Apple Watch Series 10 and AirPods 4 launched: Specifications, price, availability and more

• Apple has launched the new AirPods 4 and Apple Watch Series 10
• The AirPods 4 now feature ANC
• The Apple Watch Series 10 promises to be the slimmest watch yet

Apple hosted its highly anticipated “It’s Glowtime” event today (September 9) in Cupertino, California. While the spotlight was on the unveiling of the new iPhone 16 lineup, the event wasn’t just about the new phones.

In addition to the iPhone 16, Apple also introduced exciting updates to its AirPods and Apple Watch lineup. The new AirPods 4 come with improved audio quality, personalised spatial audio, and advanced features. Meanwhile, the Apple Watch Series 10 boasts the largest and most advanced display ever, with a thinner design and improved health features, including sleep apnea alerts and a faster charging system.

Read on to know all about the newly launched AirPods 4 and Apple Watch Series 10.

Apple Watch Series 10: Specifications and availability

Apple CEO Tim Cook began the event by discussing the positive impact of the Apple Watch on users' health and connectivity. The new Apple Watch Series 10, the thinnest model yet at just 9.7mm, introduces several groundbreaking features, including the largest and most advanced display ever seen on an Apple Watch. This new display offers up to 30% more screen area than previous models, enhancing readability and usability, and comes with a 40% increase in brightness for better visibility in sunlight.

The Series 10 features a redesigned, slimmer profile, and its case is available in aluminium and titanium finishes. Notably, the new jet black polished aluminium finish offers a sleek, reflective appearance, while the titanium cases are available in natural, gold, and slate, providing a jewellery-like shine. The watch’s innovative metal back integrates the antenna into the case, giving it a seamless, single-piece appearance.

"Around the world, Apple Watch has had an immeasurable positive impact on people by helping them stay healthy, active, safe, and connected to the things that matter to them — and it’s helped save countless lives along the way," Apple’s chief operating officer Jeff Williams said in a press release and added, "Apple Watch Series 10 builds on a decade of breakthrough innovations to offer the most advanced version yet, with even more intelligence, our biggest wearable display, and a design that’s slimmer and sleeker than ever."

In terms of health features, the Apple Watch Series 10 introduces a new sleep apnea alert system. Utilising the watch’s accelerometer to monitor "breathing disturbances," this feature aims to provide users with insights into their sleep patterns. Users can view these metrics in the Health app, although it has yet to receive FDA approval. For the unversed, Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.

The Series 10 is also powered by the new S10 SiP, featuring a 4-core neural engine that supports advanced capabilities such as on-device Siri, automatic workout detection, and improved safety features including Crash Detection and Fall Detection. The watch also boasts a new watch face, Flux, designed to make the most of the larger display.

For those who enjoy water activities, the Series 10 includes a new depth gauge and water temperature sensor, ideal for snorkelling and shallow diving. The Tides app, introduced in watchOS 11, provides detailed tidal information to help users plan their activities.

The Apple Watch Series 10 is available in 42mm and 46mm sizes in the new jet black, the new rose gold, and a silver aluminium case, as well as new titanium in natural, gold, and slate. Starting at $399, the Apple Watch Series 10 will be available for pre-order today, with shipments beginning September 20.

Additionally, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 has received a fresh satin black finish and a new titanium band, catering to adventurers with its enhanced durability and offline maps in watchOS 11. It will retail for $799, also available for pre-order with deliveries starting on September 20.

AirPods 4: Specifications and availability

Apple also introduced the AirPods 4, featuring the powerful H2 chip for improved audio quality. Apple says that this makes them the “best-sounding AirPods yet” in their open-ear design. With personalised spatial audio and adaptive transparency, these AirPods adjust to your surroundings without needing manual changes.

Users can now interact with Siri through head gestures and control their music with a quick press on the force sensor. These new AirPods also come with a smaller, more portable case and offer 30 hours of battery life.

For those seeking more, Apple has also added active noise cancellation (ANC) to the design, reducing environmental noise like city traffic and airplane engines. Conversation awareness lowers the media volume when you speak and brings it back when you're done, enhancing interaction.

The standard model is priced at $129, while the ANC version comes in at $179, both available for pre-order and releasing on September 20.

AirPods Pro 2 now double as a hearing aid

The AirPods Pro 2 also received significant updates, now featuring pro-level ANC, enhanced transparency mode, and the longest battery life yet. Apple has also introduced new health features aimed at people with hearing difficulties, including a clinically validated hearing test and a hearing aid function to amplify sounds in real time. These features are awaiting FDA approval.

The hearing test, Apple says, can be taken from within the comfort of your home and provides results in a clear, personalised report that is easy to understand. Apple also said that all test data will remain stored locally on users' devices, ensuring enhanced privacy.

One of the most revolutionary updates is the new capability for AirPods Pro to act as a clinical-grade hearing aid. Expected to be available soon on the AirPods Pro 2, this feature aims to detect hearing loss and assist users by amplifying sounds similarly to traditional hearing aids.