I don’t think I’m clumsy, but I swing my arms a lot and still grimace every time a smartwatch on my wrist hits an immovable object. Yet, for all this movement, I’ve never managed to deeply scratch or lightly crack an Apple Watch display … until now.
The Apple Watch Series 10 doesn’t have many compromises over the Apple Watch Ultra 2, and I even made the switch permanently before this happened. It’s big, thin, and beautiful, but the Apple Watch Series 10 also uses a less durable protective shield for its display.
Is aluminum less durable than titanium, at least in a way you can feel? What about the differences in the type of glass used? Could these be factors in the damage to my watch, or was this just a one-off? Let’s dig a bit deeper into what happened.
How durable is the Apple Watch Series 10?
The Apple Watch Series 10 is an anomaly. It’s not Apple’s most premium smartwatch — that’s the Apple Watch Ultra 2 — but Apple also had to go big for the watch’s 10th anniversary. The result is a watch that’s thinner, lighter, and more premium-feeling than the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
The Apple Watch Series 10 is half the price of the Apple Watch Ultra 2, which means Apple had to make some trade-offs. These weren’t in the display, as the 1.96-inch display is the biggest ever on an Apple Watch. The biggest compromise is in the durability of the materials used in the build.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is MIL-STD 810H certified for protection against drops and features sapphire crystal glass on the front, a titanium frame, and a ceramic/sapphire crystal back. The Apple Watch Series 10, meanwhile, uses an aluminum frame with Ion-X glass on the front. Then there’s the titanium Series 10, which costs almost the same as the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and has a nicer sapphire display. I’ve got the aluminum Series 10, which theoretically is the least durable of the three.
How I think I broke my Apple Watch Series 10
It’s strange. I can normally remember when a gadget may have been damaged, but I’m drawing a blank on the Apple Watch Series 10. There are no memorable drops or bangs that I can recall. I thought I had protected it, at least until I noticed the large crack you can see in the pictures above and below.
The crack is right along the top-left edge of the screen, and it’s a deep scratch or a light crack that I mistook for a light scratch. It feels like a shallow crack and measures over half an inch, but there doesn’t seem to be underlying damage.
It’s a shame: I can’t stop noticing it, and it bugs me every time I see it. The 1.96-inch display is the biggest ever on an Apple Watch, and measuring 9.4mm, the Apple Watch Series 10 is impossibly thin and light. It’s the ideal Apple Watch for everyone, even if the battery life isn’t that impressive. I love using it, but this mysterious crack is putting a damper on things.
A problem or just a one-off?
Thin doesn’t always mean durable; besides battery life, durability was my second main concern. A bigger display, a thinner build, and the use of Ion-X instead of the more premium Ceramic Shield glass in the Ultra 2 all lend themselves to lower durability for the Series 10.
To answer whether this was a wider problem, I turned to my Digital Trends colleagues Joe Maring and Andy Boxall to understand their experiences using the Apple Watch Series 10. Joe published our Apple Watch Series 10 review and has used it since, while Andy has used both the aluminum and titanium versions.
I haven’t felt the need to baby the Series 10, I have confidence in its durability. — Andy Boxall
Joe has treated his aluminum Series 10 similarly to mine with better results. Despite slamming it against at least one wall, it still looks brand new. He also has the Jet Black version, and thankfully, Apple has learned from the lessons of the Jet Black iPhone 7, as there’s no wear and tear, and it still looks as new.
Andy has been wearing the titanium Apple Watch Series 10 — the successor to the stainless steel version of previous years — since launch day. He’s put it through the wringer, wearing it during everything from housework and handwashing cars to furniture removals and a household rubbish clearance. His titanium Series 10 and the accompanying Milanese Loop still look brand new as well, and he’s confident in its ability to stay that way, stating, “I haven’t felt the need to baby the Series 10, I have confidence in its durability.”
The case for the Titanium case
Andy has confidence in the durability of the Apple Watch Series 10, and I think my experience makes a strong case to buy the more premium titanium model of the Series 10. There are a few reasons why this makes sense, as long as paying the $300-plus premium doesn’t scare you.
First, there’s the build and style. The aluminum entry-level Series 10 will most likely withstand anything you can throw at it, but there’s a sizeable jump in protection offered by the titanium model. You retain the same big, thin, and beautiful design, but you get better protection all-around.
Second, there are the bands. I haven’t tried the new titanium Milanese Loop, but I’ve used the previous generation made from stainless steel for years, and this new band matches the titanium Series 10 beautifully (as shown in the photo above).
Lastly, there’s included connectivity. If you’re thinking of buying the aluminum model with GPS and cellular, it will cost you $499. For $200 more, you can get the titanium model that comes with GPS and cellular radios included as standard.
One final thing to note
There’s one final component to this story: AppleCare+. I love it, and I usually protect all of my products on a rolling annual basis. The one difference is usually the Apple Watch; I often buy AppleCare+ on a monthly plan and cancel it after a few months. Thankfully, I had already purchased it for this Apple Watch.
For $4 per month (or $79 for two years), it is ideal for scenarios like this (or worse). However, it’s only covered against damage — there’s no theft or loss protection like the iPhone — and each claim has a fee of $79.
I’ll probably use AppleCare+ to fix or replace my damaged Apple Watch, but unlike the iPhone or iPad, there’s no immediate fix available in-store. Instead, it will be sent off to a repair depot, and it will likely take a week to be returned.
Regardless, if you’re concerned about the durability of your new Apple Watch, don’t be. My experience is an anomaly even among three of us who have put the Apple Watch Series 10 through its paces. If you’re still concerned and your budget stretches to it, look at the titanium model, but if the premium is too high, AppleCare+ is a good alternative.
