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I’ve been wearing the Apple Watch Series 10 for about three weeks now. When I first placed it on my wrist, I was disappointed with the way it looked; the square display and lightweight appearance were the complete opposite of virtually every other smartwatch I’d tried in 2024.
This was an admittedly odd reaction from a guy who has had an Apple Watch strapped to his wrist since Apple’s wearable first hit the market in 2015.
It was also a little unfair. The Series 10 may not be the huge overhaul that some predicted (read what we wanted from iPhone X), but that’s because Apple knows that its smartwatch just works for a lot of people – and that is what has always made Apple great.
The more time I’ve spent with the Apple Watch Series 10, the more stuff I’ve found that I really like about it. And because this is a blog post, I’ve picked out five things for you to chew over.
Oh, and just like my recent post on my favourite things about the iPhone 16 Pro Max, I’m going to avoid directly mentioning the Apple ecosystem.
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1. The way it sits on my wrist
I’ve got my podcast co-host, Rob, to thank for spotting this. With the Apple Watch Series 10, Apple decided to adjust the placement of the lugs into which the straps are connected. They’re now closer to your skin. This has resulted in the watch sitting closer to the top of my wrist, thus providing a more uniform fit.
Previous Apple Watches have always sat rather clumsily on my wrist, with the top half of the watch jutting out slightly, due to the lug placement and the bulge of the sensor housing. It was never unsightly, but it was unlike any other watch I’d worn previously.
The new fit is, of course, aided by what is the thinnest-ever Apple Watch. It’s still an acquired taste for yours truly (I do prefer big, chunky watches) but I appreciate that Apple needs to satisfy the masses, and I think they’ve done a wonderful job with the Series 10 on that front.
2. The display size (it’s growing on me)
The Apple Watch Series 10 has up to 75% more screen area than the Series 3. Let that sink in for a moment. Even the Series 4, 5, 6, and SE have up to 30% less display on view compared to the latest model.
That’s a huge leap if you’re upgrading from any of the previous generations. It’s growing on me, too. The Apple Watch Series 10 can fit a tonne of info on the screen, it can be viewed from any angle and it’s super bright thanks to those 2,000 nits.
If you’re upgrading from an earlier version, it’ll be the first thing you notice, and the next thing that’ll keep you hooked to Apple’s wearable.
That’s how they get you, eh?
3. It has tempted me away from the Apple Watch Ultra (for now)
I never upgraded to the Apple Watch Ultra 2, and the new black titanium version will not tempt me to spend even more money this Apple season.
It won’t.
It really, definitely absolutely, won’t.
No matter how bloody lovely it looks.
(But since we are a tech review website, we have made an Apple Watch 10 vs Apple Watch Ultra 2 comparison guide.)
Jokes (kinda) aside, that’s the problem with the Apple Watch Ultra – it has serious wantability factor – perhaps more than any other Apple Watch. None of us need what it’s capable of, and those who do will probably opt for a Garmin.
Regardless, just look at it.
However, somehow, the Apple Watch Series 10 has kept me away from my first-generation Ultra. It might be the honeymoon period, and three weeks isn’t exactly a long time, but I have no desire to unearth that little chunk from its drawer. I need to dig into why that’s the case, but it does speak highly of the Series 10.
4. Widgets!
If I look down at my Apple Watch now, I can see the audio that’s currently playing via Brain.fm, and if I twist the digital crown skywards, I have immediate access to my most common workouts, followed by a photo of myself and a couple of mates from a few years ago, then an update on my activity rings, and finally a brief overview of the current weather.
This is the Smart Stack view, which was introduced last year with watchOS 10. The premise is simple: a bunch of widgets display dynamically based on what you’re doing, what your iPhone is doing, and where you are. It’ll even show any live activities that are running on your iPhone.
I poked fun at this new widget view a while back, but that was when I wasn’t wearing an Apple Watch and was, therefore, shortsighted and stupid. It’s genuinely useful, looks great, and makes living with the Apple Watch a cinch.
Again, that’s how they get you, eh?
5. The Jet Black aluminium finish
Sure, it might not be the black titanium of the Apple Watch Ultra 2, but the new Jet Black aluminium finish on the Apple Watch Series 10 is the poster child of the advertising campaign for a reason – it’s bloody lovely.
It’s far too early to assess durability, but my Jet Black Apple Watch has received its fair share of doorway knocks already, and it still looks brand new.
I think the silver finish for the aluminium Apple Watch is starting to look a bit dated, personally, and if you’re unwilling to double your budget and opt for the titanium version (understandable), I highly recommend opting for the latest shade on the block. Understated, posh, and purposeful – I’m a big fan of Jet Black.
Final thought (for now)
I should highlight that I’m a two-watch guy these days. For instance, last weekend, we attended a 40th birthday bash, and I’ve never really found the aluminium Apple Watch to look particularly great when you put your glad rags on. It always looks like you’ve just left the gym – or would rather be there than at whatever gathering to which your better half has dragged you.
For Saturday’s shenanigans, I chose the Huawei Watch Ultimate, which looked the part with its silver link bracelet, and reminded me of why I enjoyed my non-Apple Watch excursions this year.
There are downsides to this multi-watch strategy. I can’t maintain any kind of win streak with my activity rings, and keeping at least two smartwatches fully charged and ready to go at any time is a bit of a pain. I’m willing to battle through those first-world challenges, though, because I’m finally back in with the Apple Watch, and I’m very much enjoying it.
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