Apple’s Glowtime event came and went, and although both the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro were pretty much everything we expected based on rumors, I believe the Apple Watch Series 10 was the real star of the show.
One of the most notable changes that Series 10 introduced was not only the thinner design but also the move from stainless steel to titanium for the more premium models. When Apple performed the same change with the iPhone 15 Pro models last year, it allowed those phones to be lighter while still being rigid (if not more) as titanium has been well known for its superb strength-to-weight ratio. So seeing this metal switch coming to the Series 10 is more than a welcome change as the titanium cases are up to 20% lighter than the steel cases in the previous generations.
If you remember, this wasn’t the first time that Apple used titanium in the mainstream Series as the company has had a longer history of using titanium. When Apple introduced the Series 5, it revived the Edition collection, which not only consisted of ceramic cases but also introduced titanium cases. The ceramic models would fade into history with the Series 6, but the titanium models would live on up to the Series 7 in 2021. The following year, Apple killed off the Edition collection altogether. Instead, Apple would use titanium for its rugged smartwatch called the Apple Watch Ultra, which was made for extreme athletes and adventurers out in the wild. It has been Apple’s most advanced smartwatch ever, offering more premium features that you won’t see with the Series.
Image: Apple
However, with last week’s event, things started to get interesting. The Apple Watch Ultra didn’t receive a hardware update, only a new color in black; however, only the main Series got updated with these improvements/additions:
- Larger wide-angle OLED (LTPO3) always-on Retina displays
- Up to 40% brighter when viewed at an angle
- Sleep apnea notifications (also coming to Ultra 2)
- Depth gauge to 6m
- Depth app
- Oceanic+ app (available via App Store)
- Media playback through built-in speakers (also coming to Ultra 2)
- Water temperature sensor
- Faster charging (0-80% in 30 minutes)
- Next-generation SiP (system-in-package)
Things get even more interesting when you look at the pricing of the titanium Series 10 models, which start at $699. That’s for the smaller 42mm case, but what if you opt for a larger display? That’ll be $749 ($50 increase). Perhaps you’ll want to configure a different band that you can purchase separately for $99 (e.g. a Milanese Loop). That’ll be another $50 increase, bringing the total price to $799. That is also the starting price for the Ultra 2 when bundled with either an Alpine Loop, Trail Loop, or Ocean Band (each of those can be purchased separately for also $99). That was even the same starting price as the older Titanium Edition models that Apple used to sell for the Series 5-7. So as you go up the price ladder, you’re getting into the Ultra’s pricing territory.
Additionally, all of the new features mentioned above bring Series 10 closer to the Ultra 2 than ever before, and the new display technology, faster charging, and next-generation SiP in Series 10 make Ultra 2 a bit more inferior on paper, not to mention that the display on the 46mm Series 10 is barely larger than the one in the Ultra 2. However, you still get these key advantages with the Ultra 2:
- multi-day battery life (thanks to the larger battery)
- Siren
- Action button
- higher water-resistant range at up to 100m
- higher depth gauge up to 40m
- precision dual-frequency GPS
So customers can choose between two options that cater to different use cases for $799: one for style with the Series 10 (titanium) and one for utility with the Ultra 2. Still, after comparing apples to apples, the Series 10 looks to be a much better value for the rest of us than ever before, especially with the more premium models switching to the same case material used for the Ultra. And for those who don’t prefer a fancier watch, there are always the aluminum models that offer the same features as the titanium models, so the value gets even better there. Thus, there’s an Apple Watch for everyone at different price points with the Series 10.
I currently own an Apple Watch Series 6, and I love the Apple Watch as it’s made to be worn and shown every day. The titanium models are now great for those who appreciate the craftsmanship/design of the Apple Watch with their polished finish for a jewelry-like appearance. The major improvements found in Series 10 will certainly make a compelling upgrade for any Apple Watch as old as the Series 6. If you have an Apple Watch for 4-5 years, there’s no better time than now to upgrade, but keep in mind that the titanium models have seen shipping delays, possibly due to higher demand for them.
Apple Watch Series 10 is up for pre-orders with availability in stores starting September 20.
