Apple Watch Series 5 Review

With so many big advances in 2018, the Apple Watch Series 5 looks to hone and refine the experience that we saw with the Apple Watch Series 4 - which is no longer on sale. The changes, while welcomed, are fairly small this time around suggesting that Apple is putting the brakes on to avoid adding too many features too quickly. Of course, there is plenty they could still add or improve on. A better battery now the screen is always-on, sleep tracking, and improved wireless charging without having to take the "charging puck" with you wherever you go, are a few features that spring to mind. As an upgrade from the Series 4 there is definitely no need. The always-on screen is lovely, and now we've started using it, we would struggle to go back, but if you've not yet experienced it, you really do not need it. But for Watch Series 3 or earlier owners, the combination of the bigger screen, improved functionality and WatchOS 6 make this a brilliant smartwatch upgrade to, then wear and enjoy. Apple's smartwatch is still the one to beat but this year Apple is taking things a little bit easy in terms of new innovations and features. This article was first published 10 September 2019 and has been updated following full use to reflect its full review status.

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Apple Watch Series 5 Review: The Best Smartwatch Is Now A Better Watch

It's been more than five years since we saw Apple debut the first Apple Watch and since then, the smartwatch recognized as the world's best has gained features and even saved lives, but the one thing it did not always do - show the time. Well, that's until now. The Apple Watch Series 5 is the first Apple Watch to always show the time. But the problem is that if you were to put last year's Series 4 next to this year's Series 5, you would hardly notice any differences. The only thing you will notice is that, when the Series 4's screen goes to sleep after 15 seconds, the Series 5's screen transitions to a dimmed version of whichever watch face you are using. But because the new Series 5 is only marginally better than last year's Series 4, it does become a hard sell for anyone who does not really care about having to do an exaggerated flick of the wrist everytime they want to see the time. Hence the entire point of this review is to answer two burning questions about the Series 5: Does the new always-on display live up to the hype and is it worth upgrading from an older version. SEE ALSO: Mi Band 4 Review: A Great Fitness Tracker For You & Your Wallet Design and Build: Not a lot has changed The Apple Watch Series 5 is visually unchanged compared to the Series 4. It comes in two case sizes just like the Series 4: 40mm case size or a slightly larger 44mm for those who have larger wrists. The 40mm case which I am wearing weighs only 30.6 grams (without a strap) and is barely 10.7mm thick. It never gets caught under a shirt cuff, and the case is quite ergonomic, just like it has been since the Series 3. The watch itself comes in an elongated box which once opened, reveals the case and a set of separate Sport Band straps (depends on which one you've bought, of course) in long and medium size options. As far as build goes, the case feel delicate but durable, and even the aluminum model, which is the cheapest, feels just as premium as an iPhone would feel. The matte finish silver case, paired here with the white Sport Band, is simple and sleek, but again, that's something that holds true for the Series 4 as well. You can go ahead and splash the cash for a stainless steel, titanium or ceramic build, for better brag value, but they will set you back by quite a bit. Now, if you are wondering how I am fine with Apple sticking to this design and not try something drastically is simply because there's no reason to. Yes, the whole idea of a round Apple Watch is definitely intriguing but that would mean that Apple would have to design WatchOS in a way that does not look odd on older versions. That's very difficult to do. In fact, the only meaningful way to go from here would be to try and make the case even slimmer and the bezels smaller. Regardless, it's still the best looking smartwatch other there. Display: Yes, Always-on-display on a smartwatch does make sense For what did not seem like a big deal otherwise, the always-on display (AOD) on the Series 5 has pretty much changed the way I interact with the Apple Watch throughout most of my day. The screen does more than constantly show the time; it also shows me all my watch face complications. For me, that means I can glance down and see if I have any unread notifications or get a rain update without any effort. SEE ALSO: Fossil Sport Smartwatch Review: Feels Great, Runs Great, But Is Still Wear OS If you've ever owned an Apple Watch before (or any smartwatch at all actually) you surely know the unwieldy practice of raising your wrist to look at the watch, only for it not to light up. Instead, you lower your wrist and raise it again, and yet nothing happens. Eventually, you tap on the screen or press a button to wake the watch. Well, that changes completely with the Series 5. This is thanks to three fundamental changes Apple has made under the hood: a new LTPO display (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide), a new light sensor, and new display driver. These three components on the Series 5 combine to achieve a dynamically-shifting refresh rate that adapts to the situation. When the wrist is raised, the watch updates the screen 60 times per second like every previous generation of the Apple Watch. When it's lowered, the LTPO display shifts to update just once every second - ideal for telling the time. The new ambient light sensor along with the power management circuit and the new driver accordingly adjust the brightness of the display. Now, Apple claims that despite the fact that the display here stays always on, battery life does not take a hit. While that does theoretically make sense considering the smartwatch is capable of dialing down the refresh rate to 1Hz, I did notice a minor battery tradeoff coming from the Series 4 (more on that later). Software: Android has nothing on WearOS, but it does need polishing The Series 5 runs on the newly-released watchOS 6, which is also coming to every other Apple Watch barring the very first version. It brings with it a new Noise app as well as a Cycle Tracking app for women. Apple points out this should not be used as a benchmark for contraception or fertility, but it is helpful for female wearers wanting to track their period. The Noise app, meanwhile, turns out, is quite a useful addition from Apple. It will warn you when you are in a loud environment, and how continued exposure to the sound could damage your hearing. Other new apps include Voice Memos, Calculator and a dedicated app for Audiobooks. For the first time, you can access the Apple Watch app store directly from the device itself. I did not find myself using it that often but it's nice that you no longer have to go through the iPhone if you want to add some functionality. Despite the vast gulf Apple has been able to create between itself and other smartwatch makers, the Apple Watch Series 5 is not a perfect device. As mentioned, there's a claimed 18-hour battery life on the Apple Watch and I found that it did not even make it this far. But, to be fair, I am a heavy user. SEE ALSO: Apple Watch Series 4 Review: So Much More Than A Smartwatch! Less industrious smartwatches will last you longer simply because they do not do as much. If you just want to measure your health information and get a few notifications, you can pick up something like a Mi Band 4 or a Fitbit Versa 2 which both have longer batteries. Battery: AOD does have a bearing on battery but you can turn it off Since the screen never turns off, it's understandable that a lot of potential Series 5 buyers will have a concern about battery life. When the Series 5 was announced, Apple stated that it kept the same 18-hour battery life as previous models, and over the past two weeks, I would say that I did manage to get through a day with roughly 8-14% juice left. That's in line with what I've experienced on the Series 4 model for the past year, though I would typically end up with 10% more battery on it. However, I've had fellow colleagues complain that battery life is worse, and that getting through a full day of use is not possible with AOD turned on. In the end, there are a lot of variables at play here, and let's be honest, iOS 13 and WatchOS 6 have their fair share of bugs and issues at the moment and I've come across a number of them as well. Hopefully, Apple can figure out what is causing others to see decreased battery life and fix it in a future update. For me, I appear to fall into the lot who charges their smartwatch overnight but the smartwatch typically does take just about an hour to go from 0-100%. I do have one issue though and that's Apple's continued reliance on a magnetic charging disc to charge the watch. This means that you will always need to lug around the additional cable when you travel. Asking for USB-C is a stretch but why not have the same lightning cable that I have for my iPhone charge the Apple Watch? It has been around two weeks now, I've used the Apple Watch Series 5 in place of my Series 4. Before I started testing, I did not expect to notice much of a difference between the two, and for the most part, that's been the case. But what I did grossly underestimate though was the impact that the always-on display would have on the overall Apple Watch experience. In fact, as someone who's quite used to Series 5 now, I am not sure I can go back. In India, you can buy an entry-level Apple Watch Series 5 (GPS,40mm) for INR 40,900. A larger 44mm size will set you back by INR 43,900. For a Cellular GPS variant, the price rises to INR 49,900 for a 40mm Series 5 and INR 52,900 for a 44mm Series 5. These prices apply only if you get the smartwatch with a standard Sports Band. You can also now head over to Apple Watch Studio to create your own color combo. That said, if you've been using an Apple Watch Series 4, I do not see any sense in upgrading, unless you absolutely need the Always-on-display. If you own the Series 3 or older, or if you are an iPhone user considering your first smartwatch, the Series 5 is an easy recommendation. On the flipside, if you belong to the Android world though, you will have to switch to an iPhone, else buying an Apple Watch is still downright useless.

The LTE Apple Watch Series 5 is $100 off at Amazon today

If you've had your eye on an Apple Watch for your new at-home workout regimen, we've got a killer deal for you today. Amazon is selling the GPS Cellular Apple Watch Series 5 in Space Gray Aluminum for $400 (40mm) and $430 (44mm) todayRemove non-product link, $100 off the list price and one of the best prices we've ever seen. Amazon says the watch will deliver by May 16, however, so you might have to wait a couple of weeks to get it. The Series 5 features cellular connectivity so you can leave your phone at home, GPS, an always-on Retina display, electrical and optical heart sensors, and a built-in compass. It's also swimproof and water resistant to 50 meters if you want to risk a dip in the pool with a high-tech computer on your wrist. We reviewed the Series 5 last September and really liked it. "You are not going to find a smartwatch with a better screen, more advanced sensors, nicer design, or stronger app support," we said in our review. The only thing we did not really like about the watch was its so-so battery life, which lasts about a day. It also does not have native sleep tracking, but there are third-party apps to cover that. Bottom line: The Apple Watch Series 5 is the very best wearable you can buy and today you can get the top model at a very, very good price. [Today's deal: Apple Watch Series 5 GPS Cellular for $400 (40mm) and $429 (44mm) at AmazonRemove non-product link]