Apple introduced one new Apple Watch this year: the Apple Watch Series 10. If you are in the market for an Apple Watch this year as I was (I was upgrading from a Series 7), should you get the Series 10, the Ultra 2 (my review) that Apple introduced a year ago and continues to sell, or the SE? The Apple Watch SE (second generation) was released two years ago, and it is aimed at people who just want the cheapest Apple Watch. But if you want a little more, then you are deciding between the Series 10 and the Ultra 2. Here are my thoughts on the Series 10 and my advice for deciding between the Series 10 and the Ultra 2.

How we got here

Apple introduced the original Apple Watch in 2015. Since then, Apple has come out with a new model every year, using the name “Series” followed by a number, from the Series 2 in 2016 to this year’s Series 10. Along the way, Apple has also introduced alternative versions of the Apple Watch: the SE in 2020, the Ultra in 2022, the SE (second generation) in 2022, and the Ultra 2 in 2023.

For the “Series” versions of the Apple Watch, the year-to-year changes are often just to the insides of the watch. But every few years—in 2018 (Series 4), 2021 (Series 7), and this year (Series 10)—Apple introduced a new design for the watch itself. These have not been radical changes. Apple always keeps a rectangular screen with a black background, and surprisingly to me, watch bands purchased for the very first Apple Watch back in 2015 still work today with the newest models. But the design changes have, in my opinion, always resulted in a better watch.

This year for the Series 10, Apple has once again made some changes to the exterior design of the Apple Watch: it is thinner and has a larger screen. I’ve been using one since it first went on sale this past Friday, and I’m a huge fan. This is a fantastic version of the Apple Watch. For me, it is the best Apple Watch ever, although I understand that some people have reasons to prefer the Ultra 2.

Here is what stands out on the Series 10.

Larger screen and case size

It is always useful to be able to see more information on the Apple Watch screen. Accordingly, Apple has gradually introduced larger and larger displays since the original Apple Watch was first introduced in 2014 and went on sale in 2015.

For the original Apple Watch through the Apple Watch Series 3 in 2017, the case size was either 42 mm or 38mm (measured vertically, top to bottom) and there was a relatively large black border between the usable screen space and the edge of the screen. The screen could display either 312 x 390 pixels (42mm) or 272 x 340 pixels (38mm). Here is the Series 2:

For the Apple Watch Series 4 in 2018 through the Apple Watch Series 6 in 2020, Apple increased the case size to 44mm or 40mm and also somewhat reduced the border. The screen could display either 368 x 448 pixels (44mm) or 324 x 394 pixels (40mm). Thus, the screen on the smaller version could display more pixels than the screen on the prior larger version. Here is the Series 5:

For the Apple Watch Series 7 in 2021 through the Apple Watch Series 9 in 2023, Apple increased the case size to 45mm or 41mm and also substantially reduced the border by 40%. As a result, the screen could display either 396 x 484 pixels (45mm) or 352 x 430 pixels (41mm). This time, the small screen did not display more pixels than the prior large screen, but it was close. Here is the Series 8:

The screen size on the Series 7 through 9 was very nice, but when Apple introduced the Ultra in 2022 (discussed in more detail below), Apple showed that there was room for a screen to get even larger. This year, Apple has increased the case size of the Series version of the Apple Watch to 46mm or 42mm, and this allows for a larger screen that can display either 416 x 496 pixels (46mm) or 374 x 446 pixels (42mm). So this year, the smaller version of the watch has a case that is the same size as the original large Apple Watch, and yet because the bezel is so much smaller, it not only displays far more pixels than the original larger Apple Watch but also displays slightly more pixels than the larger model of the Series 4 through 6. Here is the Series 10:

As a result of these screen increases over the last decade, when you compare the Series 10 to the display of the first few models of the Apple Watch, there is 75% more screen area. This picture on Apple’s website demonstrates quite well that the screen size has increased dramatically while the case size has not increased very much:

One more advantage of this new display is that Apple says that the Series 10 uses a wide-angle OLED display that is up to 40% brighter when viewed at an angle. The idea is that when you glance at the face of an Apple Watch without turning your wrist, it is easier to read. This sounds great, but when I compared the Ultra 2 to the Series 10, I cannot say that I really noticed it. But that may just be because the Ultra 2 has an amazing screen. Other reviewers have noted that it makes a difference. For example, Lexy Savvides of CNet wrote: ” I wore both the Series 10 and the Series 9 on the same wrist while typing this review. Looking down at them at an angle, I could see the Series 10 was a touch brighter when checking the time.”

Screen: Series 10 vs. Ultra

I’ll have more to say below about deciding between the Ultra 2 and the Series 10, but while we are discussing the screen, let’s compare and contrast the great screens on these two models.

As noted above, a larger screen was one of the big advantages of the Apple Watch Ultra when it was first introduced two years ago. The Ultra and Ultra 2, both of which have a 49mm case, have a display size of 410 x 502 pixels. This year, the larger model of the Series 10 has a case that is only 46mm and yet it can display 416 x 496 pixels. For all intents and purposes, it is fair to say that the display is the same size on both watches. In the following picture, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is on the left and the Apple Watch Series 10 is on the right, and you can see just as much Snoopy goodness on both screens:

Thus, if you want a large display, you no longer need to opt for the Ultra line. The Series 10 does just as good of a job providing the largest display.

There are four noticeable differences between the screens on the Ultra line and the Series 10. First, the case around the screen is much larger on the Ultra models. As noted above, the Ultra models have a 49mm case (measured top to bottom) and the Series 10 is 46mm in the larger size. That extra case size serves an important purpose on the Ultra models: it makes it more durable. If I was going to bang an Apple Watch against the side of a mountain, I’d much rather it be an Ultra 2. Having said that, I don’t really spend any time on rocky mountains, so I appreciate the smaller case around a screen that is essentially the same size.

Second, the Ultra 2 screen can get much brighter when it is outside on a sunny day: up to 3000 nits. The Series 10, like the original Ultra, gets up to 2000 nits. Don’t get me wrong, 2000 nits is plenty bright and nice to have, but when the sun is at its brightest, 3000 nits is a luxury that makes it easier to read the screen. On the other hand, when I am inside, or even outside when it is not super sunny, I don’t notice the difference in nits.

Third, the Ultra and Ultra 2 screens are completely flat. The Series 10 screen curves slightly at the edges, with the display going all the way to where the screen curves:

I suppose that one is not objectively better than the other. And I suspect that the flat screen and the bulky case make the Ultra models more durable if they fall onto a hard surface. But when the watch is on your wrist where it is supposed to be, I think that bringing the display all the way to the curved edges is nicer. Which one you prefer is up to you, but note that there is a difference.

Finally, even though the two screens are essentially the same size, one of my favorite watch faces on the Ultra and Ultra 2—Modular Ultra—is not available on the Series 10. I love this watch face on the Ultra 2 because it can display so much different information at once: a clock, a large complication in the middle, three small complications at the top, three more at the bottom, and information around the edges of the screen such as a seconds indicator:

On the Series 10, you are not even given the option to use the Modular Ultra face. Tim Chatten of the iPad Pros podcast speculated that perhaps the curved screen on the Series 10 would make the Modular Ultra face look odd on the edges, where I had the seconds displayed. But when I took a screen shot of the Modular Ultra watch face on an Ultra 2 and then displayed that image using the Photos app on the Series 10, it looked fine to me, even at the edges:

I wish that Apple would reconsider. Or, if Apple doesn’t like having a watch face on the Series 10 that has “Ultra” in the name, come up with something similar that has a different name.

Thinner

The original Apple Watch had a depth of 10.5mm. The Series 2 and 3 were a little thicker at 11.4mm, but Apple brought that down to 10.7mm for the Series 4, which I noted in my review was a welcome change. The Apple Watch stayed at 10.7mm all the way through the Series 9. This year, the depth is only 9.7mm, the thinnest version of the Apple Watch ever.

This is a nice change. First, I think that the Apple Watch looks better from afar when it is thinner. Second, it is easier to wear a long sleeve shirt that is tight around your wrist. Third, I think that the Apple Watch feels easier to use when it is closer to the wrist.

In the following picture, the original Apple Watch is on the left and the Series 10 is on the right. You can see that the Series 10 is just slightly thinner than the original Apple Watch:

During the last few weeks, I’ve worn an Apple Watch Ultra 2. It has a substantial depth of 14.4mm. You really notice the thickness, and I wasn’t a fan. The following two pictures show how much thicker the Ultra 2 (on the left) is compared to the Series 1o (on the right):

To be fair, there is a specific reason for the thickness of the Ultra. Not only is it part of the reason that the Ultra is more durable, but it also comes with a substantial advantage: that more chunky size gives you double the battery life. Double the battery life is pretty amazing, and for many people makes the thicker design of the Ultra worth it.

Titanium

The Apple Watch has always been available with an aluminum finish, although the colors have varied over the years. This year, there is a Jet Black case that has polished aluminum and looks pretty cool.

Additionally, the Apple Watch has always been available in alternative cases. The very first year, you could get an Apple Watch in 18-karat gold at a cost of $10,000 to $17,000. That made headlines, but Apple never did it again. Also, the very first year, you could get an Apple Watch with a stainless steel case, and that is the version that I have used since my very first Apple Watch in 2015. This year, Apple has stopped offering stainless steel.

In 2016 with the Apple Watch Series 2, Apple added a white ceramic case option. Ceramic was also an option for the Series 2, Series 3, and Series 5, but we haven’t seen it since the Series 5 in 2019.

Also in 2019 with the Series 5, Apple introduced a titanium case option. Titanium is a great material because it is very strong (stronger than aluminum) but very light (although not quite as light as aluminum). That makes it perfect for the case for an electronic device. If you buy a new iPhone 16, the 16 and 16 Plus have an aluminum case, but the two Pro models have a titanium case. When Apple first introduced a titanium Apple Watch in 2019, the case had a matte, brushed titanium look:

That look was similar to the way that titanium looks on the current Ultra 2.

This year, titanium is back on the Series model, but it is polished titanium that looks fantastic. There are three colors: natural, gold, and slate:

I purchased the natural titanium, and it is beautiful. And now that I see it, I understand why Apple discontinued the stainless steel case that it has been selling every year since 2015. The polished natural titanium has a shiny silver finish that looks very similar to stainless steel, as you can see above if you go up six pictures to the one that shows my original Apple Watch with a stainless steel case on the left and the Series 10 on the right. But the polished titanium weighs less. A 45mm stainless steel Apple Watch Series 9 weighs 51.5 grams. A 46mm titanium Apple Watch Series 10 weighs only 41.7 grams. There is no reason for Apple to sell a stainless steel case at the same time that it sells a polished titanium case.

The polished natural titanium on the Apple Watch Series 10 looks particularly nice when paired with the same Milanese Loop band by Apple (my review) that I’ve been wearing almost every day since I was wearing my very first Apple Watch in 2015.

There is nothing wrong with the aluminum version of an Apple Watch. It is less expensive and even lighter. But because my Apple Watch is the only jewelry that I wear (besides my wedding ring), I enjoy wearing something that I think looks better. So yes, I did pay more for it, but this polished titanium case looks great and is a delight to wear.

Sensors

Apple occasionally adds new sensors to the Apple Watch, the last one being the temperatur sensor that can be used by people who are ovulating to track their cycle, a sensor introduced two years ago in the Series 8. This year, Apple is using the accelerometer to detect sleep apnea if you wear your watch while you are sleeping. This requires the processing power that comes in the S9 (Series 9 and Ultra 2) or the S10 (Series 10), so those are the only three Apple Watch models currently shipping that can support this feature. Apple does this by tracking what it calls Breathing Disturbances; if those are elevated, you are more likely to have sleep apnea. Apple describes the process as follows:

Following an onboarding for the feature, the new sleep apnea notifications algorithm analyzes breathing disturbance data every 30 days, so Apple Watch can notify a user if it identifies signs of sleep apnea. The notification includes the time period when potential sleep apnea occurred and educational materials on the importance of seeking treatment, along with a PDF providing three months of breathing disturbance data, notification details, and additional information to reference during a conversation with a healthcare provider.

The Apple Watch Series 10 has a water resistance rating of 50 meters, so it can be used for shallow-water activities like snorkeling or swimming in a pool or ocean. (Note that Apple warns that water resistance can diminish over time.) When you are using an Apple Watch Series 10 in the water, a new water temperature sensor gives you more information for a swimming workout, and a new depth sensor (up to 6 meters or 20 feet) gives you more information for swimming and snorkeling.

Speaking of sensors, note that the blood oxygen sensor, first introduced with the Series 6 in 2020, does not currently work with the Series 10 if you are in the United States. As I have reported in the past, Apple is currently in a legal dispute with Masimo, a medical technology company that alleges that the way that Apple Watches shine a light on your arm to read blood-oxygen levels violates Masimo’s patents. As a result, Apple is currently prohibited by court order from enabling the blood oxygen sensor for any model of any Apple Watch that it sells in the United States. (Prior models that were already sold with a working blood oxygen sensor are not affected.) I know many people who use this sensor frequently. When my father needed a new Apple Watch earlier this year, he wanted the sensor, so I was able to find a store that was selling a model that it purchased from Apple before the ban went into effect. I just heard from an attorney in Pennsylvania who was unaware of this change and was very upset when he purchased a Series 10 a few days ago only to discover that the sensor that he has been using for years is missing.

I see that a five-day jury trial in the lawsuit between Masimo and Apple is scheduled to begin on October 21, 2024. (U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, No. 1:22-CV-01378) Hopefully, Apple will either win or settle the lawsuit soon so that it can turn this feature back on.

Let’s hear it

Although the Apple Watch has had a speaker since the very first model, you were limited in what you could do with it. It was designed for playing alerts and for using the telephone feature. With the Apple Watch Series 10, Apple has added the ability to use the speaker for media playback. Thus, if you are listening to a song or a podcast and you don’t have an iPhone, AirPods, or other speaker nearby to use, you can play the sound from the Apple Watch itself.

You need to follow several steps to do so. When you are listening to music, tap the three dots in the top right of the Apple Watch screen. Then select AirPlay. Then select Control Other Speakers & TVs. Then select your Apple Watch as the destination. I’m listening to The Rolling Stones sing Start Me Up as I type these words, and the sound is fine considering how tiny the speakers are. The quality is more than good enough for listening to a podcast. This would never be my first choice for a speaker, but if you don’t have another option, at least you can now still play the audio.

Note that media playback through the Apple Watch’s own speaker isn’t supported when you are charging an Apple Watch. Note also that Apple warns: “Media playback through the Apple Watch speaker drains the battery more quickly. (10 minutes of audio playback reduces the battery life by 1 hour.”) So I wouldn’t plan to listen to an entire audiobook on the Apple Watch, unless it is a short story. But if you have the battery life to spare, and you want to listen to a podcast for 20 or 30 minutes with no other good speaker avaiable, this is a nice feature to have. Indeed, it is a feature that I had been wishing for since my very first Apple Watch.

Finally, note that this media playback feature also now works on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 (but not the first-generation Ultra).

Faster charging

Speaking of charging your Apple Watch, you can charge a Series 10 faster than you can charge other Apple Watch models, going from 0% to 80% in only 30 minutes as opposed to 45 minutes of fast charging on the Series 7 through 9.

Note that fast charging requires a USB-C Magnetic Fast Charging Cable and a power adapter of at least 18W.

I haven’t had a chance to test this feature yet. My hope is that the Anker 3-in-1 Cube with MagSafe, which is $129.95 on Amazon and which I have been using for years, will support the faster charging available with the Series 10. My assumption is that it will work just fine.

Series 10 vs. Ultra 2

If you are reading this review because you are trying to decide between the Series 10 and the Ultra 2, that was the same choice that I faced. Although I had intended to keep using my Series 7 until this month, it unfortunately stopped working last month. In the interim, I have been trying out other Apple Watches. I spent over three weeks using an Ultra 2 (my review).

If you want an Apple Watch made for extreme outdoor adventures, the Ultra 2 is the obvious choice. The Ultra provides lots of durability features that a Series 10 lacks. It has a design made to stand up to more abuse. It has the ability to scuba dive up to 40m, whereas the Series 10 is designed for only shallow depths. The Ultra is water resistant up to 100 meters (under ISO standard 22810:2010) but the Series 10 is water resistant only up to 50 meters. Special watch bands made by Apple for outdoor activities are only available with the Ultra models. If you plan to use your Apple Watch for rugged adventures in the great outdoors, the Ultra models give you significant advantages. And even if your outdoor adventures are limited to running around the neighborhood while tracking where you went, the improved GPS of the Ultra models may make the difference for you.

But if you were only thinking of the Ultra 2 because you wanted the best Apple Watch, it is now debatable as to which model is the top-of-the-line.

I like the big screen on the Ultra models, but now you have essentially the same big screen on the Series 10. In fact, what is similar and different about the screens is important enough that I devoted many paragraphs to that topic, up above.

I don’t like the bulky size of the Ultra models, and now the Series 10 is the slimmest Apple Watch ever. And while the titanium finish of the Ultra model is, in my opinion, just fine, the polished titanium finish available on the Series 10 is beautiful.

If you are not getting a titanium case, the Series 10 is significantly cheaper than the Ultra 2, but only if you get the aluminum model (or the smaller model). The 49mm Ultra 2, which includes cellular, is $799. The aluminum 46mm Series 10  is $429 without cellular or $529 with cellular. So the fairest comparison is $529 versus $799, which is $270 more for the Ultra. If you get the titanium 46mm Series 10, which includes cellular, it costs $749, so the Ultra is only $50 more.

One place where the Ultra models come out on top is battery life: you get twice as much with the Ultra. And as I noted in my review, in practice, it can often feel like endless battery life. The Ultra 2 can also get up to 3000 nits of brightness when you are outside on a sunny day, whereas the Series 10 goes up to 2000 nits—which is still plenty bright, but not quite as good. The Ultra models have an action button on the left that you can assign to various tasks, such as invoking the flashlight feature or starting a workout. The Ultra models have two speakers (versus a single speaker on the Series 10) which make it up to 40% louder. The Ultra models have a siren, which can be useful if you are in an emergency situation. And only the Ultra models can use the fantastic Modular Ultra watch face.

Those are significant advantages, especially if battery life is important to you. But the Series 10 has its own advantages over the Ultra 2. The most obvious advantage is the slimmer design. I also prefer the look of the polished titanium. And the Digital Crown is easier to use on the Series 10. To protect the Digital Crown, the Ultra models have a case built up around the crown that makes it harder to turn. The Ultra models use a larger crown with deeper groves to try to compensate, but I’m not a big fan. When I stopped using an Ultra 2 and started using a Series 10 this past Friday, one of the first things that made me smile—after admiring how thin it was—was how much better the Digital Crown felt. And, of course, the Series 10 is either a little bit cheaper or a lot cheaper than the Ultra, depending upon which configuration you select.

Although I prefer the Series 10, an example of an argument in favor of the Ultra 2 comes from Mark Gurman of Bloomberg. Gurman has used an Ultra 2 for the past year, and this year he decided to get another Ultra 2 with the new black finish rather than get a Series 10. In brief, the reasons he provided for preferring the Ultra 2 over the Series 10 are:

• He finds 3,000 nits to be a “noticeable and helpful improvement.”
• He considers the 2x battery life more important than the thinner and lighter size of the Series 10.
• He likes the Action button, which he uses to trigger tracking for outdoor walks
• He doesn’t consider the Series 10 wide-angle OLED a substantial improvement. (I agree.)
• The screen size is essentially the same for both. (I agree)
• He loves the Modular Ultra watch face, which isn’t on the Series 10. (I agree.)

The Ultra 2 and Series 10 are both great watches. Each will have fans who believe that one is better than the other. For me, the Series 10 is the clear winner. I’m jealous of the additional battery life on the Ultra and I do miss the action button, but neither of those makes me prefer an Ultra 2 over a Series 10.

Conclusion

For the past decade, the yearly updates to the Series models of the Apple Watch have made the watch better and better. There was a significant update in 2021 when the Series 7 was introduced with a new design, and this is once again a year in which there is a significant design change. Plus, the Series 10 includes lots of other great features. If you want an Apple Watch made for rugged outdoor adventure, then you should get the Ultra 2. But if you just want a great Apple Watch, The Ultra 2 has some advantages (most notably the fantastic battery life) but the Series 10 has its own advantages (most notably being thinner and less expensive, plus the ability to get the fantastic polished titanium case). Either is a great Apple Watch. And for me, the Series 10 is the best Apple Watch ever.

Click here to get the Apple Watch Series 10 from Amazon.

It was an incredibly busy week in the world of Apple, and in this week’s episode of the In the News podcast, Brett run through what you need to know. We start with a deep discussion of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, which were released earlier this week. Then we discuss the new watchOS 11. After a brief discussion of visionOS 2 for the Apple Vision Pro, we then discuss the new hardware that went on sale today. First, we discuss the new iPhone 16 models, including the iPhone 16 Pro Max that I received. We also discuss the Apple Watch Series 10 (which I am wearing as I type this), the AirPods 4, and more.

In our In the Know segment, I discuss the great improvements to the Messages app in iOS 18.

Click here to listen to the audio podcast, or just listen using your podcast player of choice. You can also watch the episode on YouTube:

If you are interested in things that are new in the iPhone Extended Universe, then this is your week. Indeed, the iconic Apple Store Fifth Avenue in New York is literally glowing with excitement right now. On Monday, Apple released updates to the operating systems for virtually every one of its products. That includes iOS 18 for the iPhone. And because the new iPhone 16 line, Apple Watch Series 10, and AirPods 4 go on sale today, members of the press seeded with early review units have been publishing their reviews over the last few days, giving us all a sneak peek of what is now available to purchase. Plus, there is Apple TV+ news, and we say goodbye to a long-beloved iPhone website Let’s get to it, the news of note from the past week:

• Before we start the news, please consider taking 10 seconds to make a quick donation to the campaign I am running for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. For those of you who have already contributed, a lens cloth is on its way to you!
• Dan Moren of Six Colors reviews iOS 18.
• Juli Clover recommends 10 new things to try in iOS 18.
• Jason Snell of Six Colors discusses the changes to the Photos app in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18. This is one of my favorite parts of the updates.
• Tim Hardwick of MacRumors says that one of the best parts of iOS 18 is the ability to use any Emoji as a tapback reaction in Messages. I agree; this feature is nice.
• Jason Snell of Six Colors discusses the Math Notes feature of iPadOS 18 as well as the new tab bars.
• Jonathan Reed of MacStories posts an extensive review of watchOS 11.
• Brian Heater of TechCrunch reports that the FDA has approved the new sleep apnea detection feature of watchOS 11, which works on the prior Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 and the new Series 10.
• Ryan Christoffel of 9to5Mac explains how the remote app on the Apple Watch gains new features in watchOS 11, so you can do even more to control an Apple TV.
• WatchOS 11 giveth, but it also taketh away. Zac Hall of 9to5Mac notes that watchOS 11 removes four watch faces from the Apple Watch.
• Devon Dundee of MacStories posted an excellent, in-depth review of visionOS 2 for the Apple Vision Pro. I’ve been using the beta version for many weeks now, and it is a great upgrade.
• Juli Clover of MacRumors also reviews visionOS 2.
• Joe Rossignol of MacRumors discusses some updates to tvOS 18 that won’t be available until later this year, including a new Snoopy screensaver.
• Juli Clover of MacRumors discusses what is new in HomePod Software 18.
• Nilay Patel of The Verge did a great job with his review of the iPhone 16 Pro, and I especially recommend the video that accompanies his article.
• A major advantage of the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max is camera advances. Austin Mann tried out the new camera while in Kenya and got some amazing photographs.
• One advantage of the new iPhone 16 is that it may be the most repairable iPhone ever, as reported by Tom Pritchard of Tom’s Guide.
• Liz Plosser of Women’s Health posted a good review of the new Apple Watch Series 10, including the numerous health-related features that it offers.
• Lexy Savvides of CNet reviewed the new Apple Watch Series 10 and found that it was even better than expected. I also like the video she created as a part of the review that shows that the voice isolation feature works really well when you are using the Apple Watch to talk on the phone with someone but you are in a noisy environment.
• Victoria Song of The Verge explains in her review of the Apple Watch Series 10 why the bigger display is a great new feature.
• The new Apple Watch Series 10 doesn’t have a longer battery life, but it does take less time to charge than prior models, as noted by Todd Haselton in his review for CNBC.
• Apple did not release an Apple Watch Ultra 3, but the existing Ultra 2 did just get better in three ways, as noted by Ryan Christoffel of 9to5Mac.
• David Carnoy of CNet says that the noise cancellation feature in the high-end version of AirPods 4 works better than you would expect for a product that doesn’t create a seal on your ear to keep out background noise.
• Justine Ezarik of iJustine has a good video review of the new AirPods 4 and the hearing aid update to the current AirPods Pro 2.
• As explained by Matt Stoller of the BIG newsletter, the new hearing aid feature of AirPods Pro 2 is possible today in large part due to an executive order issued by President Biden a few months ago.
• Nellie Andreeva of Deadline reports that Apple TV+ has canceled Time Bandits after only one season. I’m still in the middle of watching Season 1, but I thought it was a decent, quirky show.
• William Gallagher of AppleInsider reports that the Apple TV+ show Slow Horses won the Emmy for outstanding writing. That Emmy was for Season 3; Season 4 is currently streaming and Season 5 just finished filming. Also, Billy Crudup of the Apple TV+ show The Morning Show got a second Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.
• Apple announced that the next states to add digital driver’s licenses to the Wallet app include Montana, New Mexico, and West Virginia.
• Joe Rossignol of MacRumors asks: where is Apple’s next-generation CarPlay?
• Fernando Silva of 9to5Mac discusses the new KeyBudz, a robust AirTag case that you can attach to an object that is made for extreme conditions, such as underwater submersion for over 60 days. This looks like a good way to attach an AirTag to a bike or outdoor equipment. It is $15 on Amazon (or 4 for $35).
• Just over 15 years ago in 2008, two websites launched that were related to the iPhone. I, an attorney, launched iPhone J.D., and Arnold Kim, a doctor, co-founded Touch Arcade. Because Touch Arcade was all about iPhone apps, a topic that I virtually always avoid here on iPhone J.D., there was no real overlap between the two websites. But it was the website I turned to whenever I was curious about the gaming side of the iPhone. Thus, I was sad to learn this week that TouchArcade is shutting down. Thank you to all of the people who contributed to that site over the years. Fortunately, another website started by Arnold Kim, MacRumors, is still going strong.
• Let’s finish up with two great videos from Joanna Stern of the Wall Street Journal. First, in this recent video, she shows how Wi-Fi on some airplanes is going to get much faster thanks to some planes using Starlink for Internet service.
• And finally, in another video, Stern does a great job showing off 18 tips for iOS 18:

Apple has given us lots to be excited about this week. Yesterday, we saw the big new software updates to the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, Apple TV, and HomePod. And this Friday, the new iPhone and Apple Watch models will be available. For people who enjoy using Apple products, it is a very exciting time of the year.

While you are feeling all of those good vibes, I encourage you to pay it forward and do something nice for someone else who can really use your help. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and a leader in the fight against childhood cancer is St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Since St. Jude opened its doors in 1962, the treatments developed at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80%. And they have so much more that they can do, from helping individual patients they are treating at their facility in Memphis to developing techniques that can be used to treat children around the world.

For the third year in a row, iPhone J.D. is part of the community that is working with the Relay podcast network to raise money for St. Jude. Relay is the network behind some fantastic tech-related podcasts, such as Upgrade, Mac Power Users, Connected, Clockwise, Automators, and so many more. By working together, the end result can be pretty amazing. Since 2019, the Relay community has raised over $3 million for St. Jude.

The process of making a donation is super easy. Simply go to the page, click the big green DONATE button, click one of the two Relay awards options if either interests you (that part is optional, but you can get some fun stuff like stickers and screensavers if you donate more than $60 or $100), then checkout and pay. The whole process takes only seconds, and I guarantee that you will feel so much better knowing that you are part of the solution for families that are directly affected by childhood cancer today and those that will be dealing with it in the future.

I also have a limited special reward for iPhone J.D. readers. I still have some fantastic microfiber cloths with the iPhone J.D. logo on them that I have given away on rare occasions in the past (such as at TECHSHOW 2014). If you donate at least $100, instead of the standard Relay rewards, you can select to receive one of these. They are fantastic for cleaning an iPhone or iPad screen, and I also use one to clean my eyeglasses every day. This is a limited offer because I don’t have many of them left and the company that made them doesn’t exist anymore, but a few still remain, so donate soon if you want to get one while they last.

Whether you donate $5 or $500, your donation will make a difference. And a special thanks to those of you who have already contributed!

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Today is the day that Apple will release iOS 18, the 2024 major update to the operating system for the iPhone. Apple previewed iOS 18 three months ago, and here is a link to my post on what seem to me to be the most interesting new features such as the new-and-improved Control Center, numerous improvements to Messages and Mail, and more. And it is not just the iPhone. Today, Apple will also release iPadOS 18 for the iPad, watchOS 11 for the Apple Watch, macOS 15 Sequoia for the Mac, and visionOS 2 for the Apple Vision Pro.

I don’t believe that Apple has announced a release date for tvOS 18 for the Apple TV, so that could be available today or it could come in the next few weeks. [UPDATE: tvOS 18 was released today, as was HomePod software version 18.]

If you want to be an early adopter, Apple often releases updates around 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern, so that is my best guess for the timing of today’s release. [UPDATE: iOS 18 was released around 10:07am Pacific / 1:07pm Eastern.] Otherwise, your device should give you a notification at some point during the next week that you can update it.

Apple announced some great new products this week, and I ordered two of them, even though the pre-order process was harder than it should have been. In this week’s episode, Brett and I talk extensively about the new iPhone 16 models, the new AirPods, new features coming to the AirPods Pro 2, and the new Apple Watch Series 10. We also discuss how to decide whether to pick the Pro models or the non-Pro models and how to select a size. This year, there are no easy answers!

In our In the Know segment, Brett and I pick the best and worst announcements by Apple this week.

Click here to listen to the audio podcast, or just listen using your podcast player of choice. You can also watch the episode on YouTube:

A few years ago, Apple CEO Tim Cook remarked in an interview for Popular Mechanics:”I think that when we look back one day and ask, what’s been Apple’s greatest contribution, it will be in health.” Earlier this week, along with introducing the new iPhone and new Apple Watch, Apple announced a new health feature coming to a current product. The AirPods Pro (2nd generation) introduced by Apple two years ago, which Apple is now calling AirPods Pro 2, is gaining the world’s first all-in-one hearing health experience. First, you will be able to use these AirPods and an iPhone to conduct a clinical-grade hearing test. The test takes about five minutes and will tell you your hearing loss in each ear. The test even produces an audiogram that you can share with a healthcare provider. Second, using the personalized hearing profile created by performing the hearing test, you can use these AirPods as a clinical-grade hearing aid, boosting the sounds around you in real-time to make it easier to hear people and your environment. The FDA announced yesterday that it gave its approval to what it called “the first over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid software device.” Ben Lovejoy of 9to5Mac remarked that this feature is going to challenge social norms. Traditionally, when people have seen you wearing AirPods, they likely assumed that you were listening to music instead of them. But in the future, wearing AirPods could indicate just the opposite: that you are trying to hear them better than ever. Indeed, some people who were concerned about a social stigma associated with wearing traditional hearing aids might be more interested in instead wearing AirPods. Christopher Null of Wired notes that you can even use these AirPods as hearing aids during phone calls and streaming media, which no other hearing aids can currently do. Dulan Lokuwithana of Seeking Alpha reported that traditional hearing aid stocks fell on the news of Apple entering this market. I think it is great for Apple to add this new health feature, especially since many folks will not even need to purchase a new product to take advantage of the feature. And now, the other news of note from the past week:

• As of 5am Pacific / 8am Eastern today, Apple started taking pre-orders for the iPhone 16 models. They will be available for delivery as soon as one week from today, or you can buy one in an Apple Store starting a week from today.
• When I discussed the new iPhone 16 models, I noted that they can charge using MagSafe faster than ever—up to 25W. Tim Hardwick of MacRumors says that the new iPhone 16 models also support faster charging using the USB-C port: up to 45W.
• Jovana Naumovski of Gadget Hacks identifies 22 features that you get on the new iPhone 16 models but don’t get on earlier iPhones.
• In an article for Six Colors and Macworld, Jason Snell—who had a chance to try the new iPhones this week—says that the new Camera Control button on the iPhone 16 models is Apple at its best.
• Ryan Christoffel of 9to5Mac discusses the three reasons to select an iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max over the iPhone 16 or 16 Plus: battery life, bigger and better display, and camera advantages.
• When Apple debuts Apple Intelligence starting next month, much of the processing will be done on your own iPhone to keep things private and secure, but sometimes it will need to access an online Apple server. Apple has taken pretty incredible steps to maintain the privacy and security of those servers, as noted by Apple executive Craig Federighi in an interview with Lily Hay Newman of Wired.
• Years ago, Apple purchased the cellular model division of Intel and has been trying to come up with its own product to be used in the iPhone. For now, however, Apple continues to use modems sold by Qualcomm. Wesley Hilliard of AppleInsider says that the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models use the Snapdragon X75 modem, which can apparently download up to 26% faster using 5G.
• Although Apple introduced a new Apple Watch Series 10 this week, Apple is also about to add new features to the current Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. Hartley Charlton of MacRumors discusses what is coming via a software update, including the ability to playback music and podcasts via the built-in speakers—a feature that I have wanted to have since the original Apple Watch.
• Perhaps my all-time favorite Apple Watch band has been the Milanese Loop, and I have been wearing one regularly since 2015. This week, Apple introduced a titanium version of the Milanese Loop along with 33 new color options to 13 of its existing Apple Watch bands, plus new bands from Hermès, as noted by Hartley Charlton of MacRumors.
• John Voorhees of MacStories identifies all of the small things that Apple announced this week.
• This week, Apple updated the AirPods Max to support USB-C instead of Lightning. (Strangely, Apple did not make other changes to that device, such as ardrd a newer chip to support features available on other AirPods models.) Joe Rossignol of MacRumors looks at what products Apple is still selling that continue to use the Lightning port. There isn’t much left.
• iOS 18 will come out on Monday. Matthew Cassinelli counts 261 new features.
• When I purchased my Apple Vision Pro, I knew that I would want a case to protect it, so I purchased the $199 Apple Vision Pro Travel Case, thinking that it would be the best one. While there is much that I like about that case, I don’t like that it is so big. David Sparks of Macsparky reviews the $159 / $179 Waterfield Shield Case for Vision Pro, which is much more compact, and he is a fan. If I had to do it over again, I think I would purchase this Waterfield case over the Apple one because a smaller case would be easier to pack inside of a knapsack when I travel.
• In an interview yesterday on the CNBC show Squak Box, Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. J.D. Vance said that it is “pretty sick” that, according to him, Apple benefits from Chinese slave labor, and also criticized Apple for not paying American workers a fair wage. Mike Wuerthele and Malcolm Owen of AppleInsider fact-check those statements, explaining why JD Vance is wrong and why these incorrect allegations are unfair.
• And finally, Apple created a video called More Personal Siri to show a feature of the new Siri with Apple Intelligence that I would love if it actually worked this easily. (Hopefully, it does!) The video features Bella Ramsey, one of the stars of the HBO show The Last of Us, who is also well-known for playing Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones. She did another Apple Intelligence video called Email Summary, but I don’t think that video works as well—and indeed, that feature of Apple Intelligence doesn’t impress me as much. A third one called Custom Memory Movies is also pretty good, but the More Personal Siri one is the best:

Yesterday, Apple announced the 2024 edition of the iPhone, which once again comes in four models. First, there are the two iPhone 16 models: the normal size (6.1-inch display) and the larger Plus version (6.7-inch display). Second, there are the two iPhone 16 Pro models: the normal size (6.3-inch display) and the larger Max version (6.9-inch display). All four models support Apple Intelligence, a suite of technologies that will roll out over time, starting next month. And all four models feature more buttons: the two iPhone 16 models gain the Action button that was only available on the Pro models last year, and all four models get the new Camera Control button which looks like a great new way to take pictures. This year, you don’t lose any features by getting the smaller size instead of the larger size, which makes the purchasing decision easier. First, decide whether paying $200 extra for the Pro features is worth it for you. Second, decide whether you want a regular-size iPhone or a larger iPhone for $100 more. With all of the new features added this year, the iPhone 16 line looks like a great upgrade for lawyers and other professionals who want to do more with their iPhone, especially if taking great photos and videos is important to you.

The iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Plus

Let’s start by looking at the non-Pro models, which gain lots of new features.

Camera Control. The new Camera Control button comes with all four models, and it looks to be a great new feature. You can press the button to launch the camera app no matter what mode the iPhone is in. It is a physical button, so you can depress the button to take a picture, and apparently, there is zero lag between pressing the button and taking the picture. Or you can hold down the button to take video.

Better yet, if you push down on the Camera Control button just a little bit—not hard enough to take a picture—you can do all sorts of things. Press it lightly once to bring up controls that let you change the zoom level; swipe left and right across the button to change the setting. Double-press it lightly to get other choices such as lens selection, exposure selection, and photo style selection. A future software update will let you use the button to lock in the focus and exposure—similar to what a half-click on the shutter button does on a DSLR camera.

The Camera Control button can also work with third-party apps that take pictures. The developers of those apps can decide what options are available when you half-press and slide your finger. I hope we see some creative uses.

I’ll have to try it to know for sure, but this certainly sounds like a big improvement. Having a Camera Control button should reduce the time between when you want to take a picture and when you actually take the picture, helping to ensure that you don’t miss a key moment. And the numerous controls that you can access by swiping and half-pressing on the Camera Control will make it easier to get to the precise camera mode that you want.

Action button. Since we are talking about buttons, let’s next address the new Action button. When the first iPhone came out in 2007, it had a ringer switch on the side, and that switch stayed there until last year when the Pro model of the iPhone 15 changed from a ringer switch to an Action button. You can use the Action button to turn the ringer on or off if you like, but that’s not all. It can also turn on the flashlight, open an app, activate Voice Memos, activate the Magnifier, and much more. And “much more” means an unlimited number of additional things because you can use the Action button to trigger any action that you created in the Shortcuts app.

I’ve been using the Action button for the last year, and I like it. During the day, I use it to open the Camera app—something that I will no longer need once I get a new iPhone with a Camera Control. At night, it turns off the lamp on my bedstand. That sounds like such a simple thing but every single night when I go to bed I have my iPhone in my hand or nearby because I am about to place it on a charger overnight, and as I’m doing so, I love being able to press a simple button to turn off a light without having to tap multiple times on my screen to do the same thing in the Home app.

Apple Intelligence. Apple is very proud of the fact that all four iPhone 16 models have support for Apple Intelligence—a technology that is not out yet, but it will come with some features next month, more features later this year, and even more features in the future. Apple previewed Apple Intelligence a few months ago, and as I discussed at the time, there is quite a bit that it can do.

I myself have mixed emotions about the writing tools feature in Apple Intelligence because I feel like I know how to write (although I can always use help with spelling and grammar mistakes), but others might find those useful. I’m more interested in Visual Intelligence, a feature that can understand what you take a picture of. Take a picture of a store and get info about the store such as hours, website, etc. Take a picture of something that has a date written on it and you can create a calendar entry. Take a picture of a dog and see what kind of dog it is.

Siri is also much more powerful with Apple Intelligence. Whether it is providing you an answer itself or tapping into a resource such as ChatGPT, we should be able to get better and more relevant answers to questions.

Apple seems to be very excited about Apple Intelligence. My hope is that once I start using it myself, I will also gain enthusiasm. For now, I’m mainly just curious to see how it works.

Better processor. A big reason that the new iPhone 16 can handle Apple Intelligence is that it has a more powerful chip. Indeed, after using the A16 last year, this year’s model skips over A17 and goes right to using an A18 chip. Apple says that the powerful A18 chip allows the new iPhone to do much more while using less battery life.

Better battery. Apple said that the battery in the iPhone 16 is better than ever. For example, the iPhone 15 supported 20 hours of video playback, but Apple says that the iPhone 16 gains two additional hours and thus has 22 hours of video playback. The iPhone 16 Plus features up to 27 hours of video playback, an hour more than the iPhone 15 Plus with its 26 hours of video playback.

Better pictures and videos. Not only can you start taking pictures and videos faster than ever thanks to the new Camera Control, but pictures and video that you take can be better. A new 48MP Fusion Canera lens is supposed to do a better job when you change from 1x to 2x, even though it is just a software zoom not a true optical zoom. The 12MP Ultra Wide camera is also better, which not only provides better wide-angle photography but also allows for better Macro photography.

Also, if you own an Apple Vision Pro—or you just want to take 3D pictures and videos that you will one day be able to view on an Apple Vision Pro—Apple has moved the two lenses to a side-by-side position (when you are holding the camera in landscape orientation) and added the ability to take spatial photos and videos. Note that these spatial videos are still only 1080p, not 4K which is what I had hoped for, so you do give up some video quality when you change from 2D to 3D.

The sound of videos that you take can also be better. The new iPhones feature wind noise reduction. More impressively, there is a new feature called Audio Mix that lets you change the level of background sounds to make it easier to hear voices. According to Apple, Cinematic mode “[c]aptures all of the voices around you and consolidates them toward the front of the screen—just like sound is formatted for the movies.” In-frame mode “[o]nly captures the voices of the people on camera, even if people off-camera are talking during the recording.” and Studio mode “[m]akes voices sound like you’re recording in a professional studio equipped with sound-dampening walls. Great for vloggers or podcasters because the recording will sound like the mic is close to the subject’s mouth, even if it’s a few feet away.” This sounds incredibly useful and is a fascinating feature, proof that Apple has some really smart people working in the field of sound just like they have smart people working on preserving what you can see in a camera and preserve in an image.

Better MagSafe. If you use a power adapter that is 30W or higher, Apple says that you can get wireless MagSafe charging of up to 25W. This means that you can charge an iPhone 16 up to 50% in only 30 minutes on a wireless charger. Note that I think that you need to get a charger designed to support this feature. Apple sells one on its website for $39 with a 1 meter cord or $49 for a 2 meter cord.

Wi-Fi 7. Wi-Fi 7 is the latest version of Wi-Fi. It only became available in 2024 so it is not yet enabled in many devices, but when you do encounter Wi-Fi 7, this new iPhone will be ready for it with even faster Internet speeds.

The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max

The Pro versions of the iPhone 16 models are better in a few specific ways. They feature larger and better screens, have a more powerful processor, can take better pictures and video, and have a longer battery life.

Larger and better screen. Perhaps the most obvious difference with the Pro line is the size. The smaller model has a 6.3-inch display instead of 6.1-inch, and the Max model has a 6.9-inch display instead of the 6.7-inch of the iPhone 16 Plus. For example, the iPhone 16 has 2556 x 1179 pixels, and the iPhone 16 Pro has 2622 x 1206 pixels. The iPhone 16 Plus has 2796 x 1290 pixels and the iPhone 16 Pro has 2868 x 1320 pixels. I’ll have to see these in person to see what the new screen size feels like, but there is definitely a little more room.

The Pro models also feature a smaller bezel, so the increase in screen size comes with slightly less of an increase in the overall size of the device.

The Pro models also have better screens. Just like last year, there is ProMotion for smoother motion and an Always-On display, allowing you to glance at your iPhone and see information without even having to touch it.

Better processor. The Pro versions of the iPhone 16 have an A18 Pro chip. That lets it do more and makes many of the other unique features possible.

5x optical zoom. Before I address the other camera improvements, I want to start by focusing on the zoom camera. Just like last year, you can get a 5x optical zoom with the Pro Max model. Unlike last year, that 5x zoom is also on the iPhone 15 Pro non-Max model. Thus, you don’t have to get a huge iPhone just to get an awesome zoom.

Last year, for the first time in my life, I got the large version of an iPhone instead of the smaller version specifically so that I could take advantage of the 5x zoom. I am so happy that I made that decision because there have been a ton of pictures that I took over the last year that were only possible because of the 5x zoom. When you are inside and the light is dim, 5x pictures are more grainy. But in a well-lit room, or if you are outside, you can get some amazing photos with the 5x zoom.

This year, I’ll have the option of getting the 5x zoom without having to get the larger iPhone, so I could go back to the smaller version of the Pro model. I’m thinking about that right now, but I will probably opt to stay with the larger model. I’ve gotten used to the larger size (even though it is a little more cumbersome to put in a shirt pocket), and when I’m looking at an iPhone screen, having more space is very nice. Even so, it is nice that you don’t have to go to the larger model if you just want the 5x zoom.

Better pictures and video. If you want the best possible pictures and videos, you’ll want the iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max. 

The UltraWide camera can take a 48MP picture, which is four times better than the iPhone 16 and last year’s iPhone 15 Pro. In theory, this means that you shouldn’t have to sacrifice quality just to go to the wide or Macro mode, which is great. I also suspect that this helps this iPhone to take even better spatial photography.

The video capabilities are also improved in various ways, including support for Dolby Vision video and 4K at 120 frames per second.

The Pro models also feature an anti-reflective coating on the lenses. Apple hasn’t said much about this feature, but I presume that it reduces lens flare.

The Pro models also feature better microphones: a studio-quality four-mic array. Add this to the wind noise reduction and Audio Mix that is also available on the iPhone 16 models and you get some impressive audio improvements.

Even better battery. I noted above that the battery is improved on the iPhone 16 models. They are even better on the Pro models, I presume because the iPhones themselves are a little bigger and thus can accommodate a bigger battery. For example, while the iPhone 15 Pro could handle 23 hours of video playback, the iPhone 16 Pro can handle 27 hours. The iPhone 15 Pro Max could handle 29 hours of video playback, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max can handle 33 hours.

Cases and Costs

The case of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus is aluminum, and it comes in different colors: ultramarine, teal, pink, white, and black. The case of the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max is titanium and it lacks bright colors, coming in black titanium, natural titanium, white titanium, and desert titanium (a sort of light gold or brown).

The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus have a 128GB model: $799 for the iPhone 16 and $899 for the iPhone 16 Plus. The iPhone 16 Pro also has a 128GB model for $999. There is no 128GB model for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. All four models come with a 256GB model: $899, $999, $1099, and $1199 for the 16 / 16 Plus / 16 Pro / 16 Pro Max. You can see the pattern here. You pay an extra $100 to increase the size of the iPhone, and you pay an extra $200 to jump from the regular model to the Max model.

There is also a 512GB version for all four models. And for the Pro line, you can get a 1TB model for $1499 (Pro) or $1599 (Pro Max).

Last year, I got the 512GB model and I was happy with that size. It gave me plenty of space to take 4K videos. The shorter ones stayed in my Photos library, but the larger ones got moved to my computer and then turned into home movies using Final Cut Pro. So this year, I plan to stay with the same size and get either the $1299 iPhone Pro 512GB or the $1399 iPhone Pro Max 512GB.

Conclusion

The 2024 models of the iPhone look like nice upgrades. I’m excited about the new Camera Control button. And while I’m still uncertain how useful Apple Intelligence will be, it has the potential to be a big deal, and these devices will have the processor power to support Apple Intelligence. Moreover, Apple knows that many people (like me) love the iPhone because of its capabilities as a camera, and all of the models—but especially the two Pro models—excel in that area. I’m excited to get this new model.

Pre-orders start on Friday, September 13. Pre-orders should arrive starting on September 20, and they will also be available in stores starting September 20.

We begin this week’s episode of the In the News podcast with a discussion of the Apple Watch, looking at how far it has come in the past ten years and thinking about what new features might be added when Apple announces the Apple Watch Series 10 on Monday. Next, we discuss the new Photos app coming in just a few days or weeks in iOS 18, additional things that you can do with the Action button on an iPhone in iOS 18, the Smart Script feature coming in iPadOS 18, some great shows on Apple TV+, and more.

In our Where Y’At? segment, we discuss using AirTags to track discarded items.

In our In the Know segment, Brett discusses using the Wallet app to see info from a driver’s license, and I recommend that you create an Apple  folder on your iPhone.

Click here to listen to the audio podcast, or just listen using your podcast player of choice. You can also watch the episode on YouTube: