Apple kicked off its big event with watches – the Series 10 which is almost a completely new design and a new look for the Ultra 2. We’ll start with the all-new model.
Apple Watch Series 10
This new generation has the biggest display of any Apple Watch – yes, that includes the Apple Watch Ultra 2 – and it’s also the company’s thinnest watch. Plus, charging has been made much faster. In short, it’s like a thinner Ultra and there’s also a new titanium version.
Let’s start with the display, as that’s a big upgrade. It’s slightly larger than the Ultra (both generations had 1.92”), compared to the non-Ultra generations, the display is up to 30% larger.
The new display is larger than any previous Apple Watch
And know this – Apple has managed to increase the refresh rate from one minute to one second. This means the Always On Display can now show a ticking seconds hand (and there are new watch faces that show this feature). For AOD users, the new display is up to 40% brighter when viewed from an angle, making it easier to glance at information. Naturally, the larger display allows apps to fit more text and it makes typing on the watch easier.
The Apple Watch Series 10 is thinner than ever, now measuring 9.7mm (1mm less than the Series 9). The aluminium version is also around 10% lighter than the previous version.
Despite all this, Apple has managed to keep the battery life up – you can expect up to 18 hours on a single charge. So, yes, you will still be charging daily. The good news is that Apple has made the process faster – you need just 30 minutes to reach 80% (down from 45 minutes). The watch supports MagSafe and Qi 2 charging.
The aluminium version comes in rose gold and silver, and a new option – jet black. This is the first polished aluminium finish on an Apple Watch. But there’s also a more premium version that’s even lighter.
Colour options: Apple Watch Series 10 Aluminum • Apple Watch Series 10 Titanium
Apple has abandoned stainless steel as a material choice for the Apple Watch, and used titanium instead. It is 20% lighter than using steel. This version will be available in three colors: Natural, Gold and Slate Gray. Apple has updated the Milanese loop and link bracelet to match the new material. The display is protected by sapphire.
New strap design
The Series 10 is identical to the Ultra, just not in the choice of metal. Water resistance has been upgraded and there’s a new depth gauge, which turns on automatically the moment you dive and can track you up to 6 meters/20 feet, a timer for your dive and an indication of the maximum depth you’ve reached. There’s also a water temperature sensor.
Automatic depth gauge • Depth and direction tracking while snorkeling
The Series 10 is perfect for snorkeling and also comes with the Oceanic+ app. Apart from this, this watch can be your companion during fishing trips or kayaking. It has a new app that shows tide information, while the Paddle Logger app has shoreline information and lets you create float plans.
Kayaking and fishing facilities
Apple is expanding the health tracking features of Apple Watch. Did you know that 80% of people with sleep apnea are undiagnosed? Well, the Watch Series 10 has sleep apnea detection that will give a morning report on any breathing disturbances while sleeping. Every 30-day period, the watch will analyze all the collected data and warn you if you are at risk of sleep apnea.
Apple expects to receive approval from the FDA this month and other agencies in more than 150 countries around the world. The Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 will soon get apnea detection as an update.
Apple had to completely redesign the speaker on the watch. The new module is 30% smaller and you can now use it as a speaker – this means you can listen to music or podcasts just from your watch, no headphones required. Naturally, you can use it for voice calls too. Here, the new, powerful chipset leverages AI smarts for noise cancellation to make your calls better.
The Apple S10 has a 4-core neural engine, which allows it to run certain tasks on the device. AI features also include knowing which widget to show you at any given time and choosing the best picture to use as a background.
The Apple Watch Series 10 is on pre-order today and will be available in two weeks, starting September 20. Pricing starts at $400 for the GPS model, with the GPS+Cellular model costing $100 more.
Apple Watch Ultra 2
There’s no new Ultra yet. But the Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a new look – satin black. It’s a matte finish achieved through a special process that makes the exterior more scratch resistant. The watch is still made of titanium, specifically 95% recycled grade 5 titanium (the Titanium Series 10 also uses recycled material). The back is made of strong zirconia.
New Satin Black color compared with the original
Along with the new look, Apple has also designed a new titanium Milanese loop. It’s inspired by scuba divers and designed for scuba divers. And if you already have the Ultra 2, don’t worry, there’s a version of the new loop to match the original natural titanium look.
Long-time partner Hermes has also designed a new wrist strap, this one inspired by sailing. It also has a matching watch face – if you use it, the action button will be set to a nautical-themed countdown timer.
New look and new straps
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 in Satin Black is available for pre-order today and will be available starting September 20. Pricing is the same as before, $800 (all Ultra watches are GPS+cellular).
