Apple Watch Series 10 is the thinnest Apple Watch ever built at 9.7mm - and with it came sleep apnea detection running entirely on the watch's own accelerometer (FDA-cleared, no phone or network needed), plus a water temperature sensor and 6-meter depth gauge that were previously Ultra-only features. Apple built it for iPhone. Merge builds the Android path: one iPhone activation, and Series 10 connects permanently to your Android phone, bringing Android notifications, richer sleep data on Google Fit, and the Merge feature set to the most comfortable Apple Watch yet.
What Merge connects
Series 10's slim profile and comfortable all-day wear means more time on the wrist - which translates directly into more sleep data. Sleep tracking, including sleep apnea detection data, syncs to Google Fit and Health Connect alongside workouts, heart rate, steps, and calories. ECG readings sync to the Merge app on your Android phone, so that data is on the platform you use. The watch's fast charging means it spends more time on your wrist and less on the charger, which only adds to the data captured.
Android notifications arrive in real time on the Series 10's wide-angle display. You control notification delivery per app - choosing which apps send alerts and which types within each app come through. Message replies and quick actions are available from the watch. Music playing on your Android phone is controllable from your wrist, and Find My lets you ring either device to locate it nearby.
Merge keeps the connection end-to-end encrypted whether devices are near each other over Bluetooth or apart over the internet. Smart Hotspot runs automatically - when Series 10 moves away from Wi-Fi, Merge manages the phone's hotspot to keep the watch connected without any manual intervention.
One-time iPhone activation
Every Apple Watch requires an iPhone for initial setup. You activate it once and don't need the iPhone again.
Series 10 runs watchOS 11, which requires an iPhone XS or later (or iPhone SE 3rd generation) with iOS 18 or later. Your own iPhone? The Watch app on your iPhone handles it through the normal flow. Borrowing a friend's phone? Choose Set Up for a Family Member from their Watch app, use your Apple ID, and make sure both Apple IDs are in Family Sharing - which you can set up during the process. After setup, watchOS updates install directly on the watch via Settings - General - Software Update on Wi-Fi.
Installing Merge
Install both apps before starting the pairing flow.
- On your Android phone, open Google Play, search for Merge Watch, and install it.
- On your Apple Watch, open the App Store, search for Merge Watch, and install it.
Pairing Series 10 to Android
Keep phone and watch close during this step - Bluetooth discovery works best within arm's reach.
- On your Android phone, open Merge and grant all permissions when prompted.
- Keep Merge running on your Android phone, then open it on your Apple Watch and accept the Bluetooth request.
- Your Android phone will appear on the watch screen - tap it.
- A PIN code shows on the watch - enter it on your Android phone. Pairing completes in seconds.
- If you don't have a Merge subscription yet, you'll be walked through it now.
- On your Apple Watch, grant notification access and health permissions when prompted.
- On your Android phone, approve health permissions.
Day-to-day with Series 10 on Android
At 9.7mm, Series 10 is the thinnest Apple Watch Apple has ever produced, and that thinness translates to a watch that disappears on the wrist for all-day wear in a way no previous generation quite managed. Sleep apnea detection - FDA-cleared, running entirely on the watch's own accelerometer - captures data through the night without a phone nearby, and results sync to Google Fit and Health Connect via Merge. The depth gauge and water temperature sensor, previously exclusive to the Ultra lineup, are now on the wrist at a Series price. The wide-angle OLED display is readable from natural viewing angles without tilting the wrist. Fast charging delivers about 8 hours of use from 15 minutes on the cable - practical for anyone who forgets to charge overnight. Merge keeps Android notifications flowing and the connection alive over the internet when the devices are apart.
