Apple's latest smartwatch offering, the Apple Watch Series 10, brings exciting new health features to the table, but questions remain about its ability to support extended use.
The tech giant has announced that sleep apnea detection will be coming to the Apple Watch Series 10, as well as the Series 9 and Ultra 2 models. This new feature, dubbed Breathing Disturbances, utilizes the watch's accelerometer to monitor nocturnal breathing patterns over a 30-day period. The data collected can then be presented in an easy-to-understand format through the Apple Health app, potentially aiding in the diagnosis of sleep apnea for millions of users.
Key highlights of the Apple Watch Series 10 include:
- Larger screen and thinner, lighter design
- New S10 chipset for improved performance
- Enhanced call clarity
- Built-in Translate app
- New Jet Black color option
- Tides app for water sports enthusiasts
While these features are impressive, concerns have been raised about the watch's battery life. Despite introducing faster charging capabilities - reaching 80% battery in just 30 minutes - the Series 10 still only offers around 18 hours of use on a single charge. This limitation could hinder the effectiveness of overnight health monitoring features like sleep apnea detection.
Critics argue that extending battery life to at least 24 hours would significantly improve user experience and increase adoption of health monitoring features. Comparatively, competitors like Samsung offer up to 40 hours of battery life on their latest smartwatch models.
As Apple awaits FDA approval for its sleep apnea detection feature, the company plans to make it available in over 150 countries and regions. However, the effectiveness of this potentially life-changing functionality may be hampered by the need for frequent charging.
The introduction of sleep apnea detection alongside the new Vitals app in watchOS 11 demonstrates Apple's commitment to expanding health monitoring capabilities. However, the persistent battery life limitations of the Apple Watch Series 10 may prove to be a stumbling block in fully realizing the potential of these advanced features.
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| The technological innovation within the Apple Watch Series 10, highlighting its advanced health monitoring capabilities |
