We've just seen the Apple Watch Series 10 announcement, and it offers the largest display Apple has ever put on a smartwatch. An improvement over the Apple Watch Series 9, and the new screen is even bigger than the Apple Watch Ultra 2's display.
That's not all, the new smartwatch is Apple's thinnest and lightest ever. It also charges faster than its predecessor and even has new health monitoring tech, tools for watersport enthusiasts, additional safety features and more.
Read on for everything you need to know about the new Apple Watch 10 including details on price, release date and all the most important upgrades.
Apple Watch 10 cheat sheet: Biggest rumors
- Release date: September 20, 2024
- Starting price: $399
- Design: Now available in 42mm and 46mm with a larger, brighter wide-angle OLED display and with a thinner, lighter case versus Series 9
- New finishes: The aluminum Apple Watch 10 comes in Silver, Jet Black and Rose Gold; a new titanium version is available in Natural, Gold and Dark Slate Grey
- Features: Sleep apnea detection, faster charging, improved noise suppression for phone calls, new tools for snorkeling, on-wrist translations
- Battery life: Still 18 hours per charge
- Software: watchOS 11
- Chip: S10
Apple Watch 10: Possible price and availability
The Apple Watch 10 was announced during the Apple September event, which officially took place on September 9.
The starting price for the smaller, non-cellular model is the same as last year's Apple Watch 9, $399, and increases to $499 for LTE. The new larger 46mm model starts at $429 and increases to $529 for cellular. The devices are available for preorder now and are expected to ship on September 20th.
The Apple Watch 10 officially launched alongside the new iPhone 16 and AirPods 4.
Apple Watch 10: Design
The Apple Watch tends to get a design overhaul every three years and the new model represents Apple's sleekest smartwatch ever. In case you forgot, the last time Cupertino altered the Apple Watch design was for the Apple Watch Series 7 when the display grew by 20%.
This time around, Apple has increased the screen size by 9% compared to the Apple Watch 7, 8 and 9. It's also 30% larger than the Apple Watch 4, 5 and 6. Apple additionally says that the wide-angle OLED screen is 40% brighter when viewed at an angle compared to the Series 9, making it easier to read at a glance.
The bezel around the display has also been slimmed down and Apple has engineered the corners of the screen to be more rounded, again, to make it easier to view from an angle.
The updated display has a faster refresh rate when using always-on mode, updating every second rather than once a minute. This allows the watch to show an active, ticking second hand at all times.
The new Apple Watch 10 is 10% thinner than the last several versions and 10% lighter. The rear of the watch also got a redesign that now incorporated the antenna into the case back to help save space. Apple additionally shrunk down the speaker and digital crown to achieve the device's impressive new level of sleekness.
You can select from three finishes if you spring for the standard aluminum Apple Watch 10: classic Silver, Jet Black and Rose Gold.
Apple is also replacing its stainless steel option with a new titanium model that comes in a Natural, Gold and Slate Grey finish. This upgraded model starts at a cool $699 and uses Grade 5 titanium. Compared to the Series 9 in stainless steel, the new Series 10 titanium models are roughly 20% lighter.
It's also worth noting that the Apple Watch 10 is a carbon-neutral product and that the standard version uses 100% recycled aluminum while the titanium edition uses 95% recycled titanium.
Apple Watch 10: Features
One of the most significant new features of the Apple Watch 10 is the inclusion of sleep apnea detection. However, unlike the latest Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and Ultra, this handy tool is still awaiting FDA approval.
Still, it works by using the watch's accelerometer to look for specific types of body movements that could indicate an obstructed airway or unusual breathing patterns. When something gets flagged, a notification is generated the next morning encouraging the user to seek further medical support, i.e. this is not a diagnostic tool.
The Apple Watch 10 also boasts 20% faster charging thanks to a larger charging coil on the rear of the watch, and spots an updated S10 processor with a dedicated four-core neural engine to handle machine-learning tasks, like translating language in real-time using Apple's newly-added Translation app.
Machine learning also powers a new photo watch face curation feature and can automatically add widgets you use often to your Smart Stack.
The watch additionally features improved noise suppression technology for folks who use it to make calls and the ability to play any audio you like through the speaker, not just calls, including music and podcasts.
There are also new tools for snorkelers including a water depth gauge and temperature tool, though water resistance remains rated at 50 meters.
Finally, the Watch 10 ships running the latest wearOS 11 which unlocks lots of new functions including the ability to pause Activity Rings, Check In from your wrist and better organize your Smart Stack.
The software also includes a new Training Load metric to help users avoid pushing themselves too hard while working out, improved ovulation and pregnancy tracking, and the addition of a new Vitals app where key health data can be found.
Apple Watch 10: Battery life
At the top of every Apple Watch user's wishlist is a longer battery life. Last year's Apple Watch 9 lasts only 18 hours with normal use, while the Apple Watch Ultra 2 lasts up to 36 hours. Although the low power mode and our guide on tips to make your watch last longer help, we'd all like to see better battery life estimates.
Unfortunately, the Apple Watch 10 doesn't bring about any longevity improvements. You can still expect roughly 18 hours of life per charge.
Apple Watch 10: Outlook
We expect the Apple Watch Series 10 to be one of the best smartwatches of the year. But rivaling smartwatches are better than ever, and with the Masimo lawsuit looming, all eyes are on Apple to see how the new watch does once we get our hands on it.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
