The 2024 Apple autumn event took place earlier at 1:00 a.m. Beijing time on September 10th. Apple fans all focused on the iPhone 16. This year’s new highlights of the iPhone, such as the larger screens of the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, with the latter reaching a record 6.9 inches, and the addition of a “Desert Titanium” color option for the iPhone 16 Pro series, are quite eye-catching. Additionally, both the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus now feature a camera control button, making photography more convenient and enhancing the functionality. In terms of the phone’s internals, the iPhone 16 family has upgraded to the A18 chip, which the official claims is 30% faster than the A16 Bionic chip. One can profoundly feel the evolution of the phone’s performance when watching videos and playing games. However, perhaps the most surprising aspect is that compared to the prices of the iPhone 15, the iPhone 16 has maintained the same prices, which is highly attractive to the market. For other internal and external specification changes of the new iPhones, you can explore at your leisure. This time, our focus is on the Apple Watch related to the comparison of watches.
The 10th anniversary of the Apple Watch launch. The Apple Watch Series 10 has undergone in-depth evolutionary improvements in both software and hardware.
The 10th Anniversary of the Apple Watch
In 2024, Apple released the latest generation of the Apple Watch Series 10. The first-generation Apple Watch was launched in 2014, and it has now reached its 10th anniversary. However, following Apple’s previous strategy, the 2024 Apple Watch Series 10 did not undergo revolutionary changes at once. At first glance, it looks similar to the Apple Watch Series 9, but upon actual wear and use, it can still be noticed that Apple is committed to improving and perfecting the details.
The antenna on the back of the watch is integrated into the case of the Apple Watch Series 10, combining the two layers to make the watch lines more smooth and concise.
Two Key Innovations in the Appearance of Series 10
To simply point out the two key points of the Apple Watch Series 10: the screen area has increased and the thickness has decreased. Specifically, the screen of the 10th generation is over 30% larger than that of the 9th generation, and the case thickness has reduced from 10.7mm to 9.7mm, thinning by as much as 10% in one go! The increase in the screen size of the watch is also related to the size change. The Apple Watch Series 10 comes in 42mm and 46mm respectively – both 1mm larger than the previous generation.
The wide-angle OLED screen can emit more light and enhance pixels, and the brightness can be increased by up to 40% at certain angles compared to the Series 9.
Two Materials and Multiple Color Options
In 2024, the Apple Watch has canceled the stainless steel material and instead adopted aluminum or titanium for the case. The former comes in Obsidian Black, Rose Gold, and Silver, while the latter comes in Original, Gold, and Slate colors. Thanks to the reduced thickness of the watch, the aluminum Series 10 has lost 10% in weight compared to the Series 9. When comparing the titanium Series 10 with the aluminum (let’s not compare with stainless steel for now) Series 9, the former is even 20% lighter, reducing the burden and ensuring a more comfortable wearing experience.
The new Reflections face is dynamic and interacts with the wearer’s activities.
Brand New Screen and Corresponding Face Options
The Apple Watch Series 10 is Apple’s first-ever model to adopt a wide-angle OLED. Apart from a wider viewing angle and higher screen pixels, since the wide-angle screen can emit more light, the screen brightness can be increased by up to 40% when viewing the watch from certain angles, making reading very effortless. With the upgraded display, watchOS 11 also provides corresponding faces for the wearer to choose from. For example, the Flux face presents large hour and minute digits that constantly change colors, while the Reflections face shows a flashing turntable image in the background of digital analog hands, and it also interacts with the wearer’s hand movements. The pleasure of wearing it is just that simple and pure.
Equipped with the S10 SiP chip and a built-in 4-core neural network engine, functions such as fall detection of the watch have become more sensitive and humanized.
Regarding the S10 SiP chip internally installed in the watch, it is also custom-made by Apple for the slimmer body. This new chip and the built-in 4-core neural network make intelligent operation functions more convenient and accessible, such as two-finger double-tap gesture control, car crash detection and fall detection, “Smart Stack”, and the Translation App, bringing a more advanced and convenient usage experience.
The Apple Watch Series 10 claims that a fast charge for half an hour can restore the watch’s battery to 80%, and the battery life can reach 18 hours.
Faster Charging
Thanks to a more efficient charging coil on the back of the watch, the Apple Watch Series 10 can obtain 8 hours of battery life with a 15-minute fast charge and restore the battery to 80% with a 30-minute charge, making charging quicker and more time-saving.
The Continuously Evolving watchOS 11
With the debut of the Apple Watch Series 10, Apple also released the latest operating system, watchOS 11. Its key points include the addition of a new “Tides” App – allowing users to view tidal forecast information within seven days and obtain information on coasts and surf spots around the world; the “Vital Signs” App enables the wearer to effectively monitor their health condition. If the watch detects that more than two measurement indicators exceed the preset standards, it will issue a reminder and even analyze the causes of these changes. The “Activity Record” circle has also become more flexible and user-friendly. For example, the wearer can pause the activity record (for days, weeks, or months), but it will not affect the consecutive records before and after. Other functions such as Smart Stack, the new “Photos” face, the “Translation” App, and “Emergency SOS” have all undergone advanced changes compared to the previous generation.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a new black titanium modification this year, making the appearance more stylish.
No New Generation but a Modification for the Apple Watch Ultra
As for the top-spec Apple Watch Ultra, a new generation was not launched as expected in 2024. However, Apple still released a black titanium modification of the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Its titanium case is covered with a DLC coating to form a fashionable and cool black appearance, and the crystal glass on the back is also specially selected to be black zircon, similar in color to the case.
Following the original three straps, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 also has a Milanese loop as a new option in 2024.
The Apple Watch Ultra Introduces Metal Bracelet for the First Time
The black titanium modification of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a titanium Milanese bracelet available for the first time, providing a new option in addition to the Trail Loop, Alpine Loop, and Ocean Band. Moreover, in addition to black titanium, there is also the original color titanium. This bracelet presents a delicate interlaced rhombic weave, and with the side-release buckle, one can wear it in water without worrying about the watch coming loose easily. The modified Apple Watch Ultra 2 has also been updated to watchOS 11. The already powerful functions, after software optimization, will be even more satisfactory for professional sports use.
The reference price of the Apple Watch Series 10 starts from NT$ 13,500, and the reference price of the black titanium modification of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 starts from NT$ 27,900, remaining the same as the previous generation and the first model. In this era where everything is getting more expensive while salaries are slow to increase or frozen, this is undoubtedly a piece of good news like a small blessing.
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