Apple Watch Series 10 Teardown

Unboxing the Apple Watch Series 10

Apple has maintained a commitment to sustainability, using recyclable cardboard and paper for the shipping boxes of the Apple Watch. The Apple Watch Series 10 weighs in at 36.1 grams with the shipping box and supporting materials. The total shipping weight is 279.3 grams, indicating a robust package.

Interestingly, the shipping box measures just under 30 millimeters tall and contains two smaller boxes. One houses the documentation and charging cable, while the other is specifically for the watch band.

Our teardown subject is the Wi-Fi-only 46mm model, priced at $299, purchased in Poland. It’s hard to believe we’re now on the tenth generation of the Apple Watch, a wearable that has solidified Apple's dominance in the smartwatch market since its inception in 2015.

Evolution of the Apple Watch

With the success of previous models, one might think there's little left for Apple to innovate. However, the Apple Watch Series 10 has introduced several noteworthy enhancements. It is designed to be slimmer, boasting the largest display yet for any Apple Watch series.

Recent reports indicate that Apple holds over 50% of the smartwatch market, leaving competitors vying for the remaining share. As we prepare for our teardown, we are eager to uncover the changes Apple implemented to achieve this slimmer profile; the new model is 1 millimeter thinner than the Series 9.

Apple Watch Series 10 Slimmer Casing

Inside the Series 10: The Teardown

Upon opening the device, we expect to find the Apple System in Package (SiP) Assembly prominently displayed, likely bearing the Apple logo and perhaps an "S10" marking. This encapsulation typically contains most of the watch's integrated circuits (ICs).

In prior generations, even though the Series 9 featured the brightest display yet, it was the Series 7 display that incurred the highest estimated cost. By the time the Series 9 was released, the display price had decreased by $3. Given the updated LPT03 OLED display in the Series 10, which is also the largest in any Apple Watch series, we anticipate an increase in display costs—possibly aligning with the Series 7's pricing.

Apple Watch Series 10 Teardown

Taptic Engine and Digital Crown

The Taptic Engine, crucial for delivering haptic feedback, is located near the Digital Crown. This component's design has remained fairly consistent since the Series 4, which introduced the ECG functionality via an electrode connected to the gear assembly. Notably, the optical reader, a fixture since Series 1, was repositioned in Series 4 to accommodate the ECG.

In our upcoming deep dive teardown report, we will provide additional close-up images of the Digital Crown to assess any significant design changes.

Apple Taptic Engine

Noteworthy Hardware Improvements

One of the highlights of the Series 10 is its new larger but thinner battery. We've measured the battery and found it to be longer and wider than that of the Series 9. While the teardown process isn’t as complex as that of the iPhone 16, it still involves numerous small brackets, flexes, and assemblies.

As anticipated, the main printed circuit assembly (PCA) is an Apple SiP assembly, which limits immediate IC identification. Another significant improvement is the larger speaker design, enhancing audio quality during calls—an essential feature for users who prefer not to use earbuds.

Health and Bio Design Consistency

Despite the evolution of the Apple Watch, the health and bio sensors remain integrated into the back glass assembly, featuring LEDs, sensors, and the wireless charging magnetic coil.

Currently, it's too early to estimate the hardware bill of materials (BOM) for the Series 10. However, referring back to our Apple Watch special report, Apple managed to keep the BOM costs relatively stable from Series 1 to Series 9. Even with the Series 10's larger display, dedicated speaker, and bigger battery, we don't expect the BOM to exceed the $138 estimate for the Series 9.

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As a subscriber, you gain access to thousands of electronic devices and real-time updates on upcoming teardowns in our roadmap. Thank you for joining us, and stay tuned for more detailed analysis of the Apple Watch Series 10 in our upcoming report.