Apple Watch Series 10 Smartwatch Review: Best Fitness Tracker Yet?

When we first put on the new Apple Watch Series 10, the bigger display was the first thing we noticed. The larger, brighter screen is easy to see even outside.

It feels a lot lighter on the wrist compared to some of the older models we’ve used. It’s comfortable enough to wear all day, whether we’re working out or just running errands.

We found the fitness tracking accurate, and the health features like the ECG app and sleep tracking worked well. The battery charged quickly, but daily charging was still needed with regular use.

It’s easy to use if you already have an iPhone. Switching from other fitness trackers to the Apple Watch was pretty smooth for us.

One thing that stood out was the comfort—the band didn’t bother us, even after hours of wearing. Some drawbacks: We did notice certain features from past Apple Watches, like the blood oxygen sensor, are missing here.

Still, the watch is sturdy, water resistant, and has useful safety tools like Fall Detection, which gave us peace of mind. The design looks sharp and fits any style, though it might not feel like a huge leap if you’re upgrading from a recent model.

Overview: Apple Watch Series 10 [GPS 46mm Case]

When we tried out the newest Series 10, the first thing we noticed was how light and comfortable it feels on our wrist. The screen is bigger and brighter than older versions, which makes it easier to read messages, track our workouts, and quickly glance at notifications.

The case feels strong but not bulky. We appreciate the improved health features, especially the ECG app and sleep tracking.

Charging speed is faster than before. It’s also easy to switch between bands, which helps when we want to match different outfits.

On the downside, some older sensors, like blood oxygen, are missing. Battery life is about a full day, which may be shorter if you use a lot of features.

Display and Design

Right away, we noticed how big and bright the display feels on this watch. The always-on screen makes it easy for us to see the time and notifications—no need to raise our wrist each time.

Even in sunlight, we found the display stayed readable without squinting. The design is very thin and lightweight, which made it comfortable during long days and workouts.

The rounded shape fits well on most wrists, and the aluminum finish gives it a modern, simple look. One downside is that while the glass feels strong, it can still pick up fingerprints.

The clear screen and comfortable fit stand out the most for us. Those who prefer a heavier or more classic watch style might want something different.

Health and Wellness Features

After spending time with the Series 10, we found the health tools helpful. The ECG app makes it easy to check our heart anytime, and the watch lets us know if our heart rate is too high or low.

Notifications about irregular rhythms are clear and not too frequent, which we appreciate. Tracking sleep is simple, and the watch can even flag possible sleep apnea.

However, we did notice that it doesn’t measure blood oxygen levels, so we miss that extra bit of information some older models had. For anyone tracking fitness or health trends, there’s the Vitals app showing overnight health stats.

Cycle tracking features and reminders to take medication are also right on the wrist. We found these tools to be easy to access and reliable in daily use.

Fitness and Activity Tracking

When we put the Series 10 to work, tracking our steps, calories burned, and active minutes felt smooth and simple. The Activity Rings are easy to follow and give us a quick update on how close we are to our goals.

Workouts like running, walking, and cycling are tracked automatically, and the watch even recognizes most gym activities. We liked how it offers reminders to stand and move if we sit too long.

Some of us noticed that the heart rate sensor lags a bit when tracking changes during intense workouts. The lack of a built-in blood oxygen sensor was a letdown for users who upgraded from older models with that feature.

Summary Table

Pros	Cons
Easy to use	No built-in blood oxygen sensor
Tracks many activities	Heart rate lags at times
Motivating reminders

Connectivity and Compatibility

When we wore the Series 10, connecting it to our iPhone was quick. It synced with our phone over Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi without any problems.

We didn’t run into pairing issues, but it’s worth noting that you’ll need at least an iPhone Xs or newer running iOS 18. The built-in GPS worked well for tracking outdoor activities.

We liked that the watch supports Apple Pay and can link up with GymKit at supported gyms. However, if your phone is older than the Xs or uses outdated iOS, this watch won’t work for you.

Switching between networks, like Wi-Fi and LTE, was smooth in our tests. That makes it easy to stay connected even when we left our phones behind.

Compatibility is strong as long as you have recent Apple devices. Non-Apple users are left out.

Safety and Emergency Tools

When we tried the Series 10, the built-in safety features quickly stood out. Fall Detection and Crash Detection both worked quietly in the background, ready to alert emergency services if something went wrong.

We liked how easy it was to use Emergency SOS—just a quick press, and help could be on the way. Check In was also useful for keeping loved ones updated when we arrived somewhere.

While these tools made us feel more secure, the watch relies on having our iPhone or Wi-Fi close by for most features.

Pros:

• Automatic alerts for serious falls or crashes
• Quick access to contact help
• Keeps family informed with Check In

Cons:

• Needs a paired iPhone or Wi-Fi for emergency functions

Customization Options

One thing we noticed right away is how easy it is to change the look and feel of the Series 10. Swapping out the band takes just a few seconds, and there are many different bands in various materials and colors to choose from.

This makes it simple to switch between a sporty, casual, or dressy style without much effort. We also liked how much we could personalize the watch face.

There are lots of designs and setups—so it’s not hard to find something that fits our mood or daily needs. However, if we wanted more control over certain display features, we found a few limitations.

The options feel practical for most people, but those who want extreme customization might want more choices.

Battery Life and Charging

After a full day of tracking our activities, we noticed the battery on the Series 10 still had enough charge left for sleep tracking at night. For regular use, it typically lasted through a busy 18-hour day without much worry.

When we needed a quick boost, the fast charging feature came in handy—getting around 80% charge in about half an hour made us less anxious about running out of power. On heavy workout days or when using features like the Always-On display, the battery did drain faster.

Switching to Low Power Mode almost doubled the time between charges. While it isn’t the longest battery life we’ve seen, charging is quick and often fits easily into our routines.

Durability and Water Resistance

After wearing the Series 10 during everyday tasks and workouts, we noticed it handles bumps and scrapes from daily use well. The Ion-X front glass feels sturdy, and the aluminum case doesn’t scratch too easily.

While it holds up in the gym and at home, it’s important to remember the finish can still show marks over time if you aren’t careful. We took the watch swimming to check water resistance, and it worked as expected afterward.

It’s built to handle being submerged, so showers and pools aren’t an issue. However, like most smartwatches, we would still avoid exposing it to harsh chemicals or high-velocity water, just to play it safe.

The Series 10 should meet most people’s needs for day-to-day durability and waterproofing.

Pros and Cons

Pros

We noticed that the display on the Series 10 is definitely bigger and easier to read, which makes checking messages or tracking workouts feel more comfortable. The watch feels noticeably lighter and thinner on our wrist, so it’s not bulky during workouts or daily use.

For anyone who keeps up with health stats, the ECG and fitness tracking apps are easy to use and give us quick feedback. The safety alerts, like fall and crash detection, stood out as handy for peace of mind during runs or even busy days.

We also found syncing with other Apple devices was quick and smooth, which is helpful if we already use iPhones or Macs. Charging is fast and the battery gets to a high percentage in less than an hour, which saves time when we’re in a rush.

Durability is another plus—we didn’t worry much about scratching or dust, and we appreciate the water resistance during swimming.

Cons

One thing we noticed is that this model doesn’t support blood oxygen tracking anymore, so we lost a feature some of us care about. For anyone not already using other Apple devices, setup and getting the most out of the watch may feel limited.

The price might be high for people mainly wanting basic fitness tracking. If we just want steps and heart rate, there are simpler and cheaper options.

While the larger screen is helpful, it can feel bulky for those with smaller wrists. Customizing the watch requires buying extra bands or faces, which can add up quickly.

We also noticed battery life is still about a day with heavy use, so charging every day is still needed.

Customer Reviews

After trying out the Series 10, we noticed many buyers praised its lighter feel and noticeably bigger, brighter screen. Most of us with older models said the upgrade felt worth it, especially when using features like the fitness tracker and ECG.

A lot of feedback highlights how smoothly the watch connects with the rest of the Apple ecosystem. We did see some people miss features like the blood oxygen sensor, which isn’t available.

Switching from other brands, like Fitbit, was easy for most users, and many found the range of features helpful.

Pros noted:

• Comfortable and lightweight
• Excellent display quality
• Seamless Apple integration

Cons mentioned:

• Not all health metrics are supported
• Learning curve for some features

Overall, reviews are mostly positive, with just a few common drawbacks.

Environmental Commitment

When we tried out the Series 10, we saw that Apple is pushing its eco efforts forward. The watch is carbon neutral when used with certain bands, which is a step in the right direction for lessening our personal impact.

We like seeing clear information about Apple’s environmental goals—it makes us feel more confident about our choices. One good point is that Apple is open about how they’re working on sustainability.

But not every band with the watch is carbon neutral, so it’s important to double-check before buying. There is still room for Apple to make more of its products and accessories eco-friendly.

Conclusion

After spending some time with the latest Series 10, we noticed a few important things.

The watch feels lighter on our wrists, and the screen is easy to see even outdoors.

Tracking workouts is smooth, but losing the blood oxygen feature is a downside for some of us who have used it before.

We appreciate the always-on screen and how it fits in with other Apple products.

It makes daily tasks and fitness tracking simple and reliable.