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Is the Apple Watch Series 10 Worth Buying in 2026?
Yes, if you find it discounted. Apple discontinued the Series 10 when the Series 11 shipped in September 2025, but retailers still sell remaining stock, typically $320 to $360 versus the Series 11's $399. The Series 11 mainly adds a tougher screen coating, a 5G modem, and a modest battery bump, so a discounted Series 10 is a genuinely good buy for most iPhone owners.
The Bottom Line
Apple discontinued the Apple Watch Series 10 in September 2025 when the Series 11 launched. That sounds like a reason to skip it. It isn’t. Reviewers who compared both watches found the Series 11’s changes, a 5G modem, a tougher screen coating, and a modest battery bump, are minor enough that most people shouldn’t pay full price to get them. That means a discounted Series 10 (commonly $320 to $360, down from its original $399) is now one of the better values in Apple’s lineup, based on published specs and testing from outlets like Wareable, TechRadar, and AppleInsider.
This review reflects that 2026 reality: Series 10 as a discounted, still-current watch, not as Apple’s newest model. Prices move around sales events, so compare current listings if you’re timing the purchase around a discount.
The simplest buy decision:
- Buy Series 10 if discounted: Apple Watch Series 10 on Amazon
- Want the newest model instead: Apple Watch Series 11 on Amazon
- Save more money: Apple Watch SE on Amazon (see our full Apple Watch SE review)
Who This Is For
If you use an iPhone and you’ll actually wear a smartwatch every day, the Series 10 covers the fundamentals well: a fast, readable always-on display, solid health and activity tracking, and notifications that cut down how often you check your phone. It’s not for people who want the newest hardware bragging rights (that’s the Series 11 or Ultra 3) or people who train seriously with a dedicated sports watch (Garmin still leads there).
Why It Was the Flagship, and Why That’s Changed Less Than You’d Think
Series 10’s original pitch was three things: a bigger, brighter always-on display, smoother day-to-day performance, and Apple’s usual health and fitness tracking. Those haven’t gotten worse since Series 11 arrived, they’re just no longer the newest version of themselves. According to Apple’s own Series 11 announcement and independent comparisons from Wareable and TechRadar, the generational jump from 10 to 11 is smaller than the jump from Series 9 (or older) to 11. If you already own a Series 10, there’s little reason to upgrade. If you’re buying new, the calculus depends entirely on the price gap you’re seeing.
The Real Killer Feature: Notifications
Fitness features are nice. Health features matter. But the reason people keep wearing an Apple Watch, based on how owners actually describe using it in reviews, is that it replaces a lot of pocket-phone checks with a glance at the wrist.
This matters most if you:
- live in Slack or Teams during the workday,
- juggle kids’ schedules or family logistics,
- travel and want calls/messages without pulling out your phone,
- hate missing calls but also hate phone calls.
Health Tracking: Useful as a Habit Tool, Not a Diagnostic Device
The Apple Watch works best treated as a gentle accountability device, not a medical instrument. It’s reasonable to use it for:
- steps and movement reminders,
- heart rate trends over time,
- sleep consistency (not sleep perfection),
- workout tracking with automatic detection.
watchOS 26 added hypertension notifications and a Sleep Score, based on Apple’s official announcement. Hypertension notifications require the optical heart sensor in Series 9, Series 10, Series 11, or Ultra 2 and later, so the Apple Watch SE doesn’t get that one. Sleep Score has no extra sensor requirement and does run on the SE. Either way, neither feature is a reason to specifically choose Series 10 over Series 11, since both current-generation watches get them.
One difference worth knowing if you’re weighing Series 10 against an older, cheaper SE: watchOS 27 (2026) supports the Series 10, but dropped support for the second-generation SE, along with Series 8 and older. If you plan to keep the watch a few years, that’s a real point in the Series 10’s favor.
Fitness Tracking: Frictionless, Not the Most Precise
Apple’s advantage has always been reducing friction: starting a workout is fast, the data is easy to read, and it integrates with iPhone apps without extra setup. If you’re seriously training for a specific sport and want the most accurate metrics and longest battery life, a dedicated Garmin is still the better tool, based on published reviews and long-standing category consensus. If you want a watch you’ll actually put on every morning, Apple remains the easier habit to keep for iPhone owners.
Garmin alternative: Garmin Forerunner on Amazon
Battery Life: Manageable, Not Magical
Daily charging is still the norm for the Series 10, and that hasn’t changed with Series 11 either, Apple’s own battery estimate for the 11 only moved from about 18 to 24 hours in ideal conditions. If nightly charging is a dealbreaker for you, the realistic alternatives are a Garmin (multi-day battery, weaker notifications) or accepting the routine and charging on your nightstand or desk.
Accessory that makes the routine easier: Apple Watch charger stand on Amazon
What to Buy: Series 10 vs SE vs Series 11 vs Ultra 3
| Model | Best for | Starting price (new, per Apple) |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch SE | Notifications, activity rings, gifting, lowest cost | $249 |
| Apple Watch Series 10 (discounted, third-party) | Best value: always-on display, ECG, blood oxygen | Commonly $320-$360 |
| Apple Watch Series 11 | Buyers who want 5G, the newest screen coating, and full Apple warranty on a current model | $399 |
| Apple Watch Ultra 3 | Serious outdoor use, satellite messaging, longest battery life | $799 |
For the detailed head-to-head, see our Apple Watch SE vs Series 10 comparison.
Buy Series 10 if…
- you can find it discounted below Series 11’s price,
- you want the always-on display, ECG, and blood oxygen sensor,
- you don’t specifically need 5G or the newest scratch-resistant coating.
Buy: Apple Watch Series 10 on Amazon
Buy SE if…
- you want the Apple Watch basics for the least money,
- you mainly want notifications and activity rings,
- you’re gifting it or buying for a first-time wearer.
Buy Series 11 if…
- you want Apple’s current flagship with full new-unit warranty,
- 5G cellular and the tougher screen coating matter to you,
- the price difference from a discounted Series 10 is small enough not to matter.
Buy: Apple Watch Series 11 on Amazon
Buy Ultra 3 if…
- you want the biggest battery, a rugged titanium build, and satellite messaging,
- you’re actually outdoors a lot, off-grid or otherwise,
- you want “watch as tool,” not “watch as iPhone accessory.”
Buy: Apple Watch Ultra 3 on Amazon
Verdict: Buy It (If Discounted)
Buy the Apple Watch Series 10 when you can find it meaningfully cheaper than the Series 11, which is common now that it’s discontinued. Skip it if you’re paying close to $399, at that price the newer Series 11 is the better long-term buy with full warranty support. And if you mainly want notifications and activity tracking without paying flagship prices, the Apple Watch SE remains the better value for most people.
Check current Apple Watch Series 10 pricing on Amazon.
Affiliate disclosure: grimtech may earn a commission from qualifying purchases through the Amazon links above, at no additional cost to you. It does not change our recommendations.
The Verdict
Apple stopped selling the Series 10 in September 2025 when the Series 11 launched, but third-party retailers still stock it, usually $60 to $80 below its original $399 price. Since the Series 11's upgrades are minor, a discounted Series 10 is now one of the better values in the Apple Watch lineup, for buyers who don't need 5G or the newest glass.
Check Price on AmazonThe Good
- Fast, polished, and frictionless for iPhone users
- Solid health and activity tracking for everyday use
- Notifications on the wrist are the real reason people keep wearing it
- Now discounted since Apple discontinued it, often the best value Watch you can buy
The Bad
- Discontinued: no longer sold new by Apple, only through third-party retailers
- Daily charging is still required
- Sleep Score, one of watchOS 26's two headline health features, also runs on the cheaper SE, so Series 10 isn't exclusive there
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Tech reviews & buying advice
grimtech is an independent tech-review publication. We test and research gear, cut the hype, and give one clear recommendation you can act on. Our rule is simple: trust is the whole business, so we never let a commission shape a verdict, if the cheaper or older product is the right call, that's what we tell you. We earn affiliate commissions when you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you, and that never changes what we recommend.