At Apple’s recent Glowtime event, amidst the flurry of announcements—from the iPhone 16 to USB-C charging for the AirPods Max—one feature of the Apple Watch Series 10 has left me scratching my head. Apple has introduced a redesigned speaker on the Series 10 that’s capable of playing music and podcasts. But the question remains: is this a useful enhancement, or just an odd gimmick?
The Apple Watch has traditionally featured a small speaker for notifications and occasional calls. However, this new model aims to elevate that functionality by allowing media playback. Apple’s presentation highlighted the speaker’s design as a “racetrack” driver—a shape reminiscent of a NASCAR track. These drivers are typically used in larger devices due to their efficiency in compact spaces, but their effectiveness in such a tiny form factor remains questionable.
The racetrack driver, which is less than a quarter-inch wide, might be a marvel of miniaturization, but it raises concerns about sound quality. The absence of detailed frequency response numbers from Apple only adds to the uncertainty. The physics of sound suggests that a speaker must move air to produce sound, and a device this small might struggle with producing anything beyond the most basic high frequencies. To put it in perspective, even large TVs with built-in speakers often sound lackluster compared to a quality soundbar.
In practical terms, envision the smallest Bluetooth speaker you’ve heard, then imagine it without any bass. This could give you an idea of what to expect from the Apple Watch’s new speaker. The potential result? An awkwardly loud distraction in public spaces, where users might subject others to their workout playlists or viral sounds, much like a disruptive neighbor with poor taste in music.
While it’s intriguing to consider the implications of having a tiny speaker on your wrist, especially for use in more private settings, the practicality and quality of this feature remain to be seen. If you’ve ever used your phone’s speaker in a makeshift amplifier, you might soon need a similar workaround for your watch—perhaps a cone-shaped device to amplify the sound.
In the coming weeks, we’ll have a full review of the Apple Watch Series 10, including an in-depth look at the new speaker’s performance. Until then, it’s worth wondering whether this addition will prove to be a novel feature or just a new way to annoy those around us.
