7 favorite features on Apple Watch Series 10

Apple announced the Apple Watch Series 10 at its iPhone 16 "Glowtime" event in September 2024. Unlike previous years, this watch doesn't just have better specs. Here are our favorite features that make this 10th anniversary Apple Watch worth buying.

1. Bigger and brighter screen

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The most important part of any Apple Watch is the display, and the Series 10 has the largest display ever on an Apple Watch. It has 30% more active screen area than the Series 4, 5, and 6, and 10% less than the Series 9.

In everyday use, a larger screen can improve almost every aspect of the Apple Watch experience. Whether you're typing a message on the keyboard or reading an email, a larger screen is better.

In addition to the larger screen size, the Apple Watch Series 10 has a wide-angle OLED display that's up to 40 percent brighter when viewed from an angle, making it easier to see what's on the screen at a glance. The display is also more power efficient, so it refreshes once every second instead of once every minute when in Always-On mode.

It will also include two new faces — Flux and Reflections — to take advantage of the larger display. And don't forget, it will have all the great features that watchOS 11 has to offer.

2. Thinner and lighter case

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Despite the larger display, the Apple Watch Series 10 is nearly 10% thinner than the Series 9. This latest model is also lighter on the wrist.

The aluminum variants of the Series 10 are 10% lighter than the Series 9, and the new titanium case options are 20% lighter than the stainless steel Series 9 models.

3. Detect sleep apnea

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The Apple Watch Series 10 introduces a new health feature to detect sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing repeatedly stops during sleep, and Apple says it affects more than 1 billion people worldwide. If left undiagnosed, the condition can lead to high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and heart problems.

When you wear the watch while you sleep, it will track the small movements on your wrist that are associated with disruptions in normal breathing patterns. An algorithm will analyze that data and notify you of persistent signs of sleep apnea. Fortunately, this feature will also be available for the Apple Watch Series 9 by the end of September 2024.

4. Faster charging

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Thanks to its metal back and larger, more efficient coils, the Apple Watch Series 10 is the fastest-charging Apple Watch you can buy. You can charge from 0 to 80% in 30 minutes. And if you don't have time for that, 15 minutes of charging can give you up to 8 hours of daily use.

5. Play sound through built-in speaker

You don't need to grab your AirPods or another Bluetooth speaker if you want to listen to audio on your Apple Watch Series 10. You can play a variety of audio through apps like Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, Apple Books, and other third-party apps directly from the speaker.

6. Measure water depth and temperature

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Apple has also brought two of the Apple Watch Ultra's signature features — water temperature and depth sensing — to the Apple Watch Series 10. This also means the 10th anniversary Apple Watch has the Depth app.

Using the same Depth app, you can measure depths up to 6 meters underwater and see time, water temperature, time underwater, and maximum depth. You can set the app to activate automatically when your Apple Watch is submerged in water. You can also see water temperature during pool and open water swim workouts.

7. New colors, including Jet Black

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Like previous models, there are several new Apple Watch colors to choose from. One of the best is the Jet Black aluminum model. It's the first polished aluminum case, and it evokes memories of the iconic Jet Black iPhone 7 variant. Joining that option are updated Rose Gold aluminum and the regular Silver aluminum.

For a different look, you can also choose a titanium option that replaces the stainless steel version from previous generations. Available in Natural, Gold, and Slate colors.

The Apple Watch Series 10 is available for pre-order now on the Apple Store Online and will be available starting September 20. Prices start at $399 and $699 for the aluminum and titanium variants, respectively.

David Pac

Update 10 September 2024