The Apple Watch Series 10 has been sitting on my wrist for over a month now, and if it is not the revolution that some expected, it is much more than a simple copy of the Apple Watch 9. not being used to Apple connected watches, I was rather won over. I’ll explain.
Apple Watch Series 9 data sheet
See the Apple Watch 10 on Amazon
Context
This is my first Apple Watch. Personally, I didn’t see much use in a connected watch. Let’s see if this Series 10 changes my mind.
Design and handling of the Apple Watch Series 10
This Series 10 didn’t get great reviews when it arrived. It’s normal, many were waiting for a total overhaul of the connected watch to celebrate its tenth anniversary. Like the iPhone Like last year, the watch is part of the currently very closed list – Apple products certified carbon neutral (taking into account carbon compensation, of course).
Apple is expanding its models this year, going from 41 and 45 mm to 42 and 46 mm. Having a rather thin wrist, I was afraid that the 46 mm version would not be a little too massive. Finally, the overall finesse brings a certain harmony. Basically, it’s okay. In my test version, I have the sport loop, which attaches with simple Velcro. It’s practical, but from time to time I want to take it off for a few minutes, because the bracelet is a little itchy. However, just like the watch itself, we feel the solidity of the object. Contrary to some rumors, no change in terms of bracelets. The Apple Watch 10 has kept the same attachment system since 2014. You can therefore choose one of your old bracelets if you wish, it will work wonderfully.
Apple managed to refine the structure by around 10%. This may seem trivial, but for such a small object, managing to scratch a few millimeters here and there can make a difference. I compared it with an Apple Watch Series 9, and I say I feel slightly more comfortable with the new model. This reason alone is far from enough to go to the checkout, but when you wear an object on your wrist all day, put on and take off clothes and move in all directions, this change cannot be refused. not. By the way, I really like this new jet black color, and should remind you of the special edition of the iPhone 7. On the other hand, like the latter, watch out for possible scratches. I haven’t tried to rub it all over, but the dark paint might be a little more sensitive for other colors.
I like the watch’s speakers which can now play sound like music or podcasts and videos. It’s not famous, but the point is that it helps.
See the Apple Watch 10 on Amazon
The largest screen of all Apple Watches combined
We benefit from a larger screen than last year, also enlarged by 10%. In terms of total surface area, we even exceed the Apple Watch Ultra on this 46 mm version. You can display more content, no need to scroll as much. The keyboard keys are bigger, in short, for a small size like this, a few more pixels are always appreciable.
Solidity, yes, but be careful of potential scratches. The screen is certainly very durable, but if you plan to do extreme activities that may cause you to rub against rough and hard surfaces, go for an Apple Watch Ultra.
Apple claims to have improved the viewing angles on this new model. Concretely, it is now easier to read the information on the screen when the latter is not in front of your eyes. It’s typically the kind of object that you look at from afar when you barely take your wrist out of your pocket. I never had a problem reading the screen. The latter goes up to 2,000 nits at peak, and I am far from setting the brightness all the way. Nothing to say about the screen then.
Ha yes! The screen now refreshes once per second instead of once per minute in Always On mode. This means that you can see the time or timers ticking second by second. The same goes for exercises.
New features
Series 10 includes four new features:
- Water depth detection: a function which can prove useful, but which can only go down to 6 meters. Apple could improve this application in the future, but for the moment it remains a gadget for tuba lovers.
- Water temperature detection: It’s quite simple, but it can be very useful for swimmers, or for those who simply want to adjust the temperature of their pool quickly.
- Sleep apnea detection: Apple continues to expand its catalog of health functions with the arrival of sleep apnea. The watch is responsible, in addition to the usual sleep monitoring, for scanning the respiratory rate. Every month, the results are analyzed, and if a failure is noticed, the user receives a notification.
- An application to follow the waves. With summer behind us and 400 km from the coast, I haven’t tested all of this, but I’m sure that the most seasoned surfers would find it useful.
Sports and health features
The Apple Watch 10, like previous models, has all the sensors necessary to track my sports activities. Not needing ultra-advanced functions as some more specialized watches offer, this one more than does the job. Workout detection is very effective, the information is displayed clearly, and everything is gathered in the iPhone Health app. Nothing new.
Sensors such as heart rate, variation in heart rate, detection of too noisy environments, or calculation of blood oxygen levels are regularly done in the background. Sleep tracking doesn’t consume too much battery (around 15-20% per night) and the summaries on the iPhone are relevant. That’s the key: having an intuitive and understandable smartphone application to go with the watch, and Apple does things well.
Autonomy and charging: we will mainly talk about charging
The autonomy of about a day does not change, but what changes EVERYTHING with this Apple Watch Series 10 is the charging speed. 50% faster than last yearwe can now go from 0 to 80% in 30 minutes. No need to worry: a few minutes on the charger during the shower, a few minutes when the bracelet itches, and boom, you have enough juice to last the day, and even track your sleep. I’ve experienced it, and I guarantee you’ll be impressed when you see the percentages go up. I would like to point out that this does not completely compensate for the basic autonomy of the watch, which can drop quite quickly when you have all the parameters activated, and you are doing a big workout or when you are hiking using a card on the watch.
Conclusion
See the Apple Watch 10 on Amazon
Conclusion
Points forts
- The biggest screen in an Apple Watch
- Charging (really) 50% faster
- The thinner chassis
- Ever more advanced health functions
- The central circular OLED screen
Weak points
- Autonomy that doesn’t move
- No Android compatibility, but hey, we suspected that!
We have understood this well over time: it is normal that the Apple Watch 10 does not raise eyebrows if you already have a relatively recent version. The changes are not drastic, but still more relevant than in previous years. Between the larger screen, finesse, and faster charging, we benefit from concrete improvements that are really felt on a daily basis. Add in the few additional new features like sleep apnea detection and water temperature, and you have a watch that does everything you need it to do, and maybe more. Doubt still persists for serious athletes, who could have difficulty with the autonomy and relative fragility, compared to a real outdoor watch.
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