Technologies
The Apple Watch Series 10 Is Still My Favorite Smartwatch, and It’s 30% Off for Prime Day
It’s not the newest in Apple’s lineup, but this sleek smartwatch comes with nearly all the same bells and whistles — and I love mine.
I’ve tested dozens of smartwatches over the years, and I’m always on the lookout for a hybrid watch that strikes the right balance between a traditional wristwatch and a smartwatch. Plenty of wearables I’ve tested have promised just that but failed to deliver.
The Apple Watch Series 10, however, which is a CNET Editors’ Choice Award winner, strikes the right balance. It’s not the latest wearable in Apple’s lineup (that would be the Series 11). But we did an apples-to-apples comparison, and found that the newest edition comes with very few changes over the previous model. And right now, Amazon will sell you one for just $279 during its Prime Big Deal Days event. That’s 30% off its usual $399 list price.
Whenever I’m done with a review, I like to go bare-wristed for a few days to have a bit of a reset. But after I finished my review of the Apple Watch Series 10, I found that I didn’t want to take it off. And it’s been on my wrist ever since. Apple no longer sells the Series 10, but luckily you can still find new models from some retailers like Amazon while supplies last.
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Why I like the Apple Watch Series 10
For me, the Apple Watch Series 10 is the perfect combination of functionality and looks. That’s because of the LTPO 3 technology that lets the screen refresh at 1Hz and gives the Series 10 a ticking second hand on a few watch faces, even when the display isn’t actively being used. It makes Apple’s device feel like a regular watch when I’m not actively using it, which is different from any other smartwatch I’ve tested.
I like being able to change up the look by switching between the Reflections watch face, with its sweeping «analog» second hand, and Activity Digital, with its digital seconds counter. I wish there were more watch faces that supported this ticking second hand. There is Flux, but I’ve found myself siding with Redditors who think it’s kind of goofy. (If you’ve found a color combination that makes it feel less comical, let me know!)
The ticking second hand isn’t just an aesthetic choice, or for the times when I’m anxiously checking to make sure I’m not too early for my next meeting. It’s also practical for folks in different professions, like health care workers who need to have a second hand even after the display times out.
More than the ticking second hand, it’s the display itself
I was skeptical that the Series 10’s wide-angle OLED display would make that much difference to the viewing experience. Apple says it’s up to 40% brighter than earlier watch displays when you’re looking at it off-axis. So of course I had to compare it to every other Apple Watch in my review cabinet, including the Series 9.
When using my eyes alone I’m not able to quantify how much brighter it appears as a percentage, there’s no question the Series 10 is easier to see and looks brighter than other Apple Watch models with the same watch face.
The Series 10 doesn’t have the same battery life or rugged construction, but I miss its display when I have to switch to the $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3. For more Apple deals, check out our roundup of the best deals on Apple products during Prime Day.
Apple Watch Series 10 specs
- Case sizes: 42mm, 46mm
- Battery life: Up to 18 hours
- Screen: LTPO3 OLED Always-On Retina display
- Refresh rate: 1Hz
- Brightness: Up to 2,000 nits
- Water resistance: Up to 50m
Why I never want to take it off
It’s not just the display that’s made it hard for me to remove the Series 10 from my wrist. There’s almost every health and fitness tracking feature I could want, from a range of cycling tools to sleep apnea notifications.
Then there’s WatchOS 11, which brings helpful safety tools like Check In to my wrist, so I no longer have to manually send the «I’m home!» message to friends and family. If only it worked with recipients who don’t use iMessage: I truly hope Apple will add compatibility for RCS messaging for this indispensable safety tool, just like FaceTime works on Android through a web link.
I now understand what people mean when they say they feel naked when they leave their house without their phones. Except for me, it’s a watch.
The Apple Watch Series 10 with cellular connectivity is normally listed at $499, but you can get one for $170 off right now, thanks to Walmart’s competing anti-Prime Day sale. It’s a great time to snatch one up for yourself or to give as a gift. Prices vary quite a bit depending on case size, finish and band type, so be sure to click around to see all your options, and double-check the price of your selected configuration before finalizing your purchase. If you’re looking for more gift ideas, don’t miss our favorite tech gifts under $100.
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Technologies
Fubo Loses NBCUniversal Channels, Putting Your NBA Games in Jeopardy
Sound the carriage dispute Klaxon: Some network programming has disappeared from the streaming service after content negotiations fell through.
If you’ve noticed your favorite show has recently gone missing from Fubo, it’s probably because an entire block of programming just disappeared from the site’s channel lineup.
The live TV streaming service is engaged in a carriage dispute with NBCUniversal, a media company whose subsidiaries include NBC News, Universal Studios, Peacock, Telemundo and Illumination, among other brands.
On Nov. 21, NBCUniversal pulled all of its networks from Fubo. This is an especially big deal for sports watchers on the streaming service, since the Fubo Sports subscription — which began earlier this year — depends on the licensing agreement with NBCUniversal. However, viewers can still access sports content on networks like ESPN, CBS and ABC.
Fubo released a statement on Tuesday, alleging the media giant is engaging in «discriminatory tactics» that are harming the streamer’s subscribers.
«NBCU is discriminating against Fubo and our subscribers,» the statement says. «They allowed YouTube TV and Amazon Prime to integrate Peacock directly into their channel store, but refused to give Fubo the same rights.»
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Fubo says NBCUniversal is trying to force a multiyear deal for certain channel packages under the media giant’s new spin-off media company, Versant, and that it’s trying to upcharge on the Fubo Sports subscription by adding «expensive, non-sports channels» into the agreement, increasing the cost.
According to NBCUniversal’s website, the Versant brands include CNBC, E!, MS Now, SyFy and USA, among other channels.
NBCUniversal did not respond to a request for comment.
Fubo says that it’s willing to move forward without NBCUniversal content if an agreement cannot be reached.
«Fubo is committed to bringing its subscribers a premium, competitively-priced live TV streaming experience with the content they love,» its statement concludes. «That includes multiple content options, including a sports-focused service, that can be accessed directly from the Fubo app.»
Fubo recently became an affiliate of The Walt Disney Company, following its merger with Hulu’s live TV platform in October. It’s unclear whether this merger affected content agreement negotiations with NBCUniversal. Fubo did not respond to a request for comment on this.
Technologies
Spotify Will Reportedly Get More Expensive in the US Next Year. Here’s What to Expect
The music streaming service will reportedly raise prices again after subscription rate hikes in other regions.
After announcing it is raising prices in regions including Europe, South Asia and Latin America, Spotify is reportedly about to increase prices again in the US.
The US is included in the latest Spotify price hike on its Premium services starting in early 2026, according to the Financial Times, which cited three sources familiar with the streaming music company’s dealings. For now, the least expensive Premium plans in the US start at $12, but the price hike would likely put it in line with the other regions where the Premium plan costs about $14 a month.
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Spotify also offers a Premium Family plan that covers six people in the same household for $20 and plans for students ($6 a month bundled with Hulu) and couples ($17 a month). Spotify also offers a Basic plan that does not include access to audiobooks for $11 a month. A representative for Spotify did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A steady increase
If the report is accurate, this would be the third price increase on Premium plans in the US since 2023. Before those hikes, Premium plans were $10, but Spotify raised its minimum price by $1 in 2023 then again in 2024.
Just this week, Spotify added the ability to seamlessly import playlists from other music services including Apple Music and Tidal.
Spotify has faced some controversy this year, including some music acts abandoning the platform and some customers canceling subscriptions over advertising for Homeland Security’s ICE program. CNET has a guide for canceling your Spotify subscription.
The company is the market leader among music streaming apps with about 32 percent market share as of the end of 2024.
Technologies
Some Rad Power Bike E-Bike Batteries Can Catch Fire, Consumer Protection Agency Warns
The company declined to offer full replacements or refunds, citing financial constraints.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning that some lithium‑ion batteries used in certain e‑bikes made by Rad Power Bikes pose a serious fire hazard that could lead to injury or even death. The agency says the batteries, identified by model numbers RP‑1304 and HL‑RP‑S1304, can unexpectedly ignite or explode, especially if the battery or its harness has been exposed to water or debris.
The recall has been marked as a «public health and safety finding» because Rad Power Bikes has declined to offer full replacements or refunds for all consumers, citing financial constraints.
CPSC reports 31 incidents of fire involving these batteries, including 12 cases where property damage totaled approximately $734,500. Some of these fires occurred even when the battery was not in use or charging, but was in storage.
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The batteries were sold as either original or replacement units for several Rad Power Bikes e-bike models and were available through RadPowerBikes.com, Best Buy and independent bike shops nationwide.
«Rad informed the agency that its demand to replace all batteries, regardless of condition, would immediately put Rad out of business, which would be of no benefit to our riders,» the company said in a statement issued with the CPSC warning. «Rad is disappointed that it could not reach a resolution that best serves our riders and the industry at large. Rad reminds its customers to inspect batteries before use or charging and immediately stop using batteries that show signs of damage, water ingress, or corrosion, and to contact Rad so we can support our riders.»
The CPSC’s statement does not apply to all Rad batteries, and does not apply to its Safe Shield or semi-integrated batteries.
Consumers who have one of the affected batteries are urged to stop using it immediately and dispose of it properly via a household hazardous‑waste collection center. Do not place the batteries in standard curb-side recycling or trash bins, and refrain from reselling them.
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