Apple Watch Series 10 hands-on: bigger, brighter, and thinner

Now that Apple’s Glowtime event is over, we’ve gotten to spend some time with the Apple Watch Series 10.

This is the 10th anniversary of the Apple Watch, but the Series 10 isn’t that different from what you already know. It looks a lot like prior Apple Watch models, but it has an updated design that makes the whole package thinner while expanding the screen sizes to 42mm and 46mm, up from 41mm and 45mm on the Series 9. That said, even though the sizes have crept larger since the Series 7, both the 42mm and 46mm don’t feel chunky when you wear them. Apple says the new display is 40 percent brighter and that its always-on mode will now refresh once every second, up from once every minute on older devices.

I ran around trying on every iteration of Series 10 I could get my mitts on. And as much as it’s tempting to eye-roll a bigger, thinner display, it really makes a difference once you slip one on. I’ve been wearing the Ultra 2 as my daily driver for a year, and the difference in weight was massive. The titanium models also look slick, particularly the new rose gold color.

Speaking of colors, yes, the all-black Ultra 2 is quite fetching. As is the jet black model for the regular Series 10. This is 100 percent the smartwatch Batman would buy himself. The new clasp on the black Ultra 2 Milanese Loop is a little tricky to use, however.

I got to see a short demo of the sleep apnea feature — which isn’t available yet but will come via an over-the-air update once Apple gets FDA clearance. Basically, you’ll be able to see whether you have “elevated” or “not elevated” breathing disturbances. Unlike other sleep apnea features I’ve tried, this uses the accelerometer instead of SpO2 sensors — convenient given that Apple’s currently in the middle of a patent battle with Masimo.

Apple has also updated the watch with a new processor, a depth gauge, and the ability to detect signs of sleep apnea. It’ll be available in black, silver, and rose gold aluminum starting at $399 and in slate, gold, and natural titanium starting at $699.

We’ll be getting review units soon, and you can bet we’ll be putting all of the watches through their paces.

Photography by Victoria Song / The Verge