Introducing: Apple Announces The Apple Watch Series 10 – Thinner, Larger Screen, New Tech, And New Finishes (Live Pics)

We’re coming to you live today from sunny Cupertino, California, at Apple Park. We just attended Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event, where the brand unveiled the latest generation iPhone and Apple Watch. While we saw a plethora of updates across the iPhone and AirPods, we are, of course, here to talk about the Apple Watch. So, let’s dig into the recently announced 10th-generation Apple Watch. 

The Apple Watch Series 10 marks the tenth anniversary of the announcement of the first, released this exact day back in 2014. Back then, Hodinkee was the only luxury watch outlet on-site, and Ben Clymer noted that this groundbreaking new device blew everything out of the water at the original $350 price point – digital or analog.

Throughout the 10 years, Apple has cemented the Apple Watch as the most successful smartwatch on the market. While many other brands produce and sell smartwatches in meaningful numbers, the silhouette of the Apple Watch has come above all – impossible to miss anywhere you go. While the initial polarizing reactions to the first Apple Watch ranged from proclaiming the death of the Swiss watch industry to refusing to believe that anyone wanted a wearable computer on their wrist, 10 years down the road, Apple has proven that their watch is here to stay.

Series 10 – What’s New?

Today, Apple launches a brand new, redesigned Apple Watch Series 10 and a new aesthetic update to the Apple Watch Ultra 2.

The Apple Watch Series 10 features a significant redesign to the case, with the largest display ever in an Apple Watch (even larger than the one in the Ultra 2), and a major reduction in thickness. Available in two sizes, 42mm and 46mm, the new Series 10 case comes in at 9.7mm thick, a 10% reduction from the Series 9, while still having the largest screen and fastest charging of any Apple Watch (0 to 80% in ~30 mins). With a 30% increase in screen area and a wider aspect ratio, the entire profile of the Apple Watch has changed. Apple says that the corners are even more rounded, giving the case an overall softer appearance. Elements like the Digital Crown and speaker have all been re-engineered to fit the slimmer profile. 

Under the crystal, the new screen features Apple’s first “wide angle” OLED display, which results in a 40% increase in brightness when viewing the watch from an angle. While the Apple Watch has always had a display with great viewing angles, I’m sure this will continue to make the display on the Apple Watch feel even more usable in active and outdoor settings. The new S10 SiP (System in Package) allows for more computational power and has also been engineered to fit in a slimmer case while supporting innovations like double tap, on-device Siri and Health App, and precision finding for iPhone. These features come in addition to a litany of new technology such as sleep apnea notifications and improved sleep tracking. 

In addition, the Always-On mode on Apple Watch received a significant upgrade with the display’s new efficiency. Rather than only refreshing once per minute, the Always-On mode on Series 10 is able to refresh once every second. We’ve come full circle to being able to make your Apple Watch look like a quartz watch, with a ticking seconds hand.

On the back, a new metal caseback with integrated antennae contributes to the thinner profile, not unlike the side antenna bands on an iPhone. On the base aluminum model, Apple features a fully-polished Space Black model for the first time, and it also offers the aluminum Series 10 in Rose Gold aluminum and classic silver.

Lightness is a priority in the Series 10. The aluminum models are 10% lighter than the previous generation. Most importantly, for the Series 10, Apple ditches stainless steel in the brand’s premium lineup for grade 5 titanium. Fully polished and then PVD-coated in natural, gold, and slate grey colorways, this new premium lineup is made of 95% recycled titanium and now allows Apple to achieve carbon neutrality across the entire Apple Watch lineup.

To complement these, Apple has updated their two metal straps – the Milanese Loop and Link Bracelet, both now in grade-5 titanium. We haven’t seen an update to either of these for many generations now, but I think both are industry leading (better engineered and more comfortable than most coming from the watch industry, to be honest) and I’m glad to see these get new life.

On the Apple Watch Ultra 2, Apple this year doesn’t introduce a new generation (still 49mm), but rather a matte black DLC-coated colorway, as well as the introduction of a brand new titanium Milanese bracelet with a parachute-style buckle designed for scuba diving. In addition, this year marks the first Apple Watch and Hermès collaboration for the Ultra, with a brand new strap for the model and a new watch face designed by the famed French luxury house.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 in matte black.

The Apple Watch Series 10 will start at $399 with pre-orders opening today and shipping starting on September 20th. Likewise, the refreshed Apple Watch Ultra 2 will start at $799 with the same pre-order and delivery plan as Apple Watch Series 10. 

Today, we’ll only have had a few brief moments to take a look at the newest generation of Apple Watch in the metal. Stay tuned for a more in-depth hands-on and more thoughts about 10 years of the Apple Watch soon.

The Basics

Brand: Apple
Model: Apple Watch – Series 10

Diameter: 42 or 46mm (height)
Width: 36 or 39mm (respectively)
Thickness: 9.7mm
Case Material: Aluminum or titanium
Weight: 42mm – 30 grams (aluminum), 34.4g (titanium) | 46mm – 35.3g (aluminum, GPS+cell), 36.4g (aluminum, GPS), 41.7g (titanium)
Battery Life: 18 hours (36 hours in low power mode)
Water Resistance: 50 meters (with a depth and water temp sensor)
Strap/Bracelet: Multiple, metal (matched), and a variety of other materials, including designs from Nike and Hermes

Click here for full specs.

Pricing & Availability

Price: Starting at $399 for Series 10 Aluminum, $699 for Series 10 Titanium (w/GPS and cell), $799 for Ultra 2 ($800 on the new titanium Milanese loop bracelet).
Availability: Pre-order starting today, shipping Sept 20th

For more, click here.

​Hodinkee 

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