After pondering it for awhile, I took the plunge, sold my Apple Watch Ultra 2, and bought an Apple Watch Series 10. I have no regrets. Well, maybe one.
Some might consider this a downgrade. However, the Series 10 has most of the features I love about the Ultra 2, plus even more advantages. Mainly, it’s the thinnest Apple Watch yet and offers the biggest, most advanced display of any smartwatch from the tech giant.
Pros
The Apple Watch Series 10 comes in two sizes, 42mm and 46mm, and it now has a wide-angle OLED display. This new display provides a 30% increase in screen size over previous generations. Because of that, the Apple Watch Series 10 has an even bigger display than the Apple Watch Ultra, at least with the 46mm size (which is the one I bought).
As I age, my eyes don’t work as well as they used to, and big displays are what I prefer. With the Series 10 display, I can see more text on the screen, so I have to scroll less. Since the screen now expands further past the sides of the case, it is — according to Apple — 40% brighter when viewed at an angle. This means you can more easily see the info on your watch face with a glance and without having to move your wrist.
The thin design of the Apple Watch also makes it lighter than previous Apple smartwatches. The 46mm smartwatch weighs 30 grams for the aluminum version and 34.4 grams for the titanium version. The 42mm smartwatch weighs 36.4 grams for the aluminum version and 41.7 grams for the titanium version. Obviously, if you want lightest option, go with the aluminum 42mm model. However, I went with the 46mm titanium version, and have found it to very comfortable.
A point of interest: as noted by The MacObserver, the Cellular + GPS model is approximately 3% lighter than the GPS-only variant. Here is the weights of different Apple Watch Series 10 variants:
42mm Case:
- Aluminium, GPS: 30 grams
- Aluminium, GPS + Cellular: 29.3 grams
- Titanium: 34.4 grams
46mm Case:
- Aluminium, GPS: 36.4 grams
- Aluminium, GPS + Cellular: 35.3 grams
- Titanium: 41.7 grams
There’s no clear explanation for this. However, The MacObserver says here could be some of the probable reasons for the weight difference:
The Cellular + GPS model may utilize different materials or construction techniques that reduce weight.
Perhaps, the back of the watch could be designed to incorporate antennas more efficiently, allowing for lighter components.
Or maybe the integration of cellular technology might have led to a more focused internal design, which optimizes space.
The Apple Watch Series 10 also is more powerful than the Ultra 2. It sports an S10 SIP compared to the S9 SIP of the Ultra 2. Apple says that the S10 SiP and built-in 4-core Neural Engine allow for intelligent features users rely on every day, including the double tap gesture, on-device Siri, dictation, and automatic workout detection; important safety features such as Crash Detection and Fall Detection; and the updated Smart Stack, the redesigned Photos face, and the Translate app in watchOS 11.
Is the difference really notable? Honestly, I couldn’t tell the difference between the performance of the Ultra 2 and the Series 10. However, for those of us who spring for Apple’s latest and greatest, it’s nice to have the fastest processor option. Plus, I imagine when all the Apple Intelligence features actually arrive, the S10’s power might come into play more.
Other design elements of the Apple Watch Series 10 are also cool. The back is matched in material, finish, and color to the rest of the case, making it appear like the device is made from a single piece of metal. As with most Apple products, it looks great. It’s available in both aluminum and titanium, in an array of colors and finishes.
There are also sound improvements. Audio can now be played back through the built-in speaker on Apple Watch Series 10. Just like with phone calls, you can listen to audio from a range of apps — including Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, and Apple Books, and third-party apps — right from your smartwatch. Of course, as you could guess, the sound volume/quality isn’t great.
The Apple Watch Series 10 also uses a new voice isolation neural network running on the 4-core Neural Engine to suppress background noise during phone or FaceTime audio calls. And this is a sweet audio upgrade.
Speaking of the aforementioned metal back, it integrates a larger and more efficient charging coil, making the Series 10 the fastest-charging Apple Watch ever. You can charge its battery up to 80% in about 30 minutes. However….
Cons
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has over 36 hours of battery life compared to 18 hours for the Apple Watch Series 10. Since I put my smartwatch on a charger at the end of the day, that’s no big deal for me. However, if you wear yours all day, then sleep with it on at night, the difference in battery life is worth considering.
There are other features that the Series 10 lacks that the Ultra boasts: a built-in siren and an Action button. However, unless you’re into marathons, triathlons, distance hiking, etc., that probably won’t be a concern — although I have myself missing the Action button (my one regret).
Miscellaneous
There are features that are common to both the Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, many thanks to watchOS 11. They include sleep apnea notifications, water depth and temperature sensing, a new Tides app, new watch faces, as well as new health and fitness insights.
Overall, I’ve found the Apple Watch Series 10 preferable to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 for my lifestyle. And since it’s almost half the price of the bigger smartwatch, that’s another win!
Pricing and availability
The Apple Watch Series 10 starts at US$399 and is available now. Three months of Apple Fitness+ and Apple Music are included for customers who purchase the Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Ultra 2, or a new Apple Watch Series 6 or later.
Apple World Today rating (out of 5 stars): ★★★★★
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