The Apple Watch Series 10 has a completely new look

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Apple Watch, the best-selling rectangular wearable that can be seen on the wrists of millions of iPhone owners. As befits a milestone anniversary, this year's flagship Apple Watch 10 has received an updated design that's much thinner and lighter than the previous Watch Series 9, along with a new jet black finish. (Everyone says they want a pink watch, but I love black!)

Every year, Apple adds new health features to the Watch. This year, that feature is sleep apnea detection. (We first reported in 2017 that the company was working on machine learning algorithms for sleep apnea detection.) The most eagerly anticipated health feature has been monitoring hypertension, or high blood pressure, and that hasn't appeared on the Apple Watch yet—likely because Apple was ordered to stop selling watches with blood oxygen sensors earlier this year due to a patent dispute with Masimo Corp.

The Watch Ultra 2 didn't get a major update, but it did get a new design. It's also now available in a new black finish, along with a new black Milanese strap designed specifically for watersports. On the screen, users get a whole host of new features for watersports. It's worth noting, however, that while this watch looks fantastic, you might not want to miss out on the blood oxygen measurement if you have an older model that launched with the Watch Series 6. Most of the exciting new updates, like Apple Intelligence and new comprehensive health algorithms, are coming to the watch via the phone app and WatchOS 11 anyway.

The Series 10 is available for pre-order today for $399 and will ship September 20. The redesigned Watch Ultra 2 is also available for pre-order today for $799 and will be available September 20.

Black is back

The Watch Series 10 is significantly thinner and lighter than its predecessor, the Series 9. Apple says it has the largest wearable display Apple has ever built, even larger than the already massive Watch Ultra, and it has the company's first wide-angle OLED display that is 40 percent brighter than its predecessor and designed to be read at any time and from any angle. Despite this increase in size, Apple says it is nearly 10 percent lighter than the Series 9.

It has new rounded corners that make it look much softer, as well as a brand new jet black aluminum finish that's been polished with silicon nanoparticles to make it reflective. (Don't worry, it's still available in the popular rose gold and silver colors.) It also features new hardware upgrades that make it thinner and lighter. Most notable are a new metal back that integrates the antenna into the body, and new thin speakers that can actually play music and podcasts.

There's also a larger, more efficient charging coil that can top up the battery to 80 percent in 30 minutes, and a new S10 SIP that's designed for power efficiency. (It's unknown if battery life itself will actually get better, though.) A new watch face called Flux takes advantage of the large, sparkling display. The Watch Ultra 2 also has some improvements, including a new black finish with matching new titanium hardware, including a black Milanese strap designed specifically for underwater sports. Apple says every Apple Watch in every finish can be carbon neutral this year.

Sleeping and splashing

Apple wants the Apple Watch to be seen as a comprehensive health device, and it's taking another step in that direction with sleep apnea detection. Sleep apnea is a condition where you stop and start breathing again during sleep, reducing the amount of oxygen in your blood. It's often undiagnosed and can lead to life-threatening events like a stroke or heart attack. The company uses the watch's accelerometer and machine intelligence to monitor your sleep disturbances for 30 days and warn you (and/or your partner) that you may have sleep apnea.