If you were expecting three new Apple Watches today, you may be disappointed. However, Apple has shown off the largest Apple Watch display ever on the Series 10 wearable. The device is also thinner, offering an update to the big-but-thin approach the company likes to deliver with new devices. It’s also lighter, so all three design changes will make the wearable more comfortable to wear. And of course, the new display will be a key selling point for this updated model.
For me, the display is the best update. The panel is said to be 40 percent brighter when viewed from any angle, which will make it much easier to see watch information at a glance. I tried out the Series 10 in both 46mm and 42mm sizes at the demo area at Apple Park.
The larger of the two isn’t as cumbersome for me as I use the 45mm Series 7 on a daily basis. Still, the OLED display is much better than what I’m used to, and it will also offer better performance than the recently launched Apple Watches. I also noticed the Screen Update feature, which lets you see the time and other information even when the display is in ambient mode.
In addition to the new display, it and the Apple Watch case have more rounded angles. Combine that with new finishes (hello, jet black!) and you get the biggest update to Apple’s wearable since the Series 4 in terms of design. There are also several new features we weren’t able to test in the demo area, like the depth gauge and water temperature sensor, but we did get a chance to take a brief look at the sleep apnea tool coming to Apple Health.
Here, the Apple Watch will monitor your breathing disturbances in sleep. Like other sleep metrics, you’ll see data for the current month, the past six months, and the past year, so you can be aware of any changes over time.
Of course, the app will alert you if you might need to visit a doctor, and when you do meet with the doctor, it will present all the logged data for you to share. Millions of people suffer from sleep apnea, so being able to detect symptoms of this condition without wasting time doing sleep testing will certainly be a welcome addition to Apple’s suite of health-tracking tools with the Watch Series 10.
The main aesthetic update to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a new black color option. And while there’s not much to say there, I will note that it looks pretty good. Plus, it provides some contrast for those who didn’t care for the lighter silver option that was available until now.