece has transformed into a sophisticated health and productivity powerhouse – signalling Apple’s commitment to making wearables an essential part of daily life. Now, into its 10th edition, Apple has raised the bar yet again, with the upgraded Apple Watch Series 10, which sees new and promising features, blurring the lines between technology, wellness, and seamless connectivity.

But what makes this wearable different from its predecessors? More than just incremental upgrades, the new smartwatch is built with advanced health sensors that help you monitor your sleep and identify signs of sleep apnea, it has a streamlined design that’s lighter and more compact, and a new powerful processor that makes navigating on this watch a lot easier and faster.

So if you’re still on the fence about getting the new device, fret not. In this review, I decided to put the Apple Watch Series 10 to the test, to discover more about its standout features and improvements to find out if this new upgrade lives up to the hype.

Battery Life 

Most Apple Watch users complain that their watches are dead which explains why they don’t usually wear them around regularly (unless it’s to track their workouts). Eventually, these watches get set aside, and left to gather dust. But that’s where the Apple Watch Series 10 comes in.

Thanks to its fast charging capabilities, the watch charges 20% faster than its predecessor and you can now charge your watch within eight minutes (with the fast charging cable) to track eight hours of sleep, or charge it for 15 minutes to get eight hours of normal daily use. Alternatively, the device can also reach an 80% charge in just 30 minutes, so you can get it charged while you’re getting ready for work in the morning.

So if you do have an older watch, especially the older models before the Series 8, it might be time to upgrade to the Series 10.

Lightweight Design

When it comes to watches, finding a piece that’s comfortable enough to be worn throughout the day is important. For this wearable, Apple has two sizes for you to choose from, namely the 42mm and the 46mm watch interface.

From discreetly checking the time to scanning notifications to a quick glance at your workout metrics, how easily you read the screen is important – which is why Apple has developed the largest screen display ever for the Apple Watch. It has up to 30% more screen area with the larger screen, so you can increase the font size without sacrificing content. This also means that you can see additional lines of text, mail and news while you’re on the go.

The watch also comes with Apple’s first-ever wide-angle OLED display. Often you look at your watch from an angle like while you’re walking or typing the keyboard. So the new watch comes with a display that is 40% brighter when viewed from an angle which improves visibility and makes it easier to look at your watch with a quick glance and was designed to complement the new aluminium finishes.

The watch is also lighter than it was before as it makes use of aluminum casing which is 10% lighter than the previous generations.

Health Features 

This year, Apple has introduced a slew of groundbreaking health features to its devices. The AirPods Pro 2 now comes with active Hearing Protection, a clinically validated Hearing Test feature, and an over-the-counter Hearing Aid feature. This Hearing Aid feature helps make access to hearing assistance easier than ever at an approachable price point.

In this case, for the Apple Watch Series 10, Apple has now transformed the way you track your sleeping patterns including detecting signs of sleep apnea. Now, we all know how important sleep plays in our lives. Not only does it impact a person’s overall physical health but also a person’s mental well-being.

With the help of the Apple Watch Series 10, you can easily detect breathing disturbances during your sleep, Apple will then notify you when you show consistent signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea so you can speak to your doctor about the next steps, including potential diagnosis and treatment.

And because your overall sleep quality is important, the Breathing Disturbances feature can also be used to assess restfulness of sleep which can be influenced by different factors including alcohol, medications, sleep position, and more.

On top of that, your watch can also send you reminders to take your medications and alert you to loud environments that could impact your hearing and notify you when your heart shows signs of atrial fibrillation.

Smart Features 

There are certain features to the Series 10 that have piqued my interest. For instance, there is a water temperature sensor that’s built into the device that comes in handy for times when you’re scuba diving or even going in a hot tub, a pool or a cold plunge.

Moreover, what I love most about this new edition is that the Apple Watch Series 10 now lets you play your favourite music or podcasts through its built-in speakers. It’s perfect for those times when you don’t have your AirPods or want to blast your tunes during a run.

Final Thoughts 

In comparison to my Apple Watch Series 7, I found that this new wearable from Apple is a major upgrade. The features are a lot more intuitive and it has given me more control when it comes to tracking my health. This includes my sleeping patterns and more importantly my physical well-being. I’ve become heavily reliant on my Apple Watch Series 10 to track my weekly runs on the Nike Running Club app and my regular workout schedule. Over time, it’s become one of the few tools that has kept me accountable and on track.

For that matter, the battery life of the smartwatch is also a lot better than it was before so I feel more comfortable wearing it more regularly without having to worry about it running out of juice midday. While it may not be deemed as a significant upgrade, its impressive fast charging and improved battery life have kept me more connected to what’s happening around me and it feels weird leaving the house without it.

Overall, I would say if you’re using an older model, I’d definitely recommend making the switch. You can actually see the difference and once you’re more well-acquainted with Apple’s latest features, you’ll find that this watch is well worth the investment.

The Apple Watch Series 10 retails from $599 and is now available in-stores and online at Apple.com.