Apple redesigned the Apple Watch with the Series 10 and that is mainly reflected in the thinner design. The screen is also larger and even has a larger display area than the Apple Watch Ultra.
In terms of functionality, the tenth generation is strikingly similar to the series 9. In fact, some new options also appear on this ‘older model’. As a result, the innovations are mainly in the details. We list the differences between the Apple Watch series 10, series 9 and Ultra 2 for you.
New in the Apple Watch series 10
To give you a good idea of ​​the differences between the Apple Watch Series 10 and Series 9, we have listed the innovations below.
- Redesigned with thinner case
- Metal and sapphire crystal back
- 42 mm with a resolution of 374 x 446 pixels and an image area of ​​989 mm²
- 46 mm with resolution of 416 x 496 pixels and image area of ​​1220 mm²
- Always-on LTPO3 Retina OLED wide-angle display
- Up to 40% brighter when viewed from an angle
- S10 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor with 4-core Neural Engine
- Water temperature sensor
- Depth gauge up to 6 m
- Oceanic+ snorkeling app (available separately in the App Store)
- Speaker that can also play media
- Microphone with voice isolation
- Faster charging: from 0 to 80% in 30 minutes
- Aluminum available in jet black, rose gold and silver
- Stainless steel replaced by polished Titanium in slate, gold and natural
- Starting price of €449 (42mm) and €479 (46mm)
- Learn more about the Apple Watch series 10
Differences Ultra 2 and series 10
Apple has decided not to renew the Apple Watch Ultra, but it is now also available in black. The Apple Watch Ultra is a completely different Apple Watch for a different target group, but loved by many users thanks to the extra possibilities. Below are the differences between the Ultra 2 and Series 10.
- 49mm case with new design
- Flat sapphire crystal front with titanium protective rim
- Larger Digital Crown with deeper grooves and protection
- Adjustable action button
- Conforms to military standard MIL‑STD 810H
- Always-on LTPO2 OLED Retina display
- 49 mm with a resolution of 410 x 502 pixels and an image area of ​​1185 mm²
- Brightness up to 3000 nits vs. 2000 nits
- Guidepost and modular dial with special night mode
- Advanced depth sounder with water temperature sensor
- Water resistant to 100m, suitable for recreational diving to 40m
- Complies with EN13319
- Oceanic+ app for use as a dive computer (available in the App Store)
- Accurate start for Work-out
- 86 decibel siren to attract attention (audible up to 180 meters away)
- Two speakers that can also play media (40% louder than Series 10)
- Three beamforming microphones with wind noise reduction
- Precise dual‑frequency GPS (L1 & L5)
- 36 hours battery life, with power saving mode up to 72 hours
Looking at the specs above, you can see that the Apple Watch Ultra 2’s specs are better than the Series 10 except for the OLED wide-angle display and S10 chip. Below, we’ll discuss some of the details.
New features thanks to software update
During the presentation of the Apple Watch Series 10, Apple announced several new features and capabilities, including sleep apnea notifications and new watch faces. Thanks to a software update, the Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 will also benefit from these new features.
Sleep Apnea Notifications
The Apple Watch Series 10, 9, and Ultra 2 now include sleep apnea detection. The feature works like most other Apple Watch health features: it will alert users to a potential problem and suggest they see a doctor for further testing and diagnosis.
Sleep apnea is a condition in which you experience breathing stops during your sleep, which prevents you from sleeping well. If this is not treated, you run a greater risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and heart problems. From now on, you can receive a warning for symptoms of sleep apnea. And information that you can discuss with your GP.
When worn at night, the smartwatch will track the user’s sleep and breathing patterns to predict whether the person has the condition. The good news is that this health feature will not only be available for the Apple Watch series 10, but also series 9 and Apple Watch ultra 2.
Play music through speakers
The Apple Watch Ultra 2nd generation has two internal speakers, the series 10 only has one speaker. Nevertheless, you can now play music from these speakers, useful if you do not have wireless headphones connected. The series 9 or older can only do this for phone calls.
New watch faces
The Apple Watch Series 10 introduced two new watch faces: Flux and Reflections. Both watch faces are inspired by the new colors for the Apple Watch models. Reflections was designed specifically to take advantage of the new Always-On LTPO3 Retina OLED wide-angle display, which is up to 40 percent brighter when viewed from an angle, making it perfect for testing with the Reflections watch face.
These two new watch faces are also available on the Apple Watch Ultra, Series 9, and other models starting with watchOS 11.
Exclusive to Apple Watch series 10
Of course, the Apple Watch series 10 has some unique elements that you will only find on this smartwatch. We will discuss them briefly below.
Renewed design
Apple Watch Series 10 is nearly 10 percent thinner than Apple Watch Series 9. An innovative metal back design integrates the antenna into the device body itself, combining the two layers into one. The back is perfectly matched in material, finish and color to the rest of the case.
The aluminum enclosures weigh up to 10 percent less than Series 9, and instead of stainless steel, Apple now uses polished titanium. This enclosure weighs nearly 20 percent less.
OLED wide-angle display
The chassis features more rounded corners and a wider aspect ratio, contributing to a much larger screen while the chassis grows only slightly to new 42mm and 46mm sizes. Series 10 has the largest, most advanced display of any Apple Watch, with 9% more screen area than Series 9. The 46mm model even has a slightly larger screen area than the Ultra 2 at 1220mm² vs. 1143mm².
The Series 10 features a wide-angle OLED display, which optimizes each pixel to emit more light at wider angles. As a result, the screen is up to 40 percent brighter than Series 9 when viewed from an angle, making it easier to read at a glance.
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.
S10 chip
The new S10 SiP is designed to achieve a thinner profile and engineered for performance, power efficiency, and intelligence. The S10 SiP and its on-board quad-core Neural Engine enable the intelligent features users rely on every day, including the double-tap gesture, on-device Siri, dictation, and automatic workout detection; important safety features like crash detection and fall detection; and the updated Smart Stack, redesigned Photos face, and translation app in watchOS 11. The S10 is the same chip as the S9 in Series 9 and Ultra 2, only with additional drivers to drive the new OLED wide-angle display.
Apple Watch Series 10 Differences: Conclusion
Looking at the changes for the Apple Watch Series 10, it’s clear that it’s a nice update. The new, thinner design is sure to please, and the OLED wide-angle display is 40% brighter when viewed from an angle and is also more power efficient.
Furthermore, the new options are not that exciting and older generation Apple Watches also benefit from new features such as sleep apnea detection, playing music through the speaker and new watch faces. In terms of performance, the S9 and S10 chips are equal.
If you still have an Apple Watch series 7 or older, the upgrade to the series 10 is recommended. If you still have an S8 or S9, it is not worth it.
Although the Apple Watch Ultra is intended for a specific group: adventure sportsmen, the smart watch is also popular with the ‘regular consumer’. Especially because of the larger screen, sturdy design, action button and strong casing. In addition, the screen is more resistant to scratches and extra protected by the raised edge. With a recommended retail price of € 899, the ultra has become an interesting choice, especially when you compare it to the 46 mm Series 10 of titanium. This has a starting price of € 849.
The Apple Watch is available at Bol.com, Coolblue, MediaMarkt, Amazon, YourMacStore, Paradigit, Yorcom, Odidio and KPN.
