Apple Watch Series 10 Review: The Thinnest and Most Advanced Yet

The Apple Watch Series 10 marks a decade of Apple Watch innovation with the most significant redesign since the original. Featuring the largest, most advanced display ever, groundbreaking health features including sleep apnea detection, and the thinnest profile in Apple Watch history, this is the smartwatch to beat in 2025.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Display	Wide-angle OLED LTPO3, Always-On, up to 2000 nits, 46mm or 42mm
Chip	S10 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor, Neural Engine
Case Sizes	42mm and 46mm (larger than previous 41mm/45mm)
Case Materials	Aluminum, Titanium (Grade 5)
Thickness	9.7mm (thinnest Apple Watch ever, 10% thinner)
Display Size	Up to 30% larger than Series 6, widest viewing angles ever
Health Sensors	Blood oxygen, ECG, heart rate, temperature, accelerometer, gyroscope
Sleep Apnea Detection	FDA-cleared, monitors breathing disturbances during sleep
Water Resistance	WR50 (50 meters), swimproof, depth gauge up to 6 meters
Battery Life	Up to 18 hours (36 hours in Low Power Mode)
Fast Charging	80% in 30 minutes, 0-100% in about 60 minutes
Connectivity	GPS, GPS + Cellular, Wi-Fi 4, Bluetooth 5.3, Ultra Wideband
Storage	64GB
Operating System	watchOS 11 with Smart Stack, new watch faces
Speaker	Built-in speaker for calls, Siri, and audio playback directly from watch
Colors (Aluminum)	Jet Black, Rose Gold, Silver
Colors (Titanium)	Natural, Gold, Slate
Price	$399 (GPS) / $499 (GPS + Cellular) - Aluminum $699 (GPS + Cellular) - Titanium

Design: Thinner, Larger, Better

The Series 10 is a visual masterpiece. At just 9.7mm thick, it's the thinnest Apple Watch ever made—10% thinner than the Series 9. Despite being thinner, the display is actually larger, with up to 30% more screen area than the Series 6.

The new wide-angle OLED display is visible from extreme angles, making it much easier to check the time or notifications without awkwardly turning your wrist. The 2000 nits peak brightness ensures perfect visibility even in direct sunlight.

The Jet Black aluminum finish is a standout, featuring a mirror-like polished surface that's stunning. The titanium models are lighter than stainless steel while being more durable, and they feel incredibly premium on the wrist.

Case Size Comparison

Model	Small Size	Large Size	Thickness
Series 10	42mm	46mm	9.7mm
Series 9	41mm	45mm	10.7mm
Ultra 2	—	49mm	14.4mm

Display: The Best Smartwatch Screen Ever

The Wide-Angle OLED LTPO3 display is a revelation. Apple has achieved wider viewing angles than any previous Apple Watch, making it dramatically easier to see your watch face without directly facing it.

• Up to 2000 nits peak brightness for outdoor visibility
• Always-On display that's even more power-efficient
• 30% more screen area than Series 6 in the larger size
• Smaller bezels for a more immersive look
• Wide viewing angles visible even from extreme positions

Reading text, viewing photos, and interacting with apps is more comfortable than ever. The new watch faces take full advantage of the larger canvas, with more complications and richer designs.

Health Features: Sleep Apnea Detection

The headline health feature is FDA-cleared sleep apnea detection. Using the accelerometer to monitor subtle breathing patterns during sleep, the Apple Watch can identify signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea—a condition affecting over 1 billion people worldwide, many undiagnosed.

Complete Health Monitoring Suite

• Sleep Apnea Detection: Monitors breathing disturbances over 30-day periods
• Blood Oxygen: SpO2 monitoring with on-demand and background measurements
• ECG: FDA-cleared electrocardiogram for detecting atrial fibrillation
• Heart Rate: Continuous monitoring with high/low heart rate notifications
• Temperature Sensing: Wrist temperature for cycle tracking and baseline health
• Fall Detection: Automatic emergency SOS if a hard fall is detected
• Crash Detection: Detects severe car crashes and calls emergency services
• Irregular Rhythm Notifications: Alerts for potential AFib
• Cardio Fitness: VO2 max estimation for overall fitness assessment

Sleep Tracking Improvements

watchOS 11 brings enhanced sleep tracking with more detailed sleep stages, respiratory rate tracking, and the new Vitals app that shows overnight health metrics including heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, and blood oxygen—all in one place.

Performance: S10 Chip

The S10 SiP (System in Package) brings meaningful improvements:

• Faster app launches and smoother animations
• On-device Siri processing for faster responses
• Enhanced Neural Engine for machine learning tasks
• Double Tap gesture for hands-free interaction
• More efficient processing for better battery life

The Double Tap feature lets you answer calls, stop timers, snooze alarms, and control music by simply tapping your index finger and thumb together. It's incredibly useful when your hands are full.

watchOS 11 Features

The Series 10 ships with watchOS 11, bringing exciting new features:

Smart Stack 2.0

The widget stack is now smarter, automatically surfacing relevant widgets based on your routine, location, and time of day. Live Activities from your iPhone appear directly in the stack.

Training Load

A new metric that tracks the strain of your workouts over time, helping you balance intensity and recovery for optimal training.

Vitals App

A dedicated app showing your overnight health metrics at a glance—heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, blood oxygen, and sleep duration—with notifications when readings are outside your typical range.

New Watch Faces

Several stunning new faces including Flux (a liquid metal design), Reflections (dynamic light patterns), and Photos Face improvements that intelligently frame subjects.

Translate App

On-device translation for 20 languages, perfect for travel. Speak into your watch and see/hear the translation instantly.

Fitness and Workouts

The Apple Watch Series 10 is an exceptional fitness companion:

• 100+ workout types with automatic detection for many
• Tidal depth gauge for snorkeling (up to 6 meters)
• Water temperature sensor for swimmers and divers
• Improved GPS accuracy with dual-frequency support
• Precision Start for faster GPS lock
• Custom workouts with interval training support
• Competition with friends via Activity Sharing

For swimmers, the Series 10 now displays water temperature and depth, making it a capable swim computer without needing the Ultra.

Battery Life and Charging

Battery life remains at 18 hours of typical use, but the real story is charging speed:

• 80% charge in just 30 minutes
• Full charge in approximately 60 minutes
• 8 minutes of charging = 8 hours of sleep tracking
• Low Power Mode extends to 36 hours

The fast charging is genuinely useful—you can charge while getting ready in the morning and have enough battery for the entire day and night.

Apple Watch Comparison

Feature	Series 10	Series 9	Ultra 2
Display Size	Up to 46mm	Up to 45mm	49mm
Thickness	9.7mm	10.7mm	14.4mm
Sleep Apnea Detection	✅	✅ (via update)	✅
Wide-Angle Display	✅	❌	❌
Depth Gauge	6m	❌	40m (EN13319)
Water Temp Sensor	✅	❌	✅
Battery Life	18h / 36h LPM	18h / 36h LPM	36h / 72h LPM
Speaker Audio Playback	✅	❌	✅
Action Button	❌	❌	✅
Starting Price	$399	$399	$799

Pricing and Models

Model	42mm	46mm	Best For
Aluminum GPS	$399	$429	Most users, always near iPhone
Aluminum GPS + Cellular	$499	$529	Runners, leave phone at home
Titanium GPS + Cellular	$699	$749	Premium seekers, durability

Who Should Buy the Apple Watch Series 10?

The Apple Watch Series 10 is perfect for:

• iPhone users who want the best smartwatch experience
• Health-conscious individuals interested in comprehensive monitoring
• Fitness enthusiasts who want detailed workout tracking
• Anyone concerned about sleep apnea or sleep quality
• Users upgrading from Series 6 or older (significant improvements)
• Those who found previous Apple Watches too thick
• Swimmers who want depth and water temperature data

If you have a Series 9, the upgrade is less compelling unless you specifically want the thinner design, wide-angle display, or speaker audio playback. If you have a Series 7 or older, the Series 10 is a worthwhile upgrade.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Apple Watch Series 10 work with Android phones?

No, the Apple Watch requires an iPhone 8 or later running iOS 17 or later. It does not work with Android devices.

Do I need the Cellular version?

If you frequently exercise without your iPhone or want the freedom to leave your phone at home, Cellular is worth it. You can make calls, stream music, and receive notifications without your iPhone nearby. Otherwise, GPS-only is sufficient for most users.

How accurate is sleep apnea detection?

The feature is FDA-cleared and monitors breathing patterns over a 30-day period to identify signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea. It's a screening tool, not a diagnostic device—consult a doctor if you receive alerts.

Will my old Apple Watch bands work?

Yes! The 42mm bands fit the 42mm Series 10, and the 45mm bands fit the 46mm Series 10. Apple maintained band compatibility.

Is the titanium version worth the extra cost?

Titanium is lighter, more scratch-resistant, and more durable than aluminum. It also includes Cellular. If you value premium materials and can afford it, titanium is excellent. Otherwise, aluminum is fantastic quality.

Can I swim with the Apple Watch Series 10?

Yes! It's water-resistant to 50 meters and includes swim workout tracking. The Series 10 also adds a depth gauge (up to 6 meters) and water temperature sensor for snorkeling activities.

Final Verdict

The Apple Watch Series 10 is Apple's best smartwatch yet, celebrating a decade of innovation with meaningful improvements across the board. The thinner, larger design is immediately noticeable and makes the watch more comfortable than ever. The wide-angle display is a subtle but impactful upgrade that improves usability in everyday situations.

The addition of sleep apnea detection is potentially life-changing for the millions of people with undiagnosed sleep disorders. Combined with the existing suite of health features—ECG, blood oxygen, heart rate monitoring, temperature sensing, and fall detection—the Series 10 is the most comprehensive health device you can wear.

For fitness enthusiasts, the depth gauge and water temperature sensor bring Ultra-like features to the standard Apple Watch, making it an even more capable swim companion. The S10 chip keeps everything running smoothly, and fast charging ensures you're never without your watch for long.

At $399 for the GPS model, the Series 10 offers exceptional value. The titanium models at $699+ are premium but deliver a truly luxurious experience. Whether you're upgrading from an older model or buying your first Apple Watch, the Series 10 is the one to get.

This is more than a smartwatch—it's a health guardian, fitness coach, and personal assistant wrapped in the most elegant design Apple has ever created.