These 5 changes stood out the most
The year-to-year incremental changes to the Apple Watch never convinced me to upgrade. But my Series 7’s dead battery and the new features Apple has added over time have changed my mind. Here are the changes I noticed the most after upgrading to Series 10.
1 Thinner and lighter design
Many expected the 10th generation Apple Watch to be a major redesign like the iPhone X. While that’s not the case, Apple updated the design to give the standard Apple Watch the biggest screen ever — even bigger than the Apple Watch Ultra series — and the thinnest and lightest chassis. We really appreciated the new design in our Apple Watch Series 10 review.
The changes were immediately noticeable for someone like me who upgraded from a Series 7. I went from a 41mm aluminum Series 7 to a 42mm aluminum Series 10. The Series 7 weighs 32 grams and is 10.7mm thick, while the Series 10 weighs just 30 grams and a thickness of 9.7 mm. Despite having a slightly larger chassis, the 10 series is thinner and lighter.
That makes a noticeable difference in how the Apple Watch feels on the wrist. The 10 Series sits more flush, adding to its sleek aesthetic.
According to Apple, the Series 10’s all-aluminum cases are about 10 percent lighter than the Series 9’s aluminum cases, and the Series 10’s all-titanium cases are about 20 percent lighter than the Series 9’s stainless steel cases.
2 Improved display with better viewing angles
Changing the case design also allowed Apple to increase the size of the display. Apple claims a nine percent increase in screen real estate over the Series 7, Series 8, and Series 9. If you’re using a Series 6 (and older) or Apple Watch SE, you’ll experience a more substantial 30 percent increase in active screen real estate.
However, the real upgrade here isn’t the increased size. With the black dial, it’s not very noticeable. A more useful change is the wide-angle OLED screen, which can reach up to 2,000 nits for much better outdoor visibility and brighter output at extreme viewing angles. This makes a big difference to the user experience, especially if you actively use the Always On display, which for me is one of the many non-negotiable features of a smartwatch.
3 Charge in 30 minutes
The Apple Watch Series 7 was the first time Apple improved charging speed on its wearable, promising a 0 to 80 percent charge in 45 minutes. With the Series 10, Apple is significantly speeding up charging, claiming it can charge from 0 to 80 percent in just 30 minutes.
If you’re really short on time, a 15-minute charge will give you eight hours of regular daily use, and an eight-minute charge will give you eight hours of sleep tracking.
I timed my 10 series charge and saw it go from 20% to 80% in 25 minutes and then trickle charge to 100% in another 25 minutes. Apple’s estimate seems realistic because batteries charge faster when they’re completely discharged.
4 64 GB internal memory
face reflections” src=”https://static1.makeuseofimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/wm/2024/09/apple-watch-series-10-reflections-face.jpg” style=”display:block;height:auto;max-width:100%;”/> Another change I really appreciate is the increased internal storage space on the Series 10. The new model comes with 64GB—double the storage of my Series 7—for storing apps, photos, music, and data.
I have now switched from a mobile Apple Watch to a GPS only model. It means I no longer have access to the internet when I’m away from my phone to stream music, so saving files to the watch is more important than ever. I also download songs in the highest quality available, so I really appreciate this change. And if you hike a lot, you can also save multiple map bases for immediate use.
5 Multiple sensors and double-tap gesture
The Apple Watch relies on a number of sensors to capture and share data. Since the Series 7, Apple has added even more sensors. Most notable are the heavy duty accelerometer, temperature sensors (skin and water) and depth gauge.
A heavy-duty accelerometer unlocks Crash Detection, while a temperature sensor unlocks wrist temperature monitoring in the Vitals app — one of many new features in watchOS 11 that provides insight into your overall health.
There’s also the Double Tap gesture — a way to interact with the Apple Watch without touching the display — that makes navigating the user interface and performing quick actions like answering calls pretty simple. I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to see what else I can do with it.
As I am based in India, I have not lost access to the Blood Oxygen app. However, if you’re in the US and planning to upgrade from a Series 6 (or newer model) that has blood oxygen monitoring, you’ll lose access to this feature.
With all that said, the incremental upgrades Apple has added to the Apple Watch line over three years make the Series 10 worth my money. If you’ve been on the fence about upgrading from the Series 7 or even the older Apple Watch, this iteration brings substantial changes that justify your purchase.