Incremental changes to the Apple Watch year-on-year never convinced me to upgrade. But my Series 7's depleted battery and the new features Apple added over time changed my mind. Here are the changes I noticed the most after upgrading to the Series 10.
✕ Remove Ads 1 Thinner and Lighter Design
Many expected the 10th generation Apple Watch to be a major overhaul like the iPhone X. Although that's not the case, Apple refreshed the design to give the standard Apple Watch its largest screen ever -- even larger than the Apple Watch Ultra series -- and the thinnest and lightest chassis. We greatly appreciated the new design in our Apple Watch Series 10 review.
The changes were immediately noticeable for someone like me, who upgraded from the Series 7. I moved from the 41mm aluminum Series 7 to the 42mm aluminum Series 10. The Series 7 weighs 32 grams and is 10.7mm thick, whereas the Series 10 weighs just 30 grams and is 9.7 mm thick. Despite having a slightly bigger chassis, the Series 10 is thinner and lighter.
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This makes a noticeable difference to how the Apple Watch feels on the wrist. The Series 10 sits more flush, adding to its sleek aesthetic.
According to Apple , all Series 10 aluminum cases are approximately 10 percent lighter than Series 9 aluminum cases, and all Series 10 titanium cases are roughly 20 percent lighter than Series 9 stainless steel cases.
2 Improved Display With Better Viewing Angles
The change in case design also allowed Apple to increase the display size. Apple claims a nine percent increase in screen area over the Series 7, Series 8, and Series 9 models. If you're using a Series 6 (and older) or an Apple Watch SE model, you'll experience a more substantial 30 percent increase in active screen area.
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However, the real upgrade here isn't the increased size. With a black watch face, it isn't quite noticeable. The more useful change is the wide-angle OLED screen that can go up to 2,000 nits for much better outdoor visibility and a brighter output at extreme viewing angles. This makes a world of difference to the user experience, especially if you actively use the Always On display, which, for me, is one of many non-negotiable smartwatch features.
3 Charge Up in 30 Minutes
The Apple Watch Series 7 was the first time Apple improved charging speeds for its wearable, promising a 0 to 80 percent top-up in 45 minutes. With the Series 10, Apple is taking charging speeds up a notch, claiming it can charge from 0 to 80 percent in just 30 minutes.
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If you're really short on time, a 15-minute charge will give you eight hours of normal daily use, and an eight-minute charge will give you eight hours of sleep tracking.
I've been measuring my Series 10's charging time, and I've seen it go from 20% to 80% in 25 minutes, then trickle charge to 100% in the next 25 minutes. Apple's estimate does seem realistic because batteries do charge faster when they're completely depleted.
4 64GB of Onboard Storage
The next change I really value is the increased internal storage space on the Series 10. The new model ships with 64GB -- twice the storage of my Series 7 -- to store apps, photos, music, and data.
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Now, I moved from a cellular Apple Watch to a GPS-only model. It means I no longer have access to the internet when I'm away from my phone to stream music, so storing files on my watch is more important than ever. I also download songs at the highest available quality, so this change is one that I really appreciate. And if you hike a lot, you can also store more map data for immediate use.
5 More Sensors and Double Tap Gesture
The Apple Watch relies on an array of sensors to capture and share data. Since the Series 7, Apple has added even more sensors. The most notable are the high-g accelerometer, temperature sensors (skin and water), and the depth gauge.
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The high-g accelerometer unlocks Crash Detection, whereas the temperature sensor unlocks wrist temperature monitoring in the Vitals app -- one of many new watchOS 11 features that provides an overview of your overall health.
There's also the Double Tap gesture -- a way to interact with the Apple Watch without touching the display -- which makes navigating the user interface and performing quick actions like answering calls quite simple. I've really enjoyed using it and can't wait to see what else I can do with it.
Being based in India, I haven't lost access to the Blood Oxygen app. However, if you're in the US and are planning to upgrade from a Series 6 (or newer model) that has blood oxygen monitoring, you will lose access to the feature.
With all that said, the incremental upgrades Apple added to the Apple Watch line over three years make the Series 10 worth my money. If you've been on the fence about upgrading from a Series 7 or even an older Apple Watch, this iteration brings substantial changes to justify your purchase.
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