Even though I’ve tested dozens of great smartwatches for CNET, I love going bare-wristed for a few days after finishing a review, to give myself a break. But after wrapping up my review of the Apple Watch Series 10, something unexpected happened — I didn’t want to take the gadget off.
I’ve always been on the lookout for a hybrid watch that strikes the right balance between a traditional wristwatch and a smartwatch. There’s been plenty of wearables over the years that’ve promised just that, like the Withings Scanwatch range. But the Series 10 strikes the ideal balance for me, because it doesn’t compromise on connectivity, fitness tracking features or the overall look.
That’s because of the LTPO 3 technology that lets the screen refresh at 1Hz and gives the Series 10 a ticking second hand on a few watchfaces — even when the display isn’t actively being used. It makes Apple’s device feel like a regular watch when I’m not actively using it, which is different from any other smartwatch I’ve tested.
I also like being able to change up the look by switching between the Reflections watch face, with its sweeping “analog” second hand, and Activity Digital, with its digital seconds counter. I wish there were more watch faces that supported this ticking second hand. There is Flux, but I’ve found myself siding with Redditors who think it’s kind of goofy. (If you’ve found a color combination that makes it feel less comical, let me know!)
The ticking second hand isn’t just an aesthetic choice, or for the times when I’m anxiously checking to make sure I’m not too early for my next meeting. It’s also practical for folks in different professions, like health care workers who need to have a second hand even after the display times out.
More than the ticking second hand, it’s the display itself
I was skeptical that the Series 10’s wide-angle OLED display would make that much difference to the viewing experience. Apple says it’s up to 40% brighter than earlier watch displays when you’re looking at it off-axis. So of course I had to compare it to every other Apple Watch in my review cabinet, including last year’s Series 9.
Though when using my eyes alone I’m not able to quantify how much brighter it appears as a percentage, there’s no question the Series 10 is easier to see and looks brighter than other Apple Watch models with the same watch face.
Even though the Series 10 doesn’t have the same battery life or rugged construction, I miss its display when I have to switch to the $799 Apple Watch Ultra 2.
Why the Series 10 makes a great gift
It’s not just the display that’s made it hard for me to remove the Series 10 from my wrist. There’s almost every health and fitness tracking feature I could want, from a range of cycling tools to sleep apnea notifications.
Then there’s WatchOS 11, which brings helpful safety tools like Check In to my wrist, so I no longer have to manually send the “I’m home!” message to friends and family. If only it worked with recipients who don’t use iMessage: I truly hope Apple will add compatibility for RCS messaging for this indispensable safety tool, just like FaceTime works on Android through a web link.
I now understand what people mean when they say they feel naked when they leave their house without their phone. Except for me, it’s a watch.
