Apple Watch Series 5 initial review: Telling the time just got easier
![][1]
Apple has refreshed its [Apple Watch][2], bringing new features like an always-on screen and a digital compass, but is that enough to make you want to upgrade or dip in for the first time?
We've had a play with the new watch to see how it fares.
![][3]
## **Same design, but new materials**
* Titanium and ceramic options added
* New Hermes and Nike models
* Still available in 40 and 44mm sizes
The Apple Watch Series 5 design hasn't changed. It's still the same as [the Series 4][4], which means it will come in two sizes: 40mm and 44mm. This time around, though, it will come in a number of different materials, two of which will be brand new to this device.
Materials to choose from now include aluminium, stainless steel, titanium, and ceramic, and within those material choices, Apple is also offering different colours and finishes.
The titanium model will come in two colours: a silver, which showcases the metal in a more natural light; and a space black titanium, which gives the watch a very masculine and edgy feel to proceedings.
The ceramic version, which is a return for the material on the Apple Watch, is only available in white, but the polished finish is perhaps the nicest of the bunch. It's also the most expensive.
In addition to new case materials, the company will also introduce new Hermes and Nike Watch versions of the Apple Watch Series 5, and again these are designed to appeal to certain audiences.
If you liked the Apple Watch Series 4 look and feel, you'll love the Apple Watch Series 5. We've been wearing the Series 4 for the last 12 months and the bigger display works really well, allowing you to see much more information at a glance without being overly cumbersome on your wrist.
The Series 5 looks to continue that, with the choice of new materials that, if you got the budget, will appeal to many.
The other good news is that straps from previous models will still fit the new Watch, so Watch owners can bring those to the party.
![][5]
## **Always on display **
* Display dims but now never goes off completely
* Watch faces don't just turn down the brightness but change colour
The overall design hasn't changed, but the screen technology has, and the Apple Watch Series 5 embraces a feature we've been asking for since the beginning - an always-on display, so you can glance at the watch just like you can an analogue timepiece.
Rather than going black when not active, as has been the case since the first Apple Watch, the Watch now dims slightly, allowing you to conserve battery, but still see the information on the screen.
That's going to be a huge help and will make a massive difference, especially if you're one of those people who like to keep an eye on the time without having to vigorously move your wrist every time you want to do so.
We tried the new feature in the demo area after the announcement, and it works seamlessly. The dimmed screen is bright enough to still see the screen. In some Watch faces, the screen now changes colour to hammer home the change. So, a white face when active will go to a black face when dimmed, rather than just the screen turning down the brightness.
According to Apple, the feature won't affect the battery life. We weren't able to test that claim as yet but look forward to seeing whether it has an effect when we get one in for testing.
![][6]
## **Compass to help find your way **
* New digital compass
* Will work with third-party apps
* Tracks heading, incline, latitude, longitude and current elevation
The only other real feature to write home about in the Apple Watch Series 5 is the addition of a digital compass. There's a digital compass app for those orienteering moments, but most people will find that the compass is most useful in other apps.
That's because Apple is also going to make the compass available for third-party apps, allowing the Watch to offer improved navigation functionality. That will make a big difference when it comes to mapping and running apps for example.
The compass will be able to record and show heading, incline, latitude, longitude, and current elevation.
In theory, with that information, the Apple Watch Series 5 should be able to complete with many of the advanced features available on running watches from Garmin, for example, and we look forward to seeing how that is integrated, [especially within WatchOS 6][7].
We had a brief play with the compass functionality, but it was limited, and look forward to testing it further with apps like Apple Maps in the future.
## **Tech specs**
* Almost the same as the Series 4 model
It's identical to the Series 4 that's been on sale for the last year, aside from the always on display and the digital compass. The new Apple Watch will come with the same processor, same battery, and same W1 chip. It also retains the same wireless charging functionality.
[1]: https://cdn.pocket-lint.com/r/s/748x/assets/images/create-smartwatches-review-hands-on-apple-watch-series-5-image1-ztzlwrxugs.jpg?v1
[2]: https://www.pocket-lint.com/smartwatches/news/apple/149315-apple-watch-series-5-official-with-always-on-display-built-in-compass-and-new-material-options
[3]: https://cdn.pocket-lint.com/r/s/660x/assets/images/create-smartwatches-review-hands-on-apple-watch-series-5-image13-v4sc3idahz.jpg
[4]: https://www.pocket-lint.com/smartwatches/reviews/apple/145711-apple-watch-series-4-review
[5]: https://cdn.pocket-lint.com/r/s/660x/assets/images/create-smartwatches-review-hands-on-apple-watch-series-5-image12-bhdr6pmzeq.jpg
[6]: https://cdn.pocket-lint.com/r/s/660x/assets/images/create-smartwatches-review-hands-on-apple-watch-series-5-image6-67t1xibkgl.jpg
[7]: https://www.pocket-lint.com/smartwatches/news/apple/148267-apple-watchos-6-features-news-release-date
URL: https://www.pocket-lint.com/smartwatches/reviews/apple/149320-apple-watch-series-5
Apple has refreshed its [Apple Watch][2], bringing new features like an always-on screen and a digital compass, but is that enough to make you want to upgrade or dip in for the first time?
We've had a play with the new watch to see how it fares.
![][3]
## **Same design, but new materials**
* Titanium and ceramic options added
* New Hermes and Nike models
* Still available in 40 and 44mm sizes
The Apple Watch Series 5 design hasn't changed. It's still the same as [the Series 4][4], which means it will come in two sizes: 40mm and 44mm. This time around, though, it will come in a number of different materials, two of which will be brand new to this device.
Materials to choose from now include aluminium, stainless steel, titanium, and ceramic, and within those material choices, Apple is also offering different colours and finishes.
The titanium model will come in two colours: a silver, which showcases the metal in a more natural light; and a space black titanium, which gives the watch a very masculine and edgy feel to proceedings.
The ceramic version, which is a return for the material on the Apple Watch, is only available in white, but the polished finish is perhaps the nicest of the bunch. It's also the most expensive.
In addition to new case materials, the company will also introduce new Hermes and Nike Watch versions of the Apple Watch Series 5, and again these are designed to appeal to certain audiences.
If you liked the Apple Watch Series 4 look and feel, you'll love the Apple Watch Series 5. We've been wearing the Series 4 for the last 12 months and the bigger display works really well, allowing you to see much more information at a glance without being overly cumbersome on your wrist.
The Series 5 looks to continue that, with the choice of new materials that, if you got the budget, will appeal to many.
The other good news is that straps from previous models will still fit the new Watch, so Watch owners can bring those to the party.
![][5]
## **Always on display **
* Display dims but now never goes off completely
* Watch faces don't just turn down the brightness but change colour
The overall design hasn't changed, but the screen technology has, and the Apple Watch Series 5 embraces a feature we've been asking for since the beginning - an always-on display, so you can glance at the watch just like you can an analogue timepiece.
Rather than going black when not active, as has been the case since the first Apple Watch, the Watch now dims slightly, allowing you to conserve battery, but still see the information on the screen.
That's going to be a huge help and will make a massive difference, especially if you're one of those people who like to keep an eye on the time without having to vigorously move your wrist every time you want to do so.
We tried the new feature in the demo area after the announcement, and it works seamlessly. The dimmed screen is bright enough to still see the screen. In some Watch faces, the screen now changes colour to hammer home the change. So, a white face when active will go to a black face when dimmed, rather than just the screen turning down the brightness.
According to Apple, the feature won't affect the battery life. We weren't able to test that claim as yet but look forward to seeing whether it has an effect when we get one in for testing.
![][6]
## **Compass to help find your way **
* New digital compass
* Will work with third-party apps
* Tracks heading, incline, latitude, longitude and current elevation
The only other real feature to write home about in the Apple Watch Series 5 is the addition of a digital compass. There's a digital compass app for those orienteering moments, but most people will find that the compass is most useful in other apps.
That's because Apple is also going to make the compass available for third-party apps, allowing the Watch to offer improved navigation functionality. That will make a big difference when it comes to mapping and running apps for example.
The compass will be able to record and show heading, incline, latitude, longitude, and current elevation.
In theory, with that information, the Apple Watch Series 5 should be able to complete with many of the advanced features available on running watches from Garmin, for example, and we look forward to seeing how that is integrated, [especially within WatchOS 6][7].
We had a brief play with the compass functionality, but it was limited, and look forward to testing it further with apps like Apple Maps in the future.
## **Tech specs**
* Almost the same as the Series 4 model
It's identical to the Series 4 that's been on sale for the last year, aside from the always on display and the digital compass. The new Apple Watch will come with the same processor, same battery, and same W1 chip. It also retains the same wireless charging functionality.
[1]: https://cdn.pocket-lint.com/r/s/748x/assets/images/create-smartwatches-review-hands-on-apple-watch-series-5-image1-ztzlwrxugs.jpg?v1
[2]: https://www.pocket-lint.com/smartwatches/news/apple/149315-apple-watch-series-5-official-with-always-on-display-built-in-compass-and-new-material-options
[3]: https://cdn.pocket-lint.com/r/s/660x/assets/images/create-smartwatches-review-hands-on-apple-watch-series-5-image13-v4sc3idahz.jpg
[4]: https://www.pocket-lint.com/smartwatches/reviews/apple/145711-apple-watch-series-4-review
[5]: https://cdn.pocket-lint.com/r/s/660x/assets/images/create-smartwatches-review-hands-on-apple-watch-series-5-image12-bhdr6pmzeq.jpg
[6]: https://cdn.pocket-lint.com/r/s/660x/assets/images/create-smartwatches-review-hands-on-apple-watch-series-5-image6-67t1xibkgl.jpg
[7]: https://www.pocket-lint.com/smartwatches/news/apple/148267-apple-watchos-6-features-news-release-date
URL: https://www.pocket-lint.com/smartwatches/reviews/apple/149320-apple-watch-series-5
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