Apple Watch Series 10 Review: Is It Worth the Upgrade?

Apple Watch Series 10 Review: More of the Same, but Thinner

Alright, Apple Watch fans, let’s talk about the highly anticipated 10th generation Apple Watch. With all the hype surrounding a possible major redesign, did Apple deliver? Well… not really. If you were hoping for a groundbreaking overhaul like the iPhone X was for iPhones, you might be a little disappointed. But if you're coming from an older Apple Watch, there are still some solid updates worth considering.

Design: Slimmer, Lighter, and a Little Bigger

At first glance, the Apple Watch Series 10 looks… well, just like an Apple Watch. Apple claims it’s 10% thinner and lighter (20% lighter for the titanium models replacing stainless steel), and the screen is slightly bigger. The 46mm model now matches the display size of the Apple Watch Ultra, meaning you get a bit more room for texts, notifications, and fitness tracking.

The design tweaks make the watch feel more comfortable on the wrist, but calling it a "redesign" feels like a stretch. It’s essentially a slimmer, more refined version of last year’s Series 9. The curved edges are even more pronounced, which gives it a sleek, almost Pixel Watch-like look.

Display: Bigger is (Sort of) Better

The larger screen does make a difference in some places. For example, workouts now show an extra line of data, and Apple brags that typing on the tiny keyboard is slightly easier. But outside of minor UI tweaks, there’s nothing game-changing about the display upgrade.

A more meaningful update is the new LTPO 3 Display, which drops the refresh rate to 1Hz instead of 10Hz when the Always-On Display is enabled. This lets the second hand on the watch face remain visible at all times without draining extra battery. Nice touch, but not a must-have feature.

New Features: What's Actually Different?

So, what’s new beyond the design tweaks? Here are the four major updates in the Series 10:

1. Media Playback on the Speaker
   • You can now play music, podcasts, or audiobooks out loud using the watch’s built-in speaker. (Do we really need this? Please don’t be that person blasting music in public.)
2. Water Temperature Sensor
   • If you're a swimmer, diver, or just really curious about your bathtub’s temperature, the Apple Watch Series 10 can now measure water temperature.
3. Faster Charging
   • Apple claims 80% charge in 30 minutes, though real-world results are closer to 65% in that time. Still, it’s an improvement, making quick top-ups more convenient.
4. watchOS 11 Perks
   • The Vitals app offers an "energy score" similar to Garmin’s Body Battery.
   • FDA-approved sleep apnea detection helps spot potential sleep issues.
   • Training Load tracking helps athletes measure workout intensity.

However, most of these software features are coming to older Apple Watch models too, so they’re not exclusive to the Series 10.

Performance & Battery Life: Déjà Vu

Under the hood, the S10 SiP chip powers the watch, but you probably won’t notice any difference in performance. Apple says it has an improved neural engine, but there’s no tangible speed boost or new AI-powered tricks.

Battery life? Still 18 hours, just like every Apple Watch since… forever. No real improvements there, which is disappointing.

Should You Upgrade?

• If you have a Series 4, 5, 6, or 7, upgrading makes sense. You’ll get a bigger, brighter display, better battery efficiency, and faster charging.
• If you have a Series 8 or 9, skip this one. The differences are too minor to justify the cost.
• If you were hoping for a major redesign, this ain't it.

This is the Apple Watch—Take It or Leave It

Apple hyped this up as a major redesign, but in reality, it’s just a refined version of the watch we’ve seen for years. No circular design, no rotating bezel, no major battery improvements—just a thinner, slightly larger version of what we already had.

That being said, if you’re rocking an older model, the Series 10 is still the best Apple Watch yet. Just don’t expect a revolution.

Stay tuned for more tech insights at Land of Geek Magazine, where we break down the latest gadgets with a Gen Z twist.

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