Apple Watch Series 10 review: Worth your time and money

Apple Watch Series 10

A decade is a lifetime in tech. Yet, here we are looking at Apple Watch Series 10, a device that has not just survived but thrived. 10 years ago, the idea of a smartwatch was, a new one. In true Apple style, the company wasn’t the first to come up with. But what Apple did was that it turned it into a cultural phenomenon, transforming both the wearables industry and our daily routines. The idea of slapping a min-computer on the wrist was perhaps scoffed at in the beginning. Yet, here we are where millions of us wouldn’t go a day without it.

Technology should make people’s lives better and the Apple Watch has continuously done that. There are countless of stories about people getting alerts about their cardio health or being hurt by dangerous falls, Apple Watch has helped many. And let’s not forget the the three rings phenomena.

There were rumours about Apple making a big splash for the 10th anniversary Apple Watch. Nothing happened. Apple has done what it has done for the last few years — make improvements that matter. On the face of it, the Series 10 is the quintessential Apple Watch — packed with advanced health-tracking features, a larger display, and an always-improving battery life.

What Apple has also done is it has got the Series 10 closer to its flagship Watch Ultra. The Apple Watch Ultra is sleeker and bigger. But is it worth your money? Read on to find out more:

Apple Watch Series 10 review: How it looks

Apple hasn’t tinkered with the Watch design over the last 10 years. Except it keeps getting bigger and the Watch Series 10 is the biggest non-Ultra Watch. It now comes in 42mm and 46mm case size. I used the 46mm size and it certainly looks bigger than the 45mm of the Series 9.

The Apple Watch Series 10 has a sleek, aerospace-grade titanium case. It is lightweight and yet looks durable. Apple has further improved the user experience with a refined digital crown that offers more precise haptic feedback. Additionally, the side button is now more flush with the case, providing a seamless aesthetic while maintaining its functionality. Apple also has a new titanium version of the Series 10, which when paired with the stainless steel Milanese loop offers a sleek, jewellery-like aesthetic.

The larger display accommodates more content, making it easier to read messages, navigate Apple Maps and much more. I transitioning from the heavier Ultra 2 and the Series 10's lightweight design often left me double-checking my wrist to confirm it's still there.

Apple has introduced its first wide-angle OLED display on the Apple Watch Series 10, boasting a 40% brightness boost for off-angle viewing compared to the traditional OLED screens on previous models. The difference is noticeable, and when I compared the Apple Watch Series 10 to the Series 9, the improvement was clear.

What’s also new is the LTPO 3 display technology, which allows for a refresh rate as low as 1Hz. LTPO 3 has been limited to high-end smartphones like the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra. What it does is it dynamically adjusts the refresh rate based on screen content, a feature uncommon in smartwatches.

The Apple Watch Series 10 maintains the impressive peak brightness of its predecessor, the Series 9, ensuring excellent outdoor visibility under direct sunlight. It’s still not as bright as the Ultra though. However, its wide-angle OLED technology offers a noticeable advantage in low-light conditions. When viewed from an angle, the Series 10's display appears slightly brighter than the Series 9, making it easier to glance at the time or check notifications. If you are upgrading from a Series 6, then you will see a tremendous difference in the display size and quality.

Beyond its aesthetics and big display, the Series 10 being lightweight makes it suitable for sleep tracking. Having worn the Watch Ultra 2 for more than two years, I can tell you that it is not an easy Watch to wear while sleeping. However, Watch Series 10 is extremely suitable. It is important for many users as the Watch gets new sleep apnea detection feature.

Apple Watch Series 10 review: Performance, health features

The Apple Watch has become the benchmark for health and fitness features. More importantly, it tends to be more accurate and reliable than most of its competitors. With Series 10, Apple has introduced advanced temperature sensing capabilities. It includes a sensor for measuring body temperature during sleep, which contributes to various health metrics, including sleep apnea detection.

Additionally, there's a dedicated sensor for tracking water temperature during swimming activities. While I haven't personally tested the swimming feature, the body temperature sensor requires seven sleep sessions to gather sufficient data for accurate health assessments like sleep apnea detection.

From pool laps to yoga asanas, the Series 10 is a really capable device to track all your moves. There’s an all-new recovery metric, which helps you in reminding you not to overdo it. That is if you are overdoing it — in my case I never got that alert!

The Apple Watch Series 10 also borrows the Depth app from the Watch Ultra. It can help you track those shallow dives.

A double-tap on the screen, and voilà—widgets appear faster than you can say “Hey Siri.” The updated voice-to-text and smart replies make texting on the go feel surprisingly effortless. I popped open Messages, hit the mic, and rattled off a reply with ease.

Data syncing between the Apple Watch and iPhone remains seamless, and with every new watchOS update, the Health app just keeps getting better. It’s now a goldmine of insights, packed with everything you need to keep tabs on your activity, heart health, and even your hearing.

Apple Watch has always had speakers but only for beeps and taking calls. The Series 10 actually lets you play music — but please don’t do in public places. For testing purpose, I did try and while it’s not exactly concert-hall quality, but it does the trick for quiet environments. It does go quite loud, which is why avoid using it in public, unless it is really urgent.

10 years of Apple Watch and yet it still has the same 18-hour battery life. Apple Watch is lauded by many because it does so many things so well consistently. However, this isn’t the kind of consistency users don’t want when it comes to battery life. The good thing is it offers a significant improvement in charging speed. The new fast-charging feature provides a full day's charge in approximately 30 minutes, making it easier to top up throughout the day.

A reason why I have had a hard time to shift from the Ultra 2 to the Series 10 is battery life. If you have the Apple Watch Series 10, rest assured, you will need to charge it every second day — something I don’t need to do with the Watch Ultra 2.

Apple Watch Series 10 review: Should you buy it?

The Apple Watch  Series 10 might seem like the same trusty timepiece Apple launches every year. But the Series 10 brings a lot of big improvements. The display is brighter and bigger, the watch is lighter and continues to outshine the competition in reliability and accuracy.

Apple Watch Series 10 starts at Rs 46,900 for the 42mm variant. If you want the 42mm variant with Cellular connectivity, then it costs Rs 56,900. If you want the classy Titanium case, then be prepared to fork out Rs 79,900. The Apple Watch Series 10 — like most other Apple products — is an expensive proposition. But it’s also one of the easiest devices to recommend — despite the high pricing — as it is continues to be the best smartwatch out there.

Sure, some might call it “boring,” but if boring means unbeatable reliability and consistency, a lot of buyers will sign up. Apple knows it doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel annually—because, let’s face it, no other smartwatch even comes close to playing in the same league.

So, should you buy the Apple Watch Series 10? If you’re still rocking an Apple Watch Series 3 or 4, it’s high time for an upgrade—the Series 10 will feel like a big leap forward. For those with a Series 6, it depends on your battery’s stamina; if it’s holding strong, you could probably sit this one out. And as for Series 8 and 9 owners, you can give it a miss unless you’re itching for the very latest tech. Now, if you crave the fastest processor and the complete suite of health features Apple has to offer, the Series 10 is perfect.

Apple continues to deliver on health and features accurately. The all-new wide-angle OLED display means you’re getting those health stats in vibrant detail, even from an angle. The Apple Watch Series 10 is the best smartwatch for iPhone buyers. It’s consistently impressive, remarkably reliable, and just does everything, every time really well.