The Apple Watch Leaks Were Fake, but Is the Series 10 Still Worth It?
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Earlier this month, Apple held its long-awaited September event. This event, which has become a tradition, revealed the brand new iPhone 16 lineup, as well as a handful of the other usual new products.
As usual, Apple announced a new Apple Watch alongside the iPhone 16. However, this year’s Apple Watch was supposed to be a massive upgrade — at least according to the rumors.
Even before last year’s Apple Watch Series 9 launched, we began hearing rumors about what the Apple Watch Series 10 would supposedly bring to the table, from a new design to many more health features and even the possibility of a brand-new name.
Unfortunately, as we now know, many of these rumors and leaks were fake, and because of all the hype behind the Apple Watch Series 10, the actual product might feel a bit underwhelming. But is Apple’s new smartwatch worth it? Keep reading to find out.
Why Was the Apple Watch Series 10 Supposed to Be Special?
If you’ve read the rumors about the Apple Watch this year, you probably already know this year was a milestone for Apple’s wearable. However, in case you didn’t know, this year marked the tenth anniversary of the Apple Watch, right down to the exact September 9th date of Apple’s September Glowtime event, which was held on a Monday for the first time. Needless to say, many believed this year’s Apple Watch would be a big deal.
Looking back at when the iPhone X was announced in 2017 — ten years after Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPhone in January 2007 — Apple made a big deal about it. We saw a completely redesigned iPhone with the introduction of the notch and Face ID.
With such a big change to the tenth-anniversary iPhone, we were all expecting Apple to give the same treatment to the Apple Watch, which unfortunately didn’t happen.
What the Rumors Got Wrong About the Apple Watch
Throughout the year, there were many rumors about the Apple Watch. Some of these rumors were discredited way before the announcement of the Apple Watch Series 10, while others remained a possibility but didn’t actually happen. Here are just a few.
A New Name
This is one of those rumors that you could see actually happening, but in the end, it didn’t.
Many analysts suggested Apple might change the name of the Apple Watch this year. Instead of calling it the Apple Watch Series 10, it would call it the Apple Watch X, just like the iPhone X a few years back.
Of course, as we now know, that didn’t happen. Apple stuck with the Apple Watch Series 10 name, which basically means it’s probably never going to change.
New Health Features
To be fair, this rumor was partially right. There were many speculations that the new Apple Watch Series 10 could potentially bring up to three new health features.
Two of the health features didn’t happen. It was speculated that we might see a new blood glucose detection feature and a blood pressure monitor, which, of course, didn’t happen. While the oft-rumored blood glucose monitor still seems to be a long shot, as Apple’s been working on it for well over a decade, and sources say it’s nowhere near ready for prime time, many reliable reports bet hard on blood pressure detection until the very last moment.
Still, what did happen was the new sleep apnea detector, which helps determine where you have sleep apnea and how severe it is. This condition affects almost 100 million adults worldwide, so it’s an important addition. Apple also surprised us by announcing that last year’s Apple Watch models are also getting it as part of watchOS 11.
New Watch Bands
There was a small rumor that Apple might upgrade the watch bands this year, too. Fortunately for people who already have a ton of bands, this didn’t happen.
Rumor had it that Apple might try using magnetic watch bands this year. This would make the switching bands way easier and give the Apple Watch some extra room inside, so Apple could potentially add a bigger battery or another feature.
Again, this feature didn’t actually happen, albeit it was just a minor rumor that not many people thought was likely.
What’s Actually New About the Apple Watch Series 10?
Even though many rumors weren’t true, the Apple Watch Series 10 did bring some new features to the table, although they might not be enough for people with fairly recent Apple Watch models.
The Largest Apple Watch Yet
The new Apple Watch Series 10 is bigger than ever, to the point that it almost looks like the Apple Watch Ultra 2. The new Apple Watch now comes in 42mm and 46mm versions. For comparison, the Apple Watch Series 9 has 41mm and 45mm sizes.
Despite the size difference, the new Apple Watch Series 10 is still thinner and lighter than last year’s model. The case on the Series 10 is 9.7mm whereas the Series 9’s case is 10.7mm.
The Apple Watch Series 10 aluminum models are also lighter than last year’s models, but Apple took it one step further and introduced a new titanium finish to replace the stainless steel model on the Apple Watch Series 9. This titanium model is said to be 20% lighter than stainless steel.
A Better Display
With a larger body, the display on the Apple Watch Series 10 also got bigger, but that’s not everything Apple did this year. For starters, the screen is 9% larger compared to last year’s model. Granted, you might not notice a big change if you have a Series 7 or later (the last model to get a display boost), but people with older Apple Watch models will love the larger display.
Most notably, Apple added a new wide-angle technology that allows you to see the OLED screen from different angles. That basically means that it’s now easier for you to check the time without having to raise your wrist.
The display is also better at handling power, which now allows it to refresh itself every second instead of every minute. This means that you can still see the time ticking in your Apple Watch even if it’s using the Always On Display.
Sleep Apnea Detection
As we mentioned before, the new Apple Watch did come with a new health feature, albeit it’s not exclusive to the Series 10.
Instead of using an oxygen sensor, the Apple Watch tracks and measures the movements on your wrist to detect any breathing interruptions. With that data, it will alert you if it detects sleep apnea, and it will tell you how severe your condition could be.
Fortunately for people with the Apple Watch Series 9, this feature will also be available with watchOS 11, so it won’t be a reason to upgrade your current Watch by itself.
Battery and Charging Speed
When it comes to battery life, the Apple Watch Series 10 didn’t see any improvements compared to the Apple Watch Series 9. Even though the Series 10 comes with a better, more efficient S10 SiP, it still offers the same 18 hours of battery life as the Apple Watch Series 9.
The biggest change, however, is in charging times. The new Apple Watch Series 10’s back has a larger charging coil, which lets it charge from 0% to 80% in just 30 minutes, whereas the Series 9 will need up to 45 minutes to reach the same level.
So, Is the New Apple Watch Series 10 Worth It?
Compared to the tenth-anniversary iPhone, the Apple Watch Series 10 feels underwhelming. It doesn’t have nearly as many new features that should make you upgrade if you have a fairly new Apple Watch.
If you have an Apple Watch Series 7 or a newer model, you might be better off waiting another year. Apart from the larger screen and faster charging, there aren’t any other significant changes to justify upgrading to a new Apple Watch.
On the other hand, if you have an Apple Watch Series 6 or an older model, this might be the perfect year to upgrade your Apple Watch. You’ll notice a huge difference in charging speeds and battery life, and the larger screen will make everything on your screen look better and sharper.
Take All Rumors With a Grain of Salt
As you can see, even if a rumor comes from a reliable source, you should always take it with a grain of salt. Even if it’s based on real insight into what’s going on inside the walls of Apple Park, Apple still has the last word, and we can’t know for sure what’s coming in a new product until it officially launches.
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]
