The Apple Watch Series 5.
As a tech reviewer, I am often asked by readers, friends and family to recommend a specific product in various market categories. For smartwatch recommendations, the response has become a simple, black-and-white answer–if they use an iPhone.
The Apple Watch is so much better than other smartwatches out there–including Fitbit’s Versa 2, Samsung’s Galaxy Watch, TicWatch Pro or other Huawei and LG offerings–that the Apple Watch is a no-brainer recommendation.
To clarify, the other watches aren’t bad at all. I actually like the Fitbit Versa 2 and TicWatch Pro quite a bit, and I wore them regularly when I was using an Android, but the Apple Watch is just on another level in terms of features and functionality. That has been true since the Apple Watch Series 3, and Apple has only kept increasing the lead in the two years since. The Apple Watch Series 5, which I’ve been testing on and off for three weeks, is the best smartwatch on the market.
The caveat is, it is only marginally better than the Series 4.
What’s new this year?
Here are the improvements the Series 5 have over the 4: there’s a new always-on functionality for the screen, so that the 5’s watch face is always illuminated. On previous generations of the Apple Watch, users had to either tap on the screen or move their wrist in exaggerated manner to see the screen.
The Watch also has a new compass app that allows users to check direction at any time, even without internet connection. And there’s a new titanium and ceramic build material for the Watch’s frame.
That’s it. Everything else, from the screen size and vibrancy to the CPU powering the Series 5, is the same as the Series 4. That’s not to downplay improvements Apple has made here: the always-on screen doesn’t negatively impact battery life much, which is an impressive feat of engineering (the Watch Series 5 conserves battery life by slowing its display’s refresh rate to a halt when the Watch isn’t detecting motion at all); and an always-working compass could be a lifesaver for those who go on mountain treks.
The Watch 5’s OLED panel is bright and vibrant.
The included plastic watch straps fit my wrist comfortably.
Apple's new Apple Watch Series 5 displayed at the company's retail store in the IFC Mall in Pudong ... [+]
But personally, I have no use for a compass, and I turned off the always-on screen functionality because I don’t like that people around me can constantly see what’s on my calendar widget. So for me personally, using the Series 5 has felt exactly the same as using the Series 4.
WatchOS 6
This year’s software update for the Apple Watch brings a couple of useful features, including a stand-alone app store, which allows uses to install apps on their watch directly without needing to go through their iPhone. There’s also a new calculator app and new watch face options that show more complications (quick display of information).
WatchOS 6 brings some new features such as menstrual cycle tracking for women (left); a compass app; ... [+]
Stan Ng, Vice President Product Marketing, talks about the Apple Watch during an event to announce ... [+]
It may not sound like much, but WatchOS 6 is just polished and refined in ways that other smartwatch OS are not. For example, during the span I’ve been testing this Apple Watch, I’m also testing Fitbit’s Versa 2, and normally I’d like the Versa 2 a lot, but next to Apple’s wearable, all the small refinements missing from Fitbit’s OS is apparent. Notifications on the Apple Watch, for example, they pop on my wrist with a strong buzz, and after I’ve interacted with the notification–say, I respond to a WhatsApp message–the notification goes away automatically. On the Fitbit Versa 2, unless I manually swipe the notification away, it stays there forever even after I’ve responded to and fully read the message. So there’d be days when I check the Versa 2 and see a WhatsApp message from three days ago still sitting in the notification panel.
Likewise with the raise-to-wake feature. On the Apple Watch, the screen lights up pretty much by the time my wrist is elevated and within my eyesight. On Fitbit’s Versa 2, and other smartwatches, there’s an extra half second of wait for the screen to turn on.
These are minor, minor things–if you’ve never used an Apple Watch you wouldn’t even notice these shortcomings on Fitbit’s and Samsung’s offerings–but they all add up. The Apple Watch’s software is just on another level.
The thing I enjoy most with the Apple Watch is it really does allow me to check my phone less often. Responding to WhatsApp or WeChat messages directly on the wrist is easy, because the Watch’s voice dictation is superb and can pick up entire sentences I’ve spoken. The onscreen scribbling keyboard is also easy to use. Again, not to keep picking on Fitbit, but responding to notifications on the Versa 2 is a bit more cumbersome.
(By the way, there are areas in which the Versa 2 beats Apple’s Watch 5, namely battery life and sleep tracking. But I’ll save that for the Versa 2 review running later).
Life saver?
Another major reason the Apple Watch Series 5 is superior is it seems to be more helpful if emergency hits. For example, the Apple Watch Series 5, like the Series 4 before it, can detect falls. And if a user has fallen and does not respond to the Watch’s prompts within a couple of minutes, the Watch will automatically notify emergency services.
The ECG feature of the Apple Watch 4 returns with the 5.
Sumbul Desai, MD, Apple's vice president of Health talks about new features on the Apple watch ... [+]
The Watch Series 5 can also identify which country it’s at, and dial that region’s specific local emergency number. And then there’s the highly publicized ECG (electrocardiogram) feature, which has apparently alerted some of impending serious heart issues.
The one flaw
The only gripe I have with the Apple Watch Series 5 is that its battery life is still underwhelming at just about a day of use on a full charge. Technically, the Watch Series 5 can go a day and a half, but it doesn’t matter. If it cannot go two full days that means you have to charge it at some point within a 24-hour cycle anyway.
The Watch Series 5 also charges via Apple’s own proprietary charger, of which I am never a fan. We consumers should push for all gadgets to charge via USB-C.
The best just got ... slightly better
Starting at around $405 and going as high as nearly $1,000 (for the fancy ceramic finish), Apple’s wearable is pricier than competitors. But those who are invested in Apple’s ecosystem likely are okay with the prices. And the bottom line is that the Apple Watch Series 5 is by far the best smartwatch around right now, even if it is just a minor upgrade over the Series 4.
Apple Watch 5 timepieces on display during the Apple iPhone 11 and Apple Watch 5 launch at the tech ... [+]
Still, I’d recommend against upgrading for current Apple Watch 4 users. If you own the Series 3 or older, or if you’re an iPhone user considering your first smartwatch, the Series 5 is an easy recommendation.
If you’re an Android user, you’re out of luck as the Apple Watch doesn’t work for your phone, and you’re left to find the distant second best smartwatch around. Spoiler alert: it’s probably the Fitbit Versa 2.
