Apple Watch Series 10 in review: How it compares to the Ultra

It’s been ten years since Apple changed the watch market forever. The Apple Watch Series 10 has now been given a comprehensive makeover to mark the anniversary. Not only does it look more like the expensive Ultra model, but it also proves to be a significantly better watch in tests.

Nevertheless, the high expectations of some fans were not met. For the tenth anniversary, an Apple Watch X is to be released, which, like the iPhone, will completely change the way it is perceived and used, some observers hope. But the changes were not that big. And yet the Series 10 is the most exciting basic model in years.

Apple Watch Series 10 review: more watch

This is mainly due to the new design. At first glance, it doesn’t seem very revolutionary, but when you look at the details, it has a surprisingly big effect. Even though the basic shape is the same, Apple has made a number of adjustments: the casing is more rounded. It is thinner and lighter. Despite this, the display has grown. The surprising effect: the Apple Watch Series feels a little less like a computer on your wrist and more like a classic watch.

This effect is enhanced by the new display. Not only is it larger – the larger model with a 46mm case diagonal now even trumps the Apple Watch Ultra in terms of display area – it is now also easier to read when viewed from an angle. Thanks to the new LTPO3 technology, it is 40 percent brighter from an oblique angle, explains Apple.

A look out of the corner of your eye

This is immediately noticeable in everyday life. If you just want to take a quick look at the time – as you would do with a classic wristwatch – this was not always possible, even with the always-on display introduced in the Series 5. Because OLED screens are simply harder to read from an angle, you often had to tilt your wrist significantly. But the Series 10 can also be read from an angle in bright light.

This is not only practical if you want to discreetly check the time in a meeting or conversation. Reading without having to raise your arm is also a clear advantage in sports such as cycling or climbing. Above all, however, it further eliminates one disadvantage compared to classic watches.

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It’s a good thing that the new display has another advantage: In always-on mode, the display was previously only updated once a minute. The new display now manages once a second without using any more power. The neat effect: even when the display is dimmed, the second hand moves across some selected watch faces.

Not a must for athletes

There are fewer innovations in the smartwatch functions. The Apple Watch Series 10 is no different from its predecessor in terms of heart rate tracking, and Apple has not changed the positioning via GPS either. If you need highly precise position values, you will have to continue to use the Apple Watch Ultra, which is superior in this field.

However, the Apple Watch Series 10 holds its own in the area of ​​water sports: Like the Ultra, it can now detect water temperature and diving depth, albeit to a somewhat lesser extent: While the Apple Watch Ultra accurately measures depths of 2 to 40 meters, the Series 10 only records short dives of up to 6 meters. This makes it particularly interesting for snorkelers who previously could only choose the Apple Watch Ultra, which was designed for divers. Or had to resort to a competing product.

Louder and quieter

Anyone who makes a lot of phone calls with the Apple Watch can also be happy: the phone functions have also been revised. Thanks to improved microphones and software tricks, the Apple Watch Series 10 can isolate the voice when making phone calls and suppress background noise. This suppresses the noise caused by wind that was common in the previous models.

And calls sound better on the Watch itself too: Apple has redesigned the speakers, so they now sound less creaky. This is not only beneficial when making phone calls: for the first time, you can also listen to music and podcasts directly through the watch’s speakers. However, you shouldn’t expect real listening pleasure due to the small casing. The speaker is certainly loud, but there is clearly no bass. But the sound is perfectly adequate for a podcast while cooking.

Sleep interruptions

One of the most exciting new features is not reserved for the Apple Watch Series 10. With the new watch, Apple also announced clinical recognition for detecting sleep apnea. But the Series 10 is not the only device that can detect the next breathing pauses: the Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 will also get the feature with the update to WatchOS 11.

The technology behind it is impressive: just by the subtle movement of the arm when breathing during sleep, the three models can detect the number of nighttime breathing pauses. This has not yet been tested: the watch must be worn for at least ten nights over a period of 30 days. If sleep apnea is detected, the Apple Watch warns and advises you to see a doctor.

Battery life: Not longer but faster

The fact that the battery life has not increased compared to its predecessor is probably mainly due to the new design. The slimmer casing naturally leaves less space for the battery, and the larger display consumes more with its predominant refresh rate. However, the battery life has not really decreased. In the test, the watch even managed a second day despite sports and sleep tracking before giving up the ghost late in the evening.

To make wearing the watch at night more suitable for everyday use, Apple has shortened the charging time: The Series 10 can be charged to 80 percent in 30 minutes, 15 minutes is enough for eight hours of everyday use. According to Apple, eight minutes of charging is enough to track eight hours of sleep. So if you only plug the watch into the cable in the morning when you shower and get ready, the charge is actually enough for the whole day – and the following night. If you need more battery life, you’ll have to go for the Ultra or one of Garmin’s long-distance runners.

Conclusion: The Apple Watch Ultra has competition

With the Series 10, the Apple Watch has been significantly upgraded – especially compared to the Apple Watch Ultra 2, which did not receive a successor this year. The slimmer design, the larger display and, above all, the larger viewing angle make the Apple Watch Series 10 look much more “watch-like”. The elegant titanium models in particular are suddenly in the same league as the Apple Watch Ultra 2, if you are not dependent on its sports tracking and durability.

The other improvements are more in the details, but bring real advantages in everyday life. The most medically exciting innovation, the detection of sleep apnea, is also available in the previous models.

Anyone who owns an older Apple Watch or is considering buying one for the first time can go for the new model without hesitation. The differences to its predecessors are big enough to justify the price difference. However, anyone who needs precise GPS tracking, diving functions or a particularly long battery life will probably still be better off with the Apple Watch Ultra 2 – especially because, with a price starting at 770 euros, it is already cheaper than the Apple Watch Series 10 in titanium.

The Apple Watch Series 10 will be available in stores from September 20th. It costs from 449 euros for the 42mm model. The titanium version costs at least 799 euros.