As we approach the fall - was Apple Watch Series 10 a bit of a flop?

[abeagler]

I went from S6 to S9 when the battery life was no longer getting me through the day, and then to S10. Other than battery life (which really is a very good improvement) I find nothing different in terms of how I use it - indeed, the loss of the blood O2 sensor means the S10 is less functional for me than was the S6. The thinner form factor feels like a minor upgrade, but otherwise most of the new features (apnea stuff, swimming stuff) are not things I make use of. I don't regret the upgrades - thanks to lucky open-box / trade-in deals the S6>S9 upgrade cost about the same as a battery replacement and then the net cost for the S10 upgrade from S9 was about $30 for me. So, I'm still happy with it, but I can see why people would not feel compelled to upgrade except for battery life.

 

[mfram]

I bought the S10 because of the thinner design and, more importantly, the Titanium finish. I like how Ti is lighter than the Stainless Steel, but still gorgeous. I don't like the Ultra design, so I'm very happy we get the Titanium again with the S10.

 

[Sinfonist]

do you have any data to support the flop claim and the sales are down significantly claim?

AW/smartwatch is maturing, just like smartphones. People don't upgrade every year, and from the posts here upgrades seem to be occurring more like every 3-4 years.

Agree with this.

Obviously, the total addressable market is limited to iPhone users, and the realistic market is limited to the fraction of iPhone users that need the AW features and that are willing to be locked in deeper. This deep into the cycle, that market must be close to being saturated. So significant growth would only be expected if there was a major improvement in features, and that would be a one-off event (as existing users upgraded or a few additional users entered the market).

On a personal level, I upgraded to an AW8 from an AW4 because I couldn't replace the AW4 battery (a charging fault). I expect the AW8 to work well for a few years, and the features are good enough for me. At that point, I might look for a replacement if the AW8 can't be fixed, but not before.

 

[tolili alert]

From Series 7 to Series 10... A change that I greatly appreciate.

It should be noted that many people would not be able to distinguish whether they are wearing a Samsung watch, an Apple watch, or a generic chinese one. For the more "experienced/advanced" user or someone who appreciates certain details more... well, the story is different.

But I agree that the Series 7 was a bigger leap. The funny thing is that this is something I stood by from the very beginning (that's why I bought the Series 7) although back then a lot of people thought it was more of the same because the watch wasn't round or some such nonsense.

I imagine that in a few years, some people will look back on the Series 10 as an clear improvement.

 

[satchmo]

It's not quite a flop, but I have noticed the S10 has been discounted quite a bit in comparison to previous years.

I'm not holding my breath for anything major with the S11.

But I suspect they'll get blood pressure and new colours. S10 colours were so limited.

I feel Apple is also at a crossroads with their watches. They've fallen into the dreaded jack of all trades, master of none category. Especially in their Series lineup.

Meanwhile the Ultra has remained stagnant, with average battery life, and still lacks a one button precision start.