Not only does the Apple Watch Series 10 have a new, thinner design, it now features a larger always-on LTPO3 Retina OLED wide-angle display that’s up to 40 percent brighter when viewed from an angle.
The smallest Apple Watch has gone from 41mm to 42mm and the largest from 45mm to 46mm. That sounds smaller than the 49mm of the Apple Watch Ultra, but appearances can be deceiving. The screen surface is larger. We explain the display changes in the Apple Watch for you.
Bigger screen in a smaller box
The casing has more rounded corners and a wider aspect ratio, which contributes to a much larger screen. For example, you now have the choice of a 42mm or 46mm model. This sounds smaller than the Apple Watch Ultra which has a size of 49mm, yet the screen of the 46mm Apple Watch is slightly larger.
This is because the dimensions refer to the height of the cabinet and not that of the screen. Therefore, it is better to compare the resolution and the image area. Below are the new dimensions.
- SE 40 mm with a resolution of 40 mm 324 x 394 pixels and an image area of ​​759 mm²
- SE 44 mm with a resolution of 368 x 448 pixels and an image area of ​​977 mm²
- S9 41mm with a resolution of 352 x 430 pixels and a display area of ​​904mm²
- S9 45mm with a resolution of 396 x 484 pixels and a display area of ​​1143 mm²
- S10 42mm with resolution of 374 x 446 pixels and image area of ​​989mm²
- S10 46mm with resolution of 416 x 496 pixels and image area of ​​1220mm²
- Ultra 49 mm with a resolution of 410 x 502 pixels and an image area of ​​1185 mm²
OLED wide-angle display
The Series 10 has a wide-angle OLED display, which optimizes each pixel to emit more light at wider angles. As a result, the display is up to 40 percent brighter than Series 9 when viewed from an angle, making it easier to read at a glance. If you’re an Apple Watch wearer, you can test this out with the new Reflections watch face, which you can see in the image below.
The watch face is a nod to the materials used to create the Apple Watch, featuring metallic sunburst rays that reflect light as you move your wrist. Viewing them from an angle reveals the benefits of the wide-angle display. Good to know, this watch face is available on all Apple Watch models running watchOS 11 or later.
More energy efficient with faster refresh rate
The wide-angle OLED display is also more power efficient, allowing for a faster refresh rate when the Apple Watch is in always-on mode, increasing from once per minute to once per second. As a result, users can now see a ticking second hand without raising their wrist on select watch faces.
Just like the series 9 and ultra 2, the Apple Watch Series 10 has a minimum brightness of 1 nit. This reduces the brightness to a minimum when you use the smartwatch in a dark environment. Ideal for the always-on display.
Protection remained the same
To protect this beautiful display, Apple uses two materials: Ion-X glass for aluminum cases and sapphire crystal for titanium cases. While Apple claims Ion-X glass is super strong, it’s susceptible to scratches.
Sapphire crystal is an extremely hard and scratch-resistant transparent material made from synthetic sapphire, it is almost as strong as diamond. Ion-X glass is a hardened glass that has been additionally strengthened through an ion-exchange process, making it more resistant to scratches and impacts.
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