Just as Apple wasn’t the first brand to release a smartphone, it wasn’t the first to release a smartwatch. But ask most people to name one and they’ll probably say the Apple Watch – just as they’d likely name the iPhone.
First launched in 2015, the Apple Watch has undergone quite a transformation. There are currently three different models to choose from: the Series 9, Ultra 2 and SE (2022).
In this article, we’ll be focusing on the next generation of Apple’s regular smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 10 (or will it be called the Apple Watch X?).
So, when will you be able to get one on your wrist and what new features will make it a tempting upgrade? Here’s all we know so far.
When will the Apple Watch Series 10 be released?
Apple has officially confirmed that the next event, titled ‘It’s Glowtime’, will take place on 9 September 2024 at the Steve Jobs Theater in Apple Park, starting at 10AM PT (5PM UTC).
This is when we’re likely to see the official launch of the Apple Watch Series 10, as well as the iPhone 16 series and new AirPods.
Apple
Here’s a breakdown of when the previous versions made their debuts:
- Apple Watch Series 9 – September 2023
- Apple Watch Series 8 – September 2022
- Apple Watch Series 7 – October 2021
- Apple Watch Series 6 – September 2020
There’s a small chance that Apple will delay its release until the 10-year anniversary of the Watch in 2025, but it seems very unlikely. We’re also waiting for the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
How much will the Apple Watch Series 10 cost?
Apple Watch pricing has remained relatively consistent in recent years, despite high inflation and economic uncertainty in many countries around the world.
Here are the starting prices of all sizes of the recent generations:
- Apple Watch Series 9 (41mm) – £399/$399
- Apple Watch Series 9 (45mm) – £429/$429
- Apple Watch Series 8 (41mm) – £419/$399
- Apple Watch Series 8 (45mm) – £449/$429
- Apple Watch Series 7 (41mm) – £369/$399
- Apple Watch Series 7 (45mm) – £399/$429
- Apple Watch Series 6 (40mm) – £379/$399
- Apple Watch Series 6 (44mm) – £409/$429
As you can see, there’s been a rock-solid set of prices for US customers, while UK buyers have experienced a bit more variation.
The return to parity with the Apple Watch Series 9 is encouraging, so we’d hope that those prices remain intact when the 10th-gen model appears this year with watchOS 11.
What specs and features will the Apple Watch Series 10 have?
Apple hasn’t made any official announcements regarding the Series 10 yet, but that hasn’t stopped plenty of rumours from appearing online. Here are the ones you should pay attention to:
New design
As this is the 10th generation, there are rumours of an overhauled design for the Apple Watch 10.
In August 2023, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said Apple’s 2023 smartwatches would be minor updates, before more significant changes are introduced this year. The first part of that proved to be true, with the Series 9 and Ultra 2 both very similar to their predecessors.
Jim Martin / Foundry
Gurman went on to say that the device would be known as the ‘Watch X’, mirroring what Apple did with the iPhone X back in 2017. He also predicted that it will have a slimmer casing and a potential new approach to bands.
Currently, bands are attached through grooves in the casing, which take up a bit of room, but the new ones could be magnetic, freeing up the internal space for more tech.
A Medium post from industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has quite a solid track record for Apple leaks, says that Apple is going to increase the sizes of the Series 10 models. Instead of the 41- and 45mm options offered on the Series 9, he states that these will become 45- and 49mm, and also agrees with Gurman that the devices will be thinner.
Kuo also reports that some of the components in the Series 10 will be manufactured by 3D printing. This will be handled by Chinese company BLT, which specialises in metal 3D printing. The rumours also suggest that this will make producing the Apple Watch cheaper, and that BLT may go on to produce Apple Watch cases in the future.
Another rumour from 91mobiles backs up some of the design changes mentioned above, as it features what is claimed are leaked CAD images of the new Apple Watch Series 10. These show the new model with a 2-inch display, which would actually be bigger than the Apple Watch Ultra, which currently has a 1.93-inch panel.
It would also be quite a bit bigger than the 1.7-inch panel on the Apple Watch Series 9. The post states that the dimensions of the Watch will be 46 x 39.7 x 11.6mm, which is a little at odds with the sizes mentioned in Ming-Chi Kuo’s article. Could this actually be a new Apple Watch Ultra instead?
Blood pressure monitoring
Health and fitness has always been an important factor in the Apple Watch’s success, with Apple marketing it very much as a wellness device.
The feature set in this area looks to be getting a boost on the Series 10, with a reported ability to track the wearer’s blood pressure and warn of hypertension. That’s according to Mark Gurman at Bloomberg once again, who says it will “alert users” if they have high blood pressure and “suggest follow-up testing”.
While this will be a very valuable ability for many people, the actual technology and how it’s achieved hasn’t yet been explained. We’ve seen watches in the past that have constricting bands to measure pressure, but we can’t see Apple going down that route, especially if the new bands are attached magnetically.
Apple
Sleep Apnea tracking
Another health feature that’s been rumoured to be coming in the Apple Watch Series 10 is measuring sleep apnea.
This is a common condition in which someone can momentarily stop breathing while sleeping. It’s potentially dangerous, so having a Watch that can detect the issue and give wearers data that can be shared with their doctor would be a valuable addition to the new model.
The same Bloomberg article mentioned above suggests it’ll work in a similar way to blood pressure, alerting you if any issues with your nighttime breathing have been detected and suggesting next steps.
No Micro-LED display
One rumour that was doing the rounds for a while but seems to have been quashed now is that the Series 10 will featured a new Micro-LED display.
Popular Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently posted on his Medium page that the advanced display technology, which could offer improved battery life through its energy efficiency, wouldn’t be ready for the 2024 release and may not even make its debut until the 2026 lineup arrives.
That’s all we’ve seen so far, but of course we’ll update this article as more information becomes available. In the meantime, be sure to check out the best Apple Watch guide on our sister publication Macworld, to see whether you want to buy one now or wait until the Apple Watch 10 arrives.
You may be interested in similar articles on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and Google Pixel Watch 3.
