Having tested a vast array of smartwatches and wearables over the years, it takes something significant to truly shift a long-held preference. For this reviewer, whose daily go-to has been the rugged Apple Watch Ultra 2, designed for larger wrists and demanding outdoor activities, the standard Apple Watch Series line often felt just a bit too understated.
That perspective changed considerably with the launch of the Apple Watch Series 10. Announced with promises of a larger display and a remarkably thinner profile, this model immediately captured attention. After extensive hands-on use with the 46mm version, while it doesn’t dethrone the Ultra 2 for specific niche needs, the Series 10 stands out as a compelling, best-in-class option packed with features that resonate with the needs of most users today – especially given its current availability at appealing sale prices.
Here’s a closer look at why the Apple Watch Series 10 is such an impressive device and a top recommendation right now.
Design & Wearability: Thinner, Lighter, More Comfortable
The most striking improvement upon first encountering the Series 10 is its incredibly svelte form factor. Measuring just 9.7mm thick, it’s significantly thinner than the 14.4mm Apple Watch Ultra 2. This engineering feat packs advanced sensors, electronics, and battery into a design that feels almost impossibly slim on the wrist.
This reduced profile and lighter weight dramatically enhance comfort, particularly for continuous wear and overnight tracking. Unlike bulkier wearables that can feel cumbersome during sleep, the Series 10 practically disappears on your wrist, making sleep tracking far more comfortable and less intrusive. This sleek, “gorgeous” aesthetic is a major win for daily wearability.
Display Excellence: Bigger, Brighter, More Usable
Another immediate highlight is the display. While the 46mm Series 10 technically offers only a marginally larger screen area (around 3%) compared to the Ultra 2, the difference feels much more substantial in practice due to the significantly reduced bezels around the edge. This gives the impression of a larger, more expansive display.
Furthermore, the wide-angle OLED panel is a notable upgrade. It makes the screen noticeably easier to read when viewed from oblique angles – perfect for quick glances throughout the day without fully rotating your wrist. Some specific watch faces even leverage the display’s technology (like LTPO, enabling a low 1Hz refresh rate) to show a smoothly ticking second hand, lending a traditional watch feel that other smartwatches often lack. Subjectively, it also appears brighter than previous generations, further improving visibility.
Enhanced Health & Fitness Tracking Capabilities
The Apple Watch Series 10 arrives with WatchOS 11, bringing a suite of powerful health and wellness tools. One particularly noteworthy feature is the enhanced sleep tracking. Utilizing the accelerometer, the watch can estimate breathing disturbances during sleep. While not a medical diagnosis, this feature can potentially flag patterns suggestive of sleep apnea, which users can then discuss with a healthcare provider. This adds a valuable layer to understanding sleep health.
Beyond sleep, WatchOS 11 introduces features like the Vitals app and Training Load tracking, providing deeper insights into your body’s state and readiness. The new Check In safety feature also adds peace of mind by automatically notifying contacts when you’ve reached a destination (though currently limited to iMessage recipients).
For those focused on specific metrics like step counts, testing indicates the Apple Watch Series 10 is highly reliable, often providing a more accurate count than some competing devices like the Oura Ring. While other wearables may offer deeper holistic health insights or continuous temperature tracking facilitated by multi-day battery life, the Series 10 provides comprehensive real-time feedback on its vibrant display, making it excellent for active use and workout tracking.
Performance & Convenience: Faster Charging, Seamless Interactions
A common trade-off for thinner designs can be battery life. The Series 10 typically requires daily charging, unlike the multi-day stamina of the Watch Ultra 2. However, Apple has significantly mitigated this with the integration of faster charging technology. You can now get up to 80% charge in just 30 minutes, or around eight hours of use from a brief 15-minute top-up. This makes it easy to fit charging into a morning routine while getting ready, ensuring plenty of power for the day.
Interacting with the Series 10 is also smooth and reliable, particularly with WatchOS 11’s improved gesture support. These gestures reportedly work flawlessly and feel more intuitive compared to inputs on many other wearables.
Why It’s a Top Pick for Most Users
Despite its impressive capabilities, the Apple Watch Series 10 didn’t replace this reviewer’s Ultra 2 for a few specific, niche reasons: the need for extreme ruggedness (titanium build, screen/button protection) for demanding outdoor activities like hiking and mountain biking, the utility of the customizable Action Button for quick access (like a flashlight), the built-in Siren for safety in remote areas, Precision Start for workout tracking accuracy, and the Night Mode watch face for preserving night vision.
However, these are specialized requirements that do not apply to the vast majority of smartwatch users. For most people, the Apple Watch Series 10 offers a near-perfect blend of sophisticated design, comfortable wearability, a stunning and functional display, comprehensive health tracking features (including notable sleep insights and reliable step counting), fast charging, and the seamless experience of WatchOS. It successfully bridges the gap between traditional watch aesthetics and cutting-edge smart technology without compromising on core functionality.
Coupled with current promotions that see the Apple Watch Series 10 available at significant discounts, bringing prices closer to their all-time lows (with models starting around $329-$399 depending on configuration and retailer), now is an exceptionally compelling time to upgrade or purchase the Series 10. It stands as one of the best smartwatches on the market today and a true favorite for its combination of style, features, and value.
