Apple Watch Series 10 review: It's time for something new

Time really does fly. It was 10 years ago that Apple first introduced its original Apple Watch and, despite some initial scepticism, this digital device is now one of the world’s best-selling wearables. A decade of updates have kept the Apple Watch ticking along very nicely and now we have another new device that’s bigger and better than ever.

The Series 10 might not have received the major design upgrade that many might have been hoping for on this big anniversary but this is still a formidable boost to what is already our favourite smartwatch.

We’ve had the new Series 10 strapped tightly to our wrist and there’s plenty to like including a much larger and smarter display. In fact, Apple is boasting that this new panel is the most advanced yet on any of its watches – yes, that includes the more expensive Ultra 2.

Hit the Digital Crown and there’s no doubt that the Series 10 looks truly stunning. That’s all thanks to slimmer bezels and Wide-angle OLED technology which makes it easier to see content, check messages and read the time no matter what position it’s in.

Another bonus that we really like is the increased refresh rate when in always-on mode. It basically means Apple now updates the screen every single second – it was once a minute before – so you see the ticking seconds hand even when the watch is idle. That might seem like a trivial update but it makes this gadget feel much more like a traditional timepiece on your wrist. To make this possible, there’s now LTPO3 technology inside which is significantly more power efficient than previous generations.

Now, you might be wondering if that boost to the screen has made things monstrous on the wrist. Luckily the Series 10 remains supremely comfortable to wear and even the bigger 46mm version doesn’t look out of place – it’s impressive stuff especially as this model even offers an ever so slightly larger screen than the mighty Apple Watch Ultra.

To keep things from clogging up your wrist, all of these watches have been slimmed down a little and are also lighter to wear. It’s only a small change but having worn the Series 10 for a while it makes a big difference and there have been times when we’ve even forgotten we had it buckled to our body.

There are also some more styles to choose from this year including a stunning aerospace-grade polished titanium which is available in Natural, Gold, and dark Slate gray. They really do look very, very good with the Series 10 feeling more like an expensive piece of jewellery rather than a high-tech gadget.

Of course, one of the bonuses of using an Apple Watch is getting yourself fit and keeping an eye on stats such as heart rate, blood oxygen and even if you are suffering from conditions such as AFIB.

Now the Series 10 can also monitor sleep apnoea as well. This is a disorder that causes you to stop breathing while asleep and, if not addressed it can cause serious issues over time. Apple is using sensors that can monitor breathing disturbances to see if users are affected by this issue. It’s only just launched on the device and we’ll need a few weeks of data before we can tell you how well it works – and if we are suffering from the condition – but we’ll update this review with our thoughts once we’ve, errr, slept on it.

Of course, to get those sleep apnoea stats you are going to need to wear the Watch in bed and that’s not ideal for those who worry about battery life. There’s no question that the new Apple Watch will last all day and one night but it will need a refill to get through a whole second day of usage.

Luckily, Apple has boosted the charging speeds which means you’ll get from flat to 80 percent in around 30 minutes – our tests have confirmed that’s a pretty accurate stat from Apple. So, as long as you remember to take it off and place it on the charger whilst you have your morning shower you shouldn’t have any issues with the screen going black before the day is over.

Other extras arriving on these updated timepieces include the Depth app which instantly launches when you jump in the pool plus there’s a water temperature sensor so you can see exactly how hot or cold things really are. If you do ever happen to go full Dick Tracy and make calls from your wrist there’s also new voice isolation technology which means you sound clearer when ringing from a busy street. The neat double tap function is also available on this wearable allowing you to interact with the display by simply tapping your thumb and finger together.

Just like all previous Apple Watch models, the Series 10 can track your daily exercise, remind you to stand, take a heart-checking ECG in seconds and alert friends if you have a fall or are involved in a car accident.

We also regularly use it to make payments at the checkout, track how well we’ve slept plus get directions and reply to messages without reaching for our iPhone.

It’s now so advanced there’s very little it can’t do and it’s become a device we honestly now struggle to live without.

The Series 10 is another stellar update to the Apple Watch line but there are some things missing. Unlike the Watch Ultra, there’s still no Action Button which is a feature we use all the time on that device. The Action Button launches favourite features such as workouts with just one tap and it’s a shame it’s not made the jump to the Series 10.

Battery life does improve a little but you’re still not going to be able to head away for the weekend without packing a charger.

Although it now looks out for sleep apnoea we’d also love Apple to bring even more health features such as blood pressure monitoring to this wearable.

Finally, there’s the price as it can get pretty expensive. The standard aluminium model starts from £399 but start upgrading to the striking new titanium case and add a glitzy Milanese Loop band and you’ll face a £799 bill – that’s the same cost as the rugged Watch Ultra 2.

The Apple Watch is now 10 years old and, like a fine wine, it just keeps getting better and better. This has long been our go-to wearable and the Series 10 does enough to keep it ahead of the pack.

The bigger screen, improved charging, refreshed titanium design and bonus extras such as checking for sleep apnoea are all nice updates.

It’s also now thinner and lighter than before, gets that neat ticking seconds hand when in always-on mode and it’s still able to check your fitness, transform into a digital wallet and even save your life should you fall.

Our only gripes are the lack of an Action Button, it still won’t get through a weekend without needing a refill and it can get very expensive. If you own a Series 9 there’s also not a huge reason to upgrade this year especially as that device is getting the sleep apnoea upgrade via a software update.

We remain huge fans of the Apple Watch and the Series 10 is another impressive device from Apple. If you have an older wearable on your wrist it’s definitely time for a change and this device is super simple for us to recommend.