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The Apple Watch Series 10 offers mostly minor upgrades, but faster charging is a big plus


The Apple Series 10 is displayed during an event at the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, on Sept. 12, 2023.

Loren Elliott | Reuters

The new Apple Watch Series 10 hits stores on Friday. I’ve been testing it for the past five days, and there are enough refinements to appeal to first timers and those considering an upgrade.

I wasn’t necessarily excited when Apple announced the new watches earlier this month. The company revealed a slightly thinner design, somewhat larger screens and some software features that will apply to earlier models. But taken together, there’s a good amount to like.

The Apple Watch is part of the company’s Wearables, Home and Accessories unit, which reported $8.1 billion in revenue during the fiscal third quarter, down 2% from a year ago. CEO Tim Cook said at the time of the report that two-thirds of Apple Watch buyers are still new to the device.

The Apple Watch Series 10, as its name implies, marks the tenth year of the Apple Watch. It’s the best yet, even if some changes are minimal.

What’s good

The charging is great. The Series 10 has new coils under the back glass that charge it to 80% in 30 minutes. I could get plenty of juice for the day ahead by plugging it in while reading a book or taking a shower. A full charge lasts 18 hours, which has been standard since the Series 1.

The new Apple Watch series 10 is displayed during an Apple special event at Apple headquarters on September 09, 2024 in Cupertino, California. 

Justin Sullivan | Getty Images

Apple Watch Series 10

Apple Inc. 

Finally, I love the move from steel to titanium on the higher-end models. Apple’s polished steel versions were always my favorite but they were heavier than the aluminum options. The titanium is much lighter.

I really like the appearance of the shiny black aluminum option. It looks more expensive than the matte silver or rose gold models but starts at the same price: $399.

What’s bad 

The Series 10 is thinner than earlier Apple Watches, which weren’t particularly thick. I’d be fine with the prior thickness if it meant longer battery life.

That remains the biggest weakness. The Apple Watch Ultra and Ultra 2 are compelling in part because they offer up to 36 hours of battery life. It makes a huge difference when traveling or if you just forget to plug it in one night.

There aren’t a lot of big health upgrades. Apple is reportedly working on blood glucose monitoring or blood pressure monitoring for the Apple Watch. I wasn’t expecting either this year, but I worry about spending money on a device now only to have it outdated when big health features drop.

Should you buy it?

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