Review | Apple Watch Series 5 full review: the best, but not worth upgrade if you have Series 4 watch already
- How does Apple improve on ‘near flawless’ Series 4 smartwatch? Some new apps and chassis options, and an always-on face that we soon turned off
- If you own an older Apple Watch or are thinking of buying one for the first time, this is far and away the best smartwatch out there
Last year’s Apple Watch Series 4 was a major hardware improvement over the Series 3 — it pulled off the rare feat of shedding bulk while increasing screen size, and to boot introduced a life-saving sensor that track heart rhythm.
This year’s Series 5, by contrast, doesn’t bring nearly as many changes and upgrades from the Series 4 watch. So is the Series 5 worth upgrading to? Here’s my review after a week of use.
Design and hardware
Very little has changed in terms of the Apple Watch’s look and feel. It’s still a rectangle, with either a 40- or 44mm OLED screen making up most of its “face”, and a sleek chassis. It still has a digital crown you can rotate and press, along with an additional button, both on the right side of the watch. The sensors for heart rate and rhythm are there. Even the processor is the same.
Here’s what’s new: titanium and ceramic chassis, in addition to the stainless steel and aluminum options available previously, a digital compass, and an “always on display” that allows users to check the time without needing to wake the screen by tapping it or making an exaggerated wrist movement.
