We could talk all day about the Apple Watch Series 10 and its new angled display, sleep apnea capabilities, training loads, and ability to measure dive depth. However, I know the real reason why this Apple Watch is the best ever and might just be the only smartwatch you ever want.
In the decade I’ve been wearing smartwatches, they’ve grown almost steadily in size and weight, peaking with the Apple Watch Ultra 2 (61.4g) and the Samsung Galaxy Ultra (60g). These are rugged digital watches meant for outdoor activities and climbing Mount Everest. I’ve never understood why people who aren’t particularly outdoorsy wear them. And forget about sleeping with them. It’s impossible unless you can sleep with a rock under your stomach.
There’s a new trend in the smartwatch world, though: big, thin, and light. For me, it started with the 45mm Google Pixel Watch 3. I’ve worn the last two generations, and while I loved the soft waterdrop design, I was frustrated by the screen size and thickness. For such a pretty watch, it wasn’t always comfortable to wear. The 45mm Pixel Watch 3 changed that, featuring a much larger (and brighter) display and a slimmer, fairly lightweight 37g build.
I found I could sleep with this watch on and considered ditching my Apple Watch Series 9 for good.
Then came the 46mm Apple Watch Series 10.
Big and light
Yes, this is the largest Apple Watch display yet (it’s 30% larger than the 45mm Apple Watch Series 9 model), and it feels like it. I like big displays, especially those that use wide-angle OLED for better off-axis viewing. Still, I wouldn’t wear them if they were uncomfortable or cumbersome. Basically, I can’t trade screen size for comfort, which is why I’ve never been completely sold on the Ultras.
The Apple Watch Series 10 does pull off a pretty amazing feat, though. Despite the screen size, the watch (without the band) weighs 35.3g. What's even more surprising about this is that the 45mm aluminum Apple Watch Series 9 weighs 51.5 grams. It's a difference I can feel. It's like an upside-down TARDIS: bigger on the outside and the weight of a smaller device on the inside.
But it's not just about the weight: at 9.7mm thick, the watch is a millimetre thinner than the previous Apple Watch.
I know, it's just a bunch of numbers, so let me tell you how it feels: almost like nothing.
If it weren't for the fact that I could see the watch on my wrist, I might forget I was wearing it. It's a comfort that lasts all day and, in my experience, also helps with sleep.
This change in weight and size is even more impressive when you consider that the new Apple Watch Series 10 combines GPS and cellular capabilities across all models. Normally, models with cellular and GPS would be slightly heavier than their GPS-only counterparts. That wasn’t the case this time around. Part of that may be due to Apple redesigning the chassis structure.
Image 1 of 6
While the last Apple Watch had a zirconia back, the Apple Watch Series 9 uses aluminum or titanium. The all-metal back now supports the placement of cellular radios, which is useful for GPS + Cellular models since the WiFi GPS radios are at the top. These are under-the-hood changes you might not notice, but the Series 10 with GPS + Cellular will no longer have a red ring on some of the sides of the Digital Crown to indicate cellular support. You’ll still pay your carrier to activate service, though, and you’ll need to buy a model with cellular connectivity.
To be clear, size, weight, and design are just one aspect of the Apple Watch Series 10, but when it comes to wearables, which are essentially fashion, can you put a price on good design, fit, and feel? How the watch feels on your wrist will determine how you feel about it.
Receiving notifications, tracking workouts, health, and sleep (even sleep apnea) is, in a way, the icing on the cake of time tracking.
So yeah, let the genius at Apple talk to you non-stop about all these amazing new features of the Apple Watch Series 10, just make sure they let you try one out.
@lanceulanoff ♬ original sound – Kardashian clips 🎬
You may also like
