Apple Watch 10 – all the new hardware and software updates

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Whilst there were significant updates to watchOS 11 announced over the Summer, today’s Watch announcement is disappointing for anyone seeking a physically more capable sports watch.

Watch 10 is bigger and thinner – that’s the main headline. The external appearance changes subtly and some of the minor internal components are improved. Here are all the details with a full list of all software and hardware changes at the end

Upgrade: An upgrade from Watch 6 or maybe even Watch 7 would make sense.

Watch 10

The ‘new’ design is broadly similar to Watch 9. The case and screen are bigger (42mm, 46mm) and 1mm thinner with more rounded corners and edges. The crystal material is unchanged, made of Ion-X glass. The display is the company’s first wide-angle LTPO3 OLED which is up to 40% brighter when read from an angle. The display also is more frequently updated (1Hz).

The S10 internal processor is new as is the crown, speaker and voice-isolating microphone. The speaker is smaller and lower powered but maintains the same audio level, now allowing audio playback from the Watch’s speakers.

The antenna is integrated into the metal back which saves weight and space, also on the back is a larger, faster charging coil which gets an 80% charge in 30 minutes. Battery life claims are unchanged.

The higher-end Watch 10 model sees the stainless steel case replaced by Titanium. This model will probably also be the LTE model with Sapphire glass, as before.

ECO Claim: Any Apple Watch in any finish can be carbon neutral.

Sleep apnea is now supported as a raw metric, however, rather than a new optical HR sensor Apple claims to detect this from the accelerometer, which had previously been used to measure regular breathing patterns in earlier models.

The Depth Guage and App are added from Watch Ultra plus the Oceanic App for snorkelling. Watch 10 claims to show depths to 6m (20ft) but is not dive certified. Also added is a global Tides app.

Finally, there is a water temperature app that should work in the sea, a pool or a lake.

• 42mm 374x446px 989 sq mm display area (41mm was 352x430px 904 sq mm display area)
• 46mm 416x496px 1220 sq mm display area just bigger than Ultra 2 (45mm was 396x484px 1143 sq mm display area)

Sep 20 Availability from $399 (44mm)

Watch ULTRA

There is no Watch ULTRA 3. All we see is a new band, new band finishes and a new black titanium DLC case finish. All the same features and apps for Watch 10 also come to Watch Ultra.

Eco claim: 95% carbon neutral

Watch SE

Appears unchanged

Watch 10 and WatchOS 11 – every new detail

Here are all the with a comparison on Apple’s site here.

• New case sizes, new rounded design
• Biggest usable display. 46mm is bigger than Ultra 216x496px
• 1mm thinner design now 9.7mm
• New Ion-X lens design
• New Wide Angle LTPO3 OLED display,  40% brighter when viewed on an angle
• AOD shows seconds when wrist-down with a 1-second screen refresh
• Added audio playback through a new, smaller speaker
• New digital crown
• New faster charging times from larger charging coil, 80% charge in 30 mins
• New S10 CPU
• Voice call enhancements with background noise removal
• Depth gauge to 6m/20ft for snorkeling (WR50 water resistance)
• Water temperature sensor
• Tides app – global tide info
• Add Oceanic app and snorkelling support
• Add sleep apnea detection
• Adds breathing disturbances
• New Flux watch face
• New Reflections watch face
• New metal backplate to watch
• New base level colours: Rose Gold, Jet Black and Silver Aluminum.
• Stainless steel replaced by three polished titanium versions (20% less weight)
• Series 10 (Titanium) is claimed as carbon-neutral
• Pricing from $399 (42mm), $429 (46mm),
• Cellular $499 (42mm) $599 (46mm)
• Titanium+Sapphire+Cellular $699 (42mm) $749 for (46mm)
• Pre-order now, shipping Sep20th, 2024

Here are the key new features of watchOS 11 from June

•  The Vitals app surfaces key health metrics like heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature and blood oxygen levels, and notifies users when metrics are outside typical ranges.
• Additional support for pregnant users, including gestational age tracking and prompts to adjust notifications based on changes.
• Training load offers insight into workout intensity and impact on the body over 7 and 28 days to help with training goals.
• Activity rings are more customizable, including pausing and setting daily move goals.
• The Fitness app Summary can be customized and Apple Fitness+ is redesigned.
• The Smart Stack is more intelligent with new widgets and suggestions based on context.
• The Photos face recommends compositions and offers dynamic changing photos.
• Check-in is available on Apple Watch, including during workouts.
• The Translate app allows translation directly on Apple Watch.
• The double tap gesture can scroll through any app.
• New workout types and customizable workouts in the Workout app.
• Hikes in Apple Maps and creating routes to navigate with Apple Watch.
• Summarized notifications from iPhone to Apple Watch.
• Enhanced ticket information in Wallet and Live Activities.
• Developers gain new Smart Stack and gesture APIs.

Take Out

Just don’t forget the software boosts from the summer. Otherwise, you will be VERY disappointed.

I can’t believe that the 44mm is the smallest size. that’s fine for me (and I’ll probably get that) but that is medium, not small.

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