Apple Watch Series 10 vs Series 9: Tips After Testing These Smartwatches

The new Apple Watch Series 10 is the culmination of a decade of continuous evolution, but the company’s latest smartwatch isn’t all that different from the Apple Watch Series 9 , which launches in 2023.

When comparing the two generations in detail, the differences come down to minor refinements in design, size, and the materials used to make the cases and displays. As always, there are mini-upgrades in other areas — particularly in charging and speaker functionality — but nothing we’d consider a worthy upgrade.

Instead, thanks to watchOS 11, most features are identical no matter which watch you choose — Series 9 or Series 10.

So which watch is best for you? Below is a full, detailed comparison of the key differences to look out for, along with advice for those choosing between the two, whether you’re upgrading from an older model or new to smartwatches.

Comparison of characteristics

Prices and versions

Apple rarely changes the price when it releases a new model in a series, and the Series 10 is no exception. The aluminum version of the smaller 42mm Series 10 with GPS (aka the cheapest version you can buy) costs $399, while the price of the aluminum 46mm case with cellular support jumps to $529.

For the titanium upgrade, the 42mm GPS-0nly model starts at $699, while the top-end 46mm GPS and Cellular model can cost up to $1,049.

The Series 9, meanwhile, is no longer manufactured by Apple — or sold through Apple (which speaks to how closely related these devices are). However, as with the last-generation Series 9 models, they will be available from third-party retailers until supplies last.

You’ll likely find them for significantly less than the Series 10 RRP, and there will be plenty of refurbished models available too.

As you can probably tell by now, there are a lot of different options out there, and you’ll have to choose the right combination of case materials, size, strap type, and cellular support to suit your budget.

Design, display and convenience

The Series 9 watch’s display may be smaller, but it’s still impressive

• Series 10 is 10% lighter, 10% thinner and offers 10% more screen.
• The increase in display and body size means some may prefer the more compact Series 9.

Unless you’re an Apple Watch fan , you probably wouldn’t expect to notice much of a difference between the Series 9 and Series 10. However, that’s the nature of Apple’s redesigns, and this section highlights the most significant changes between generations.

When testing the 46mm Series 10 and 45mm Series 9, users were surprised by how the former felt and functioned differently as a result of the former’s larger size. Everything that was big on the Series 9—the slightly thicker design with the screen sitting a little further from edge to edge—has essentially shrunk a little on the Series 10.

What does this mean in reality — how does the experience change? The Series 10 has more text (an extra line in most cases), more space for touch prompts and widgets on the screen, and, generally, watch faces look even better than before.

The 46mm Apple Watch Series 10 (left) has a larger display than the Apple Watch Ultra 2 (right)

With a thickness reduction of 10mm for the first time, the Series 10 is, as you might expect, flatter on the wrist than the Series 9.

In defense of the Series 9 design, experts say the new models are less suited to those who don’t need a large smartwatch — primarily women. When testers tried on the 42mm Series 10 during initial testing, it was a reasonable size for relatively small men’s wrists.

However, if you have smaller wrists, there’s a definite argument to be made for considering the more compact 41mm Series 9 model. It’s still quite a large size considering it’s roughly the same size as the larger Apple Watch Series 0-3 models.

Series 10 Offers Largest Display Ever on an Apple Watch

While the Series 9 has a more wrist-friendly design, fans appreciate that Apple is offering titanium Series 10 models (albeit for an extra buck). This is where you can see an additional weight reduction (20% over the Series 9, Apple says), and titanium is carbon-free (which is not the case with the Series 9’s stainless steel cases) and is more comfortable for workouts.

The new version doesn’t just have a bigger screen — it also performs slightly better. Peak brightness remains at 2,000 nits — bright enough to view even in direct sunlight — but the Series 10’s LTPO3 panel appears 40% brighter than the Series 9’s when viewed at an angle. It’s not a huge deal, but it’s noticeable when the two screens are side-by-side.

Winner: Apple Watch Series 10.

Battery life and charging

• The 18-hour battery life estimate holds true; testing shows 26-30 hours.
• Series 10 is capable of charging faster.

Another year, another Apple Watch Series model with 18 hours of battery life. At least that’s what Apple wants you to believe.

While all generations of the line have had similar battery life ratings, performance has steadily improved over the past decade. While the original Apple Watch’s 18 hours of battery life was roughly accurate, the Series 9 and Series 10 can realistically last around 26-30 hours, even with moderate use of GPS and sleep tracking.

Testers didn’t notice much of a difference between the two models, and that’s true of the Series 8 and Series 7 as well.

In the larger models, this figure drops slightly, but not significantly. Any difference is compensated, understandably, by the larger displays, meaning you can count on a full 24 hours of operation no matter which small model you choose.

However, as we’ve noted in our full reviews, even this better-than-claimed battery life pales in comparison to some of the other top smartwatches on the market. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is also capable of delivering at least twice the battery life, something to consider if you need more power.

However, if you’ve resigned yourself to charging almost every day, you’ll probably be curious about how fast each device charges. With the Series 10, Apple has updated the charging coil to be larger and more efficient, and they can now go from zero to 80% charge in 30 minutes.

This held up in testing, as did Apple’s claim of 8 hours of regular use after 15 minutes on the charger. For the Series 9, the 0-80% charge time is still a respectable 45 minutes, but not as impressive as the latest model.

Winner: Apple Watch Series 10.

Health, smartwatches and fitness features

The Series 10 watch features a water temperature sensor and depth gauge

• Sleep apnea is the headline new health feature, but it’s also available on Series 9.
• The Series 10 speaker is capable of producing loud sound (not just for phone calls).
• The Series 9 does not have depth or temperature sensors.

When it comes to features — whether it’s smartwatch features, fitness tracking, or health monitoring — the Series 9 and Series 10 are nearly identical thanks to the latest watchOS 11 update.

Without going into too much detail about the new watchOS 11 features available in the latest software update — you can read about them separately — suffice it to say that you won’t be at a loss if you go with the older model.

And of course, the Series 10 gets all the features that came with the Series 9 (and previous models), like Double Tap, a temperature sensor, access to a variety of Apple Watch apps, and an ECG.

However, at the time of writing, due to ongoing litigation, the SpO2 sensor is still unavailable on the Series 9 and Series 10 watches.

Apple Watch Series 10 SmartStack

There are still some minor differences between the devices, however—and that doesn’t mean brand-new, FDA-cleared sleep apnea detection notifications, as those will be returning in Series 9.

One of the less noticeable differences between the Series 9 and Series 10 is the speakers. The latter can play select music/podcast apps, not just phone calls. I didn’t get to use this feature much in my testing, but it’s a nice addition when you’re in a pinch and don’t have headphones to pair with.

Water activity tracking is also improved in Series 10. watchOS 11 already lets you create custom pool workouts, but the latest model also includes a depth sensor (up to 6 meters) and water temperature.

Data from the latter feature will be available in all swim workouts, but the depth sensor—and the fact that Oceanic+ is available on Series 10—represents a significant upgrade for scuba and shallow-diving enthusiasts who previously needed to turn to the Ultra models.

Winner: Apple Watch Series 10.

Verdict

In our testing, it’s clear that the Apple Watch Series 10 is the best smartwatch overall. It offers a slight upgrade in features, faster charging, a thinner design, and more screen real estate — all for about the same price as the Series 9. Plus, you get the option to choose titanium over stainless steel, a change that everyone welcomes.

Still, these are all minor updates, which is why experts recommend that almost all Series 9 users stick with their current smartwatch. Unless you’re desperate for one of the above updates — like improved water performance or better viewing angles — the most significant improvements over last year will be available with the watchOS 11 update.

The Series 10 is worth choosing if you are completely new to the world of Apple Watch or wear the previous Series 7 watch. For everyone else, experts recommend waiting until the release of the Series 11 watch.