Apple has revealed new details via its “Glowtime” livestream on the upcoming Apple Watch Series 10, as well as a new Black Titanium finish for the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
Kicking things off is the new Apple Watch Series 10, which boasts its biggest display yet, implementing wider corners and an improved aspect ratio to provide 30 percent more screen area compared to its predecessor. With the larger screen size, there will now be more space on the screen for messages, providing improved readability. The addition of its new wide angle OLED display also enables the screen to appear 40 percent brighter when viewed from an angle.
Despite its larger screen size, the Series 10 will also be the thinnest Apple Watch to date, measuring a thickness of only 9.7mm – 10 percent thinner than the Series 9. Its compact nature also decreases the watches overall weight by 10 percent, ensuring a comfortable fit for prolonged use. All this is packed into a new polished aluminum finish, available in Jet Black, Rose Gold and Silver Aluminum colours.
New Grade 5 Polished Titanium variants were also announced, replacing the previous stainless steel versions. These provide all the bells and whistles of the aluminum versions while having the additional benefit of weighing 20 percent less than the Series 9.
The internals of the watch have not only been adjusted to accommodate its thin form factor, but also sport some new features. Apart from a Waterthick layer which retains its 50m water resistance, new built-in side speakers allow full speaker playback for the first time, letting users play music or hear ringtones without the need for external earpieces.
The watch’s metal back also integrates its antenna to the housing itself, supporting its thin design without compromising network connectivity. Finally, its charging coil is also improved, boasting its most efficient battery charging yet, able to power 80 percent battery in 30 minutes and lasting up to 18 hours on a full charge.
Under the hood, the Series 10 is powered by the new S10 chip, which sports a 4-core neutral engine that harnesses the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning. This enables improved crash and fall detection, the suppressing of background noise during calls and increased accuracy of the translate app.
With health being a major focus for the Apple Watch, a big addition to the upcoming Series 10 is the inclusion of a sleep apnea detection feature. This new metric picks up potential breathing disturbances a user may experience overnight, analysing recorded data over 30 days and alerting the user upon finding potential signs of sleep apnea. Apple expects to receive clearance from the FDA for this feature soon. In addition, apps for water-based activities will also be available such as a water temperature sensor, along with the Tides and Depth app.
Apart from the new Apple Watch Series 10, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 also received some love in the form of a new Black Titanium finish. The watch also comes with a matching Titanium Milanese loop which features a dual-clamp clasp design.
Besides including similar additions introduced with the Series 10, such as sleep apnea detection and machine learning, the Ultra 2 also retains its focus on being the ultimate sports watch. With features such as custom swim workouts, topographic map view, offline maps and cycling sensor support, the Ultra 2 aims to be the perfect companion for outdoor activities such as swimming, hiking or cycling.
The Apple Watch Series 10 starts at US$399, while the Black Titanium Apple Watch Ultra 2 starts at US$799. Both are set to launch on 20 September 2024.
Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.
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