Apple Watch Series 10

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For the Series 10, the Apple Watch gets a jewelry-inspired makeover with a slimmer design and polished aluminum or lightweight titanium case options. This generation also features a slightly larger screen than its predecessor while adding audio playback capabilities, depth and water temperature sensors like the Apple Watch Ultra, and accelerometer-powered sleep apnea notifications. Though it earns a lower score than the Series 9 because it doesn't currently support blood oxygen saturation monitoring due to ongoing patent litigation, the Apple Watch Series 10 easily remains the best smartwatch for most iPhone users, earning it our Editors' Choice award.

Materials and Pricing: More Polish and Options

Starting at $399, the Series 10 is the midrange Apple Watch and the best model for model people. It sits between the rugged Apple Watch Ultra 2 (starting at $799) and the entry-level Apple Watch SE (starting at $249). The Ultra 2 is aimed at adventurers, with the best durability and battery life of the lineup, while the budget-minded Watch SE offers all the core connectivity and fitness tracking features of its more expensive siblings with the exception of an always-on display option and sensors for ECG, wrist temperature, water temperature, and water depth measurements.

The Series 10 offers the most variety of Apple's smartwatches, giving you the choice of two metals for the case, aluminum or titanium, and two sizes, 42mm or 46mm. Depending on your metal choice, the 46mm size costs $30 or $50 more than the 42mm version.

The base aluminum model comes in matte rose gold, brushed silver, or polished jet black and features the standard connectivity suite (Bluetooth, GPS, and Wi-Fi) or added cellular support for $100 extra. Titanium, which replaces stainless steel this year, carries a $300 premium, starting at $699, and comes in gold, natural, or slate color options, all with a shiny polished finish and cellular support standard. A cellular connection, which requires a separate plan through your phone carrier (typically $10 per month), lets you call, stream, and message on the watch when your iPhone isn't nearby.

For this review, Apple sent me the 42mm Series 10 in rose gold aluminum with cellular connectivity and a Sport Loop band in Plum, which is a carbon-neutral combination, as denoted by the green leaf pattern on the side of the box (pictured above).

Apple first introduced the carbon-neutral seal last year with the Series 9, initially limited to aluminum models paired with a Sport Loop band. This year, Apple extends the environmentally friendly seal of approval to titanium and two additional bands, Braided Solo Loop and Milanese Loop. Apple aims to make all of its products carbon neutral by 2030.

Out of the aluminum models (pictured above), polished jet black is the most notable, as it features a shiny finish reminiscent of older stainless steel models, but without the steep increase in price. This is the first time Apple has used a polished aluminum finish on a device since the iPhone 7. It purportedly requires a 30-step process, and the results are sleek and striking in person.

The switch to lightweight titanium for the premium case option is another welcome change. The titanium version offers the same durability and shine of previous stainless steel models, with around a 20% reduction in weight. I held the titanium Series 10 and the stainless steel Series 9 in my hands simultaneously, and the difference in weight was noticeable. Aluminum models also weigh slightly less this year compared with last.

Out of the titanium colors (pictured above), the gold is definitely my favorite, with the most jewelry-like look of the lineup. With a dark gray color, the slate titanium model looks similar in person to the jet black aluminum, so I'd go with the latter to save money.

Design: Thinner, With More Screen

The Apple Watch Series 10 offers a number of minor design changes from the last generation that add up to a more refined look and comfortable feel. Perhaps most notably, Apple has shaved a whole millimeter off the depth of the Series 10 compared with the Series 9, dropping it to 0.38 inches thick (9.7 mm) from 0.42 inches (10.7 mm) last generation. With a lower profile on your wrist, the Series 10 is more comfortable than earlier models, especially for sleep tracking.

Both case sizes are 1mm larger in height and width than last year, and the corners are rounder. Apple has also moved the parting line between the front crystal and the metal case further down, so more glass is wrapping down onto the edges.

As a result of these changes, the Series 10 has more active screen area (the lit part of the display) than any other Apple Watch. With a display area of 1,220 square mm, the 46mm Series 10 offers more screen real estate than the Series 7 through 9 (1,143 sq mm) and even a little more than the 49mm Ultra 2 (1,185 sq mm). The 42mm Series 10's 989 sq mm display area offers a 9% bump from the 41mm Series 7 through 9 (904 sq mm). Those differences are all somewhat nominal, though it does allow for an extra line of text in apps like Mail, Messages, and News on the Series 10 vs. the Series 9 at the same font size. The increased active screen area is going to be a lot more noticeable if you're switching from a Series 6 or older, or a Watch SE to the Series 10.

As a trade-off for its bigger display, the Series 10 also has a slightly thicker bezel (the unlit black border surrounding the screen) than the Series 9. It measures 2.3mm on the Series 10, up from 1.7mm on the Series 9. If you're switching from a Series 7 through 9, the Series 10's thicker bezel might slightly annoy you.

The Series 10 has the same 2,000-nit maximum brightness as its predecessor, but it has a new wide-angle OLED display technology that allows each pixel to emit light at a wider angle, so the screen is brighter and easier to read when your wrist is down.

On the left side of the case is a new micro-perforated speaker grille that looks much better than the previous long rectangular output.

Design changes for this generation extend to the back, which now has a metal cover that matches the rest of the case, instead of ceramic. Improving the look of the back cover, a component you'll only ever see when you take the watch off, might seem needless, but we appreciate the attention to detail. Additionally, the cellular antenna is now integrated into the metal back cover of the case, contributing to the watch's thinner design.

Specs and Battery Life: Highly Capable, Despite One Big Omission

The Apple Watch Series 10 runs watchOS 11, the latest version of Apple's smartwatch operating system. It requires an iPhone XS or later running iOS 18 or later and doesn't work with Android phones. For this review, I paired the watch with an iPhone 16.

Powering the Series 10 is the updated S10 SiP, which is single-sided to save space but otherwise matches the Series 9 and Ultra 2's S9 chip in performance.

In terms of durability, the Series 10 has an IP6X rating for dust resistance and a WR50 water resistance rating of 164 feet, making it safe for shallow-water activities like swimming. Thanks to its new depth gauge and water temperature sensors, features that first debuted on the Apple Watch Ultra, the Series 10 makes for an excellent snorkeling companion. The Ultra models go beyond the Series 10 in durability with a WR100 water resistance rating of 330 feet, an EN13319 certification for scuba diving, and a MIL-STD 810H military spec.

All other sensors in the Series 10 are the same as the last generation, with one unfortunate omission. Due to Apple's ongoing patent battle with Masimo, the Series 10's blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) sensor is not active in the US. SpO2 tracking is an important feature, and one that the Series 10's biggest WearOS-based competitors, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 ($299.99) and the Google Pixel Watch 3 ($349.99), both support.

Apple is appealing the ruling. For the time being, the blood oxygen app is present on the Series 10, but when you click on it, you get a message saying it's not available, which is disappointing.

If you currently own an older Apple Watch with an active blood oxygen sensor, I would not upgrade to the Series 10, because you will lose that feature. In addition to the Series 10, the SpO2 ban also applies to Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 models sold in the US since Jan. 18, 2024.

In terms of battery life, the Series 10 promises the same 18 hours on a charge as its predecessor with typical use, or 36 hours in Low Power Mode. Apple generally under-promises and over-delivers on watch battery life, and that remains true this year. With the always-on display enabled at maximum screen brightness, the Series 10 lasted just shy of 36 hours on a charge with heavy use in my testing. That beats the Series 9, which lasted 32.5 hours with the same settings. In comparison, the Pixel Watch 3 lasted 34 hours on a charge, while the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 languished at 22 hours.

If you need more battery life, the Ultra 2 lasted 55 hours on a charge under the same conditions in our testing. Apple's rugged model outpaces the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra ($649.99), which lasted 46 hours in our battery rundown test.

Charging speeds for the Series 10 have improved thanks to the revamped, larger charging coil integrated into the metal back. The watch can get an 80% charge in as little as 30 minutes, down from 45 minutes last generation. I verified this charging speed with the included Magnetic Fast Charger to USB-C cable and a 30W USB-C power adapter (not included). With the included cable and a 20W brick (not included), it charged around 58% in 30 minutes.

Lifestyle Features: Audio Playback and Clearer Calls

You've always been able to make calls through the Apple Watch speaker, but with the Series 10, you can listen to music and podcasts directly on the watch. I tested this feature while out for a walk with my dog Bradley and was able to play music on Spotify through the Series 10's speaker. Spotify's Apple Watch app seamlessly integrates the new audio playback capability, letting you switch the output from your Apple Watch to a different device, and vice versa, with a tap.

With a speaker so small, you can't expect much in terms of volume. Outside, with my wrist down, I could barely hear music playing from the Series 10. Ambient sounds like traffic almost completely drowned out the Series 10's audio. In a quiet indoor environment, however, you should have no problem hearing audio playback from the watch.

Apple has also introduced a neural network-powered voice isolation feature on the Series 10 to cut down on background noise during phone and FaceTime audio calls, and it works well. With an audio track of a loud restaurant playing in the background, I called my mom from the Series 10, and she could hear me without issue. She said she could hear a little bit of my background noise, but just barely. Note that this feature only improves your audio for the person on the other end of the line. In addition to dynamic background noise like a loud restaurant, it should cut back on static background noise like a lawnmower, for instance.

The Series 10 otherwise continues to offer tons of built-in lifestyle apps and features like Camera Remote, Home, Lists, Mail, Maps, News, Podcasts, Siri, Voice Memos, and Wallet, plus an unmatched selection of third-party apps you can browse and download via the App Store. Some popular third-party apps include Calm, Pandora, Peloton, Shazam, Spotify, Starbucks, and Strava, just to name a few.

As someone who lives by the beach, I appreciate the new Tides app in watchOS 11, which shows current conditions for coastlines around the world. The app is really slick and makes it easy to see tidal information on a seven-day timeline, with a nice simulation of the sunrise and sunset as you scroll. It shows the current height and direction of the tide, high and low tide times, and more.

Fitness and Health Tracking: Overnight and Underwater Upgrades

The Depth app is one of my favorite features of the Apple Watch Ultra series, so I'm excited that it's also now available on the more affordable Series 10. The depth sensor on the Series 10 can measure down to about 20 feet underwater (the Ultra 2's goes to about 131 feet). I tested the Series 10's Depth app at my local beach on Florida's Gulf Coast and it worked perfectly, automatically launching when I went underwater. The Series 10's big, bright screen makes it very easy to see your real-time depth, even in murky water conditions.

Overnight, the Apple Watch monitors your sleep and other key health stats like wrist temperature and respiration. As part of watchOS 11, it can track a new metric called breathing disturbances and offer FDA-cleared sleep apnea notifications.

The act of breathing during sleep creates micromovements in the body that the Series 10's accelerometer can track. Using this data, the watch can identify interruptions in your regular respiratory pattern and warn you about moderate to severe sleep apnea. For each night, it will classify your breathing distrbances as either elevated or not. Elevated breathing disturbances on more than half the nights over a 30-day period will trigger a sleep apnea notification with information you can share with your doctor. Sleep apnea notifications are also available on the Series 9 and the Ultra 2.

The Series 10 doesn't offer any other major fitness and health tracking advances over the last generation but continues to shine on both fronts. To evaluate its workout heart rate readings, I wore the Series 10 for a one-mile run alongside a Polar OH1 heart rate monitor on my other arm. Their measurements of both my average and maximum heart rate for the session differed by just 1bpm. Heart rate graphs from the two devices looked nearly identical, with both indicating I spent the vast majority of the run in my maximum heart rate zone, which reflects my experience.

For an eight-minute reduced exertion high-intensity training (REHIT) indoor cycling workout on the Carol 2.0 exercise bike, the Series 10's maximum heart rate measurement was within 1bpm of the machine's companion chest strap. Moreover, the Series 10's heart rate graph accurately reflected the workout's structure, consisting of two 20-second sprints with periods of active rest (easy pedaling) in between.

After tracking a workout with the Series 10, you'll see a new effort rating metric introduced as part of watchOS 11 reflecting your intensity. The watch automatically estimates your effort on a scale of 1 to 10 for most cardio activities, but you can adjust the number as needed or manually add it for other workouts. For the one-mile run, it gave me an effort rating of 6 (moderate). For the right-minute Carol bike workout, it rated my effort as 5 (moderate). I generally agreed with both ratings and kept them as is.

Apple uses your effort ratings, along with the length of your workouts, when determining your 7-day and 28-day Training Load. Also introduced as part of watchOS 11, Training Load can help you assess your recent trends and decide whether to push it with a hard workout that day or prioritize recovery. It also tracks your Training Load for specific workout types.

The Series 10 otherwise offers a fantastic selection of built-in health features like a handwashing countdown timer, guided breathing exercises, state-of-mind logging, medication reminders, loud environment warnings, irregular heart rate notifications, and ECG readings. On the safety front, the Series 10 continues to support Emergency SOS, fall detection, crash detection, and international emergency calling support.

On your iPhone, the Series 10 tracks all your workout and health data within the Fitness and Health apps. The Health app offers so much data that it can feel overwhelming, but you can customize the pinned tiles to highlight whatever metrics you care about. I like the interesting and useful trend graphs in the Health app, which clearly contextualize your information and surface daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly comparisons.

Along with all your fitness data, the iPhone Fitness app is home to Apple's workout streaming service Fitness+ ($9.99 per month after a 30-day free trial) with classes across a range of modalities, including cycling, HIIT, meditation, rowing, strength, treadmill, yoga, and more.

Verdict: Still the Best Apple Watch for Most iPhone Users

Though we're disappointed about its inactive blood oxygen sensor, the Apple Watch Series 10 offers enough useful lifestyle and health tracking functionality to remain the best iPhone-compatible smartwatch for most people. The most notable changes for this generation apply to the design, which features a larger screen with better readability, a thinner and lighter case for improved comfort, and gorgeous new finishes. Besides this, it adds depth and water temperature sensors, audio playback capabilities, and voice isolation for clearer calls. With a powerful processor, it has no problem running multiple apps simultaneously, and it exceeds official battery life estimates, powering through 36 hours with heavy use in our tests. So, if you're in the market for a feature-rich smartwatch to pair with your iPhone to stay connected and track your health and fitness, the Series 10 is our Editors' Choice.