The Apple Watch 10 Is One Of My Favorite Wearables - And It's 30% Off During Amazon Prime Day

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• I tested nan 46mm Apple Watch Series 10 model, priced astatine $529.
• The caller watch assemblage is charmingly thin, nan larger show is lovely, accelerated charging is greatly appreciated.
• Battery life remains rated for 18 hours, and nan watch is still missing immoderate package features recovered connected nan Watch Ultra 2.

For Prime Day, the 42mm Apple Watch 10 is connected waste for $279, while nan 46mm wearable has dropped down to $309.

With my larger wrists and penchant for rugged watches designed for outdoor activities, nan Apple Watch Ultra 2 has been my go-to wearable complete nan past year. Mainstream Apple Watch Series models ever felt excessively mini and constricted to meet my needs. However, my cognition changed pinch nan Apple Watch Series 10. I was ecstatic erstwhile nan wearable was announced backmost successful September 2024, chiefly because it sports a larger show and a thinner creation compared to nan erstwhile model.

Also: The champion Prime Day smartwatches and fittingness trackers we've tested

After trying the Jet Black 46mm Apple Watch Series 10, I wouldn't spell arsenic acold arsenic to opportunity it thumps nan Watch Ultra 2, but this exemplary does connection compelling features that'll apt entreaty to astir users. Here's what I liked astir nan Apple Watch Series 10 and what could beryllium done amended going into nan adjacent generation.

After unboxing, pairing, and strapping nan Apple Watch Series 10, nan first point that stood retired to maine was its incredibly slim profile. At conscionable 9.7mm heavy (compared to nan 14.4mm thickness of nan Watch Ultra 2), it is an engineering marvel really Apple managed to fresh each nan basal sensors, electronics, batteries, and antennas into specified a compact design.

The bladed and lightweight build not only feels awesome connected nan wrist, but it besides makes slumber search acold much comfortable than pinch nan Apple Watch Ultra 2 (and immoderate different bulky wearable), which protrudes an other 4.7mm and tin consciousness a spot bulky overnight.  

Also: I tested nan 4 astir celebrated wellness trackers for a twelvemonth - and they're connected waste for Prime Day

One of nan standout features, particularly for sleep-tracking enthusiasts, is nan Apple Watch's caller expertise to show slumber disturbances much precisely. The Series 10 uses nan accelerometer to estimate interruptions successful your breathing, aiming to observe imaginable signs of slumber apnea. 

While location isn't a dedicated slumber apnea app, Apple Health connected iPhones now displays immoderate breathing disturbances successful nan respiratory section. An algorithm analyzes these patterns and alerts you if it detects imaginable slumber apnea, which you tin past talk pinch a healthcare supplier (Remember: pre-visit accusation is not master aesculapian advice). Fortunately for me, I slumber for illustration a hibernating carnivore and haven't had immoderate issues pinch my slumber quality.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

One of nan standout features of nan 46mm Series 10 is nan larger display. While it only offers 3% much surface area than nan Watch Ultra 2, nan reduced bezel astir nan show makes it consciousness importantly larger. The Series 10 besides features a wide-angle OLED, which makes it easy to publication nan surface moreover erstwhile viewed from an perspective -- cleanable for speedy glances passim nan day.

However, I've been a spot spoiled by nan awesome artillery life of nan Watch Ultra 2, which easy lasts 2 afloat nights and 2 afloat days connected a azygous charge. In contrast, nan Series 10 requires regular charging, but Apple has thankfully integrated faster charging technology. You tin now scope up to 80% artillery successful conscionable 30 minutes aliases get astir 8 hours of usage from a speedy 15-minute charge. 

Personally, I've made it portion of my regular to return nan watch disconnected successful nan greeting and complaint it while getting fresh for nan day, which gives maine much than capable artillery to past until nan adjacent morning. That's to say, for astir people, nan Series 10's thinner and lighter creation is good worthy nan trade-off successful artillery life.

Also: Your Apple Watch is getting a large upgrade. Here are nan 8 features I can't hold to usage successful WatchOS 26

As awesome arsenic nan Apple Watch Series 10 is -- and I expect it will entreaty to astir group looking for nan best Apple Watch -- location are still 3 cardinal reasons why I won't beryllium switching distant from my Watch Ultra 2.

• Rugged Design: I regularly bump my watch while running, hiking, upland biking, and alert fishing, truthful I request a instrumentality that tin return a beating. The Watch Ultra 2's titanium assemblage provides coagulated protection for nan sapphire solid show while besides safeguarding nan right-side fastener and integer crown. I besides regularly usage nan Action fastener to quickly motorboat nan flashlight -- a characteristic I've travel to trust on.
• Siren: Now successful my mid-50s, I often bask outdoor activities connected my own, truthful having a reliable information characteristic for illustration nan Ultra 2's siren gives maine bid of mind. I've taken a fewer spills while way moving and biking, truthful knowing I person an easy measurement to awesome for thief erstwhile thing for illustration that happens again is simply a important plus.
• Precision Start & Night Mode watch face: One of my biggest pet peeves pinch fittingness watches is nan mandatory countdown earlier starting an activity. I was disappointed to acquisition this pinch nan Apple Watch Series 10 connected my first run. The Watch Ultra 2, however, offers a precision commencement GPS option, allowing maine to fastener successful a GPS awesome and decorativeness immoderate last-minute prep earlier starting nan activity -- nary frustrating countdown. 

Also: My favourite Apple Watch is 32% disconnected during Prime Day sales

I dream this characteristic gets rolled retired to each Apple Watch models successful a early package update. Another characteristic I emotion is nan Ultra 2's nighttime mode watch face, which turns everything reddish astatine nighttime to sphere nighttime vision. Other watches, for illustration nan Garmin OLED and Amazfit T-Rex 3, besides connection reddish aliases greenish matter for amended visibility successful nan dark. Again, this seems for illustration a characteristic that could easy beryllium provided pinch a package update for each Apple Watches.

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

While nan Watch Ultra 2 packs respective precocious features, Apple's package is truthful intuitive that galore of these extras mightiness not make a immense quality to nan regular consumer. I recognize that I'm portion of a niche group of watch users who worth aspects for illustration durability and information features supra each else. You whitethorn not person nan aforesaid qualms pinch nan Apple Watch Series 10 arsenic me.

Also: I urge nan Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra complete competing Androids - and it's 50% disconnected for Prime Day

The Apple Watch Series 10 launches pinch WatchOS 11, which introduces nan Vitals app, Training Load, Smart Stack pinch motion support, US nationalist parkland maps, and overmuch more. The gestures connected nan Series 10 activity flawlessly, and successful my experience, they're overmuch much reliable compared to nan swipe and finger-tapping inputs of different wearables, including nan Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra.

ZDNET's buying advice

Apple has made immoderate coagulated improvements pinch nan Watch Series 10, and it stands arsenic 1 of nan best smartwatches connected nan marketplace today. The Jet Black decorativeness is peculiarly stunning if you for illustration that vibrant, glossy surface style, and it pairs nicely pinch a wide assortment of watch bands.  

The Watch Series 10 retains nan signature squircle creation we first saw astir a decade ago, but pinch its sleek 9.7 mm thickness, it practically disappears connected your wrist while still packing successful cutting-edge technology. Fast charging is simply a invited addition, and WatchOS 11 elevates wellness and wellness search to nan adjacent level.