The best faces of the Apple Watch Series 10 to try

The Apple Watch Series 10 offers two improvements to case size and the largest usable display real estate ever seen on an Apple wearable device. The Series 10 displays also offer brighter visibility for off-angle viewing and improved refresh rates. In other words, your watch face has never had a better time to shine. Make the most of your smart watch with a look that suits your style and functionality that suits your priorities.

The best faces of the Apple Watch

Apple introduced two new watch faces via watchOS 11, as well as some improvements to an existing favorite. Meanwhile, display upgrades and other improvements to the line make even older watch faces more functional than ever. Below are the best Apple Watch Series 10 faces to get the most out of the new generation.

Added to the Apple Watch face gallery via watchOS 11, Flux offers a unique feature thanks to the updated refresh rates of the Apple Watch Series 10 displays. For the first time, users can track seconds. Anchored by a large digital readout of the current hour and minutes, the watch face is flooded with color with each passing second. The effect is modern and clean, resulting in an attractive and simple design.

• Customizable: Color, numbers, style (outlined or filled)
• Complications: 0

My new favorite watch face introduced alongside the Apple Watch Series 10 is Flux. The design takes advantage of the device’s updated display with a metallic appearance that reacts to users’ wrist movements. The beautiful textured fan-shaped graphic appears to catch and reflect light. I like the watch face in full screen mode, but you can also limit the design to a circular shape to accommodate complications.

• Customizable: Dial (full display or circle), color, complications (circle dial only)
• Complications: 0 (full screen dialing), 4 (circular dialing)

Not everyone loves a photo-based watch face, but if you find yourself with a cute dog or sweet kids you want to show off, Apple also delivered some updates to this popular choice. First, the face will now help you select your best options, based on aesthetics, composition and even facial expressions, using machine learning. Once you confirm the photos you want, Apple’s photo algorithm will determine the best possible composition to display. In other words, your photo album on your wrist has never looked better.

• Customizable: Time size, time font, numbers, style, style color, time color
• Complications: 2

Apple’s iconic activity rings are the stars of this watch face, with a circular analog clock surrounding the stand, exercise, and motion ring, each of which fills up throughout the day. Thanks to watchOS 11, users can now customize the goals of their activity rings and even pause the feature, making the famous rings more useful than ever. If you tend to obsess over your streaks, this is the perfect face to monitor your progress. You can also add up to three complications. My only complaint is that the colors of the rings clash with many watch straps.

• Customizable: Style (rings or subdials), color, complications.
• Complications: 3

A data-centric, graphically organized option, Modular features space for up to six complications, making it the perfect choice for anyone who wants a truly rugged watch face. I like to prioritize hourly weather details in the largest location to make the most of the linear layout and then include some shortcuts and data points in the remaining spaces. Unfortunately, the Modular Ultra (with even more fields and customization options) remains exclusive to the company’s Ultra line, even though the Apple Watch Series 10 has more usable display real estate.

• Customizable: Time size, time font, numbers, style, style color, time color
• Complications: 6

For anyone who wants to put the absolute maximum on their watch face, Infograph remains the leader in complications and subdials with room for up to eight. It’s a great option to access tools and information quickly without having to search around on your device. On the other hand, it’s also very easy to turn Infograph into an overwhelming look, so customize it wisely. Given the commercial nature of this dial, I highly recommend softening the design with a color that complements your watch band. In particular, if you choose white or black from the color list, you will end up with a rainbow of complicated colors instead of a uniform look.

• Customizable: Color, complications.
• Complications: 8

Designed to look like overlapping rays of light for a rave on your wrist, Pride Radiance is one of the most fun designs on offer on a watch. There are no complications or details beyond a simple reading of the current time. The watch face is inspired by the rainbow flag and although there are five color options, I think the original look shown above does the design the most justice.

• Customizable: Color
• Complications: 0

Another simple yet elegant watch face, Contour, is an old favorite that first arrived on wrists when Apple introduced the Series 7 and its increase in screen size. Now, three generations later, the Apple Watch Series 10 features even larger case sizes and increased screen real estate that further benefits from this smart design. By pushing the watch face to the confines of the screen, Contour emphasizes the scale of the device and provides a unique analog look. The face also allows for two complications, although I like to keep the face austere and only use one to display the day/date.

• Customizable: Style, dial color, color, complications.
• Complications: 2

The X Large watch is not my favorite choice in terms of aesthetics. In fact, it’s quite unattractive. However, if your goal is a large watch that is easy to read or foolproof access to a specific complication, there is no better choice. I rarely use this watch face outside of scenarios where I just want to keep an eye on the watch. I also find it to be a great option for older users who may find it difficult to see smaller text.

• Customizable: Background, numbers, color, complication.
• Complications: 1