04 - Apple Watch Series 10 Review: Bigger, Better, Worth the Upgrade?

Ultimate Tech Podcast

The Apple Watch Series 10 represents a significant step forward in Apple’s smartwatch lineup, with notable upgrades in design, functionality, and software features. Here’s a detailed summary of its key aspects based on comprehensive reviews:
Design and Hardware Enhancements
The Series 10 introduces a larger display and thinner, lighter case design, particularly evident in the titanium variant. This makes it more comfortable to wear, especially for extended use like sleep tracking. The watch boasts a wider-angle OLED screen with enhanced brightness and reduced bezels, offering improved readability and usability in various scenarios. The symmetrical, polished design contributes to a more premium feel.
Display and Always-On Feature
The wide-angle OLED display surpasses even the Ultra 2 in brightness and viewing angles. The always-on display now features a 1 Hertz refresh rate, allowing for a ticking second hand, enhancing the traditional watch experience. This improvement benefits navigation, media consumption, and workout displays, offering an intuitive and visually appealing interface.
Battery Life and Charging
While the Series 10 retains the 18-hour battery life of its predecessor, faster charging is a game-changer. Users can achieve significant battery levels within short periods, making it convenient for those who rely on sleep tracking and need quick top-ups. Low power mode extends usability but underscores the unchanged overall battery capacity.
New Features and Functionalities
Health and Fitness Tracking:
The introduction of sleep apnea detection is a standout feature, using breathing disturbance metrics to provide actionable insights. While it’s not a diagnostic tool, it emphasizes the Apple Watch’s role in preventive health.
The Vitals app tracks key metrics like heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, and sleep data, offering a comprehensive health overview.
Activity and Training Features:
The new effort rating system and training load tracking add depth to workout analysis. However, the lack of advanced numerical data visualization limits its appeal for professional athletes.
Offline maps and pedestrian route planning enhance outdoor activity usability, though the separation of directions and workout data may require refinement.
Snorkeling and Tides Apps:
The depth gauge now supports snorkeling, while the Tides app provides detailed tidal information and swell data. These features make the Series 10 more versatile for water sports enthusiasts.
Media Playback and Voice Isolation:
The ability to play audio directly from the speaker and improved voice isolation for calls further enhance the device’s utility, particularly in noisy environments.
watchOS 11 Integration
The Series 10 is tightly integrated with watchOS 11, offering features like improved activity tracking with daily goals and insights, a new double-tap gesture for easier navigation and interaction, and expanded use of AI, including advanced sleep tracking, media suggestions, and language translation. Many of these features are available on older models through software updates, making hardware upgrades less compelling for some.
Accuracy in GPS and Heart Rate
The Series 10 performs well in GPS accuracy during outdoor activities like running and cycling. Heart rate tracking is reliable across various workouts, although minor deviations were noted during high-intensity intervals. These metrics place the Series 10 among the top performers in the smartwatch category.
Comparative Insights
When compared to the Ultra 2, the Series 10 aligns closely in features but lacks the Ultra’s rugged design and extended battery life. Its design makes it more appealing for users who prefer a sleeker, everyday wearable. The Series 10’s larger di