Every time I come to sit down and write about the Apple Watch, I find myself struggling.
The company says this new series 10 model is a
beautiful new design. And they're right. But it doesn't look any different.
I like the Apple Watch. It's quite convenient. And I've been wearing one for coming up for
years now. I also don't like having an Apple Watch. It's quite expensive. And I've long
disagreed with its whole form. Yes, this is a great watch, but I've always kind of hated what
the Apple Watch is. Let me try to explain.
What is it that makes this such a big redesign? Well, the series 10's got a bigger screen and
thinner profile. But while these two dimensional changes are slim, they are still noticeable.
It does seem to sit more comfortably under sleeves on my wrist. And I think I'm bashing tables and
door frames less often too. While the bigger screen does enable for slightly more content to be
displayed, you're not going to be getting whole extra message bubbles. Rather, far more useful
is the larger typefaces and buttons, which is great for those with weakening eyesight.
It's kind of comical looking on this, the larger 46 millimeter Apple Watch,
because the screen is actually slightly bigger than the one found on the Ultra model.
I think the biggest benefit though will be for people who like to get the smaller one,
because now even the small watch gets a big screen. On the outside, the Apple Watch is now
available in this sleek polished Jet Black finish on the base model. And the premium finish has
gone from using stainless steel to polished titanium, if you want to pay ultra prices.
Jet Black is as shiny as the glass covering the OLED screen, which also has been incrementally
improved. It's now brighter at a wider angle. Though I never really thought that the Series 6
I've been using was too dim on an angle. In the announcement, Apple made hay about the fact that
the always on display is now power efficient enough to show a second hand when dimmed. Finally, though,
why hasn't this been a thing since the Series 5 was announced? Back then, they said the display could run between 1 and 60 hertz. That's why on the stopwatch on
this Series 8, you can see the seconds go up even when dimmed. Watch faces don't get that privilege
apparently. Until now. While I like that it does feel more watch light with the second hand moving
around, I can hear the phantom quartz movement in my head when I see it. It's a shame that only the
two newest watch faces get it. The second hand on the existing watch faces still disappear.
Oh, the Apple Watch is telling me my heart rate is up.
Okay, let me rapid fire through the new features and I'll get to renting later. The big headline
new health feature with the Series 10 is the sleep apnea notifications. It's not exclusive to
the Series 10, it's actually available on the Series 9 and Ultra II models as well.
And a few weeks later, I'm pleased to report that it's available in Canada.
Using the accelerometer, Apple detects movements at the wrist associated with breathing disturbances,
which then tallies in the health app. Undiagnosed sleep apnea is a serious health concern, so
learning that you have it could be extremely helpful. I gave an Ultra II to a colleague who
thinks he has sleep apnea to see if it catches any of his sleep disturbances. Well, turns out he has
no sleep disturbances. As for me, it appears that my breathing disturbances are not elevated.
Now, if only I could just get to sleep earlier. Such a night owl.
The Series 10 does have a blood oxygen sensor, which works in Canada. Unfortunately for US
customers, Apple is still in a patent dispute with Masimo. This means that it's deactivated on your
models. I haven't seen any updates on the matter except for another matter where Apple won their
patent dispute against Masimo for $250. It's possible when this gets resolved that the Series
109 will regain that functionality, but you can't make any guarantees and you don't know when and
if that's going to happen. If you're an avid swimmer, there's a new depth app,
cribbed from the Ultra model, though this won't go down deeper than six meters.
It does tell the water temperature, though. I actually tried it in my friend's hot tub,
and yeah, the reading did match the heater's temperature setting. Fast charging is even faster.
Apple claims that it can now get to 80% after only 30 minutes instead of 45 before,
which is perfect for shower chargers like me. And in my testing, it actually got to 85%.
And if you're away from your AirPods or iPhone, you can still listen to your podcast because the
speaker supports media playback. It's pretty loud and clear, but I swear that was a feature on the
first few generations of Apple Watch before it was removed. Let me know in the comments if I'm right
or if I'm suffering from a Mandela effect. Okay, enough about the series 10.
The Apple Watch has been with us for almost a decade now, and it's remarkable how incremental
the changes have been to this device. It's carved itself a niche as a pricey fitness tracker and
smartwatch that works best with the iPhone. I like having a watch on my wrist because I'm
terrible with time. Not that this helps me with that that much. But what I do like about the Apple
Watch are the gentle taps for navigation and reliable notifications. There aren't many apps,
but there is one that opens the door to the office. The fitness tracking is handy on the occasion I
do get to the gym or walk to a friend's house. And I really do love its sleep tracking and
taptic alarm. It's the best way to wake up in the morning. But I'm also still frustrated with the
Apple Watch. Really, from a design standpoint, I've never really had an opportunity to talk about
this. But I don't think the Apple Watch is cool. They tried really hard when it first came out to
make it cool. But the mistake was making it square. Square watches, though they have a place, are
dorky. It's not a deal breaker, but then there are the watch faces. Sure, apples are fine, but
they are all very samey. It's also very soft and rounded off from the bars and dials of the
complications to the analog hands. Everything must use the same rounded San Francisco typeface and
all analog faces have the exact same watch hands. Apple has touted this as their most
personal product. And yet every time I look at it, it's just so boring. Every new face option is
just really a fancy wallpaper. And when it comes to complications, yeah, I guess there's a lot of
options, but there's really only three different types to choose from. Two at best. That's it.
I know that Wear OS isn't as good an operating system, but when I go into the play store and see
all those interesting designs that people can sell as watch faces, I get very envious. I want that.
I mean, look at this cool retro segmented digital face with a glowing backlight effect,
or this richly detailed analog face with unique hands. Or better still, check out this hybrid face.
These faces are about one to two dollars each, but this is personalization.
Google even has a whole customizable API and studio app that enables this sort of design
customization. And I really don't understand why the designers at Apple are lacking in inspiration,
unless earlier this year, the American Department of Justice Antitrust Division filed a lawsuit
against Apple. In it, they allege a lot of things, but they devoted one whole section to the Apple Watch.
In it, they say, quote, by suppressing key functions of third party smartwatches,
including the ability to respond to notifications and messages and to maintain consistent connections
with the iPhone. Apple has denied users access to high performing smartwatches with preferred
styling, better user interfaces and services, or better batteries. And it has harmed smartwatch
developers by decreasing their ability to innovate and sell products. I think the Apple Watch can
be better, but it doesn't have to be. There's few opportunities for outside ideas. And as I
lamented when I used the Apple Watch as my only device last year, it's too tied to the iPhone
to fully realize its potential. It's also quite expensive. I think that if you are interested in
an Apple Watch right now, the Series 10 is the one to get. It is a sizable jump from the $250
Apple Watch SE, which is a thoroughly constrained option. It means that the de facto price of entry
for a smartwatch for iPhone users is $400. I won't be upgrading from a Series 6, because
last year's battery replacement I did has it ticking like new. But what if you have, say,
a Series 4? Well, then you have to answer yourself how pleased you are with your Apple Watch. If
it's proved its usefulness, or you like the Apple Watch faces, then the Series 10 will be great.
Apple seems to be very pleased with how the Apple Watch works. Still wish I was.
Thanks for adding the second hand to this Mac Address. I'm curious in the comments below who
have you missed skeuomorphism, because that'd be really nice on an Apple Watch. And if you want to
watch another video, watch the video where I used an Apple Watch as my only device for a whole week.
The result was actually surprising.