The Apple Watch Series 10 offers mostly minor upgrades, but faster charging is a big plus

The new Apple Watch Series 10 hits stores on Friday. I’ve been testing it for the past five days, and there are enough refinements to appeal to first timers and those considering an upgrade.

I wasn’t necessarily excited when Apple announced the new watches earlier this month. The company revealed a slightly thinner design, somewhat larger screens and some software features that will apply to earlier models. But taken together, there’s a good amount to like.

The Apple Watch is part of the company’s Wearables, Home and Accessories unit, which reported $8.1 billion in revenue during the fiscal third quarter, down 2% from a year ago. CEO Tim Cook said at the time of the report that two-thirds of Apple Watch buyers are still new to the device.

The Apple Watch Series 10, as its name implies, marks the tenth year of the Apple Watch. It’s the best yet, even if some changes are minimal.

Apple added new features such as an option to detect sleep apnea, which received Food and Drug Administration approval Monday and will be ready when the watches start reaching consumers on Friday. It’s already available for the Apple Watch Series 9. I’m excited to try it since I’ve been treated for sleep apnea in the past and I’m aware of how problematic it can be if undetected.

Finally, I love the move from steel to titanium on the higher-end models. Apple’s polished steel versions were always my favorite but they were heavier than the aluminum options. The titanium is much lighter.

I really like the appearance of the shiny black aluminum option. It looks more expensive than the matte silver or rose gold models but starts at the same price: $399.

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