Should You Buy? Reviews, Features, Comparisons and More

The Apple Watch Series 10 features the first design update to the Apple Watch in several years. While it continues to feature the rounded, square look that Apple used for prior-generation models, the Series 10 is larger, thinner, and lighter weight. It is the thinnest Apple Watch to date, with Apple redesigning many of the internal components to achieve a slimmer look.

The soft, rounded edges of the Apple Watch display have slimmed down bezels, and casing sizes have been increased to 42mm and 46mm, up from 41mm and 45mm. Apple has replaced stainless steel with titanium, and the Apple Watch Series 10 is available in aluminum and titanium.

Compared to stainless steel, titanium is lighter and more durable, and better able to hold up to scratches and dings. Series 10 models weigh between 29.3 grams and 41.7 grams depending on size and material, with the titanium models coming in at about six grams heavier than aluminum models.

The 42mm Apple Watch Series 10 measures in at 42mm tall, 36mm wide, and 9.7mm deep, while the 46mm model measures in at 46mm tall, 39mm wide, and 9.7mm deep. Apple says the 42mm model fits 130mm to 200mm wrists, while the 46mm model fits 140mm to 245mm wrists.

Apple changed the design of the back casing, and rather than being made from ceramic, it is now made from color-matched aluminum so that the Apple Watch models look crafted from a single piece of metal. A crystal back continues to house the electrical heart sensor and optical heart sensors, plus there is a speaker/air vent at the back. The sensors enable health-monitoring features like heart rate detection, ECGs, and more.

There is a Digital Crown on the side of the Apple Watch for scrolling, navigation, and Smart Stack access, and there is a side button for bringing up frequently used apps, accessing emergency services, confirming Apple Pay purchases, and more.

The Digital Crown is equipped with haptic feedback that offers a precise, mechanical feel when scrolling through lists and controlling various aspects of the Apple Watch, and it is key for the ECG app because it has a built-in electrode that works in tandem with the rear sensors.

Colors and Materials

The Apple Watch Series 10 comes in aluminum and titanium, a new material being offered instead of stainless steel. The aluminum Apple Watch models are the most affordable, while the titanium models are pricier.

Aluminum colors include jet black, rose gold, and silver, and the jet black shade has been polished to be reflective using a 30-step anodization process. Titanium colors include slate, gold, and natural.

The aluminum Apple Watch models are made from 100 percent recycled 7000 series aluminum, are lightweight, inexpensive, and designed for an active lifestyle, while the titanium models are heavier, more expensive, and designed for everyday wear but are also ideal for activity.

The titanium models are made from aerospace-grade titanium that’s been polished to a mirror-like shine. Apple says that the titanium Series 10 models weigh 20 percent less than the stainless steel Series 9 models.

Durability and Water Resistance

The Apple Watch Series 10 models feature the same stronger front crystal component, which Apple designed to be resistant to cracking and scratching.

The aluminum Apple Watch models feature Ion-X glass to protect the display, while the titanium models use sapphire crystal glass. Sapphire crystal glass offers better scratch resistance than Ion-X glass because it is a harder material, which means the sapphire crystal models are more resistant to scratching and everyday wear.

All Apple Watch Series 10 models feature IP6X dust resistance for use in environments like the beach or the desert, and they offer WR50 water resistance, rated for immersion in water as deep as 50 meters thanks to seals and adhesives. The speaker, which needs air to produce sound, is the only point of ingress and has been designed to expel water using sound vibrations after exposure to moisture.

Because it is rated for 50m immersion, the Apple Watch can be used when swimming in the ocean or in a pool. It is only suited to shallow water activities, but this year’s model can be used for snorkeling and shallow diving up to 20m deep. Apple recommends against wearing the Apple Watch Series 10 for scuba diving, waterskiing, showering, or other activities that involve high-velocity water or deep submersion. For these water activities, the Apple Watch Ultra is recommended.

Apple’s Apple Watch warranty does not cover water damage, so it is best to exercise caution when exposing the device to water.

Water Temperature Sensor and Depth Gauge

The Apple Watch Series 10 has a depth gauge and a water temperature sensor, which Apple says can be used for activities like swimming, shallow diving, and snorkeling.

The Depth gauge is able to measure up to six meters below the water’s surface.

There’s also a dedicated Tides app that provides information on high and low tides, rising and falling tides, tide height and direction, and sunrise and sunset.

Speaker

There is a single speaker in the Series 10, and this year, it supports audio playback without connected headphones. The Apple Watch Series 10 can play music out loud for the first time.