Review of Apple Watch Series 5 - smart watch with a never-ending screen

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The novelty has received an advanced compass and watchOS 6 with new features and watch faces.

Table of contents

• Equipment
• Appearance and ergonomics
• Display
• Control
• Dials
• Protection
• Autonomy
• Functions
• Difference Apple Watch Series 5 from previous models
• Specifications
• Outcomes

Equipment

We've got an Apple Watch in space gray. The box contains a watch case in a suede case, a charging cable with a magnetic "tablet", a 5 V and 1 A adapter and a standard set of papers.

In a separate package - a sports strap with an additional shorter part. The space gray watch is black.

Appearance and ergonomics

This year, Apple introduced the watch in aluminum, ceramic, steel and titanium. Only the aluminum version is available in Russia.

The case has not changed since last year - we have the same Apple Watch Series 4, but with an updated filling. The ergonomics have also been preserved. This is a convenient and lightweight gadget with a thin body, which you quickly forget about the existence on your hand.

Apple Watch Series 5 comes in two sizes - 40 and 44 mm. The difference in price between them is symbolic, and the functions are identical.

There are three colors: silver, gold and space gray. Modifications are completed with straps of different colors.

Also available for sale is the Apple Watch Nike + Series. This is the same watch, but with a branded strap from a sports brand.

Replaceable straps. Prices for them in the Apple store start at 3,900 rubles. Fortunately, the new watch is compatible with old models' straps and bracelets, and you can also find options on AliExpress for 100-200 rubles.

Display

The watch has displays with a diagonal of 1, 57 and 1.78 inches, depending on the size of the Apple Watch. The edges of the screen have rounded corners, so useful information is not lost in them.

Thanks to OLED technology, Apple has succeeded in making the transitions of the bezels to the display invisible.

The brightness remains the same at 1,000 nits. That's more than iPhone displays. The watch can be used in very sunny weather.

The main innovation of the Apple Watch Series 5 is an everlasting screen. This was achieved without sacrificing autonomy thanks to LTPO OLED technology with dynamic frame rate. It can vary from 1 to 60 Hz depending on conditions. This means that the inactive screen is refreshed at a rate of one frame per second. Therefore, when you turn the wrist away from you, the smoothly moving second hand disappears on the dial, and during training, fractions of a second are not shown.

The introduction of the Always On Display mode has a tangible impact on the experience of using the watch. Knowing the time is now a little faster, and it is easier to view training data when swimming in the pool.

When you turn your wrist away from you, the screen does not return to a specific dial. If you watched notifications from Telegram, they will remain on the inactive screen, but the image will become blurry. This way, no one will read your messages, and you can quickly return to the application you are using. Perhaps the never-dying screen is the only tangible change you can find in frequent scenarios.

Control

Apple Watch is controlled by a digital crown (wheel), the main button on the side and a touch screen with 3D Touch. Despite dozens of functions and supported applications, you can figure everything out in 1-2 days of active use of the watch.

This is how the screen looks with all available applications. The scale is adjusted using the wheel.

The dials are switched by side swipes.

A swipe from the bottom opens the control center. It turns on a flashlight, silent or airplane mode.

Pressing the side button opens a list of active applications. You can scroll through the list using the wheel, and select the desired program by tapping on the screen. Double-clicking the side button turns on Apple Pay.

To turn off the watch screen, you need to turn your wrist away from you or slap your palm on the screen.

What you can't do on the watch itself, you can do it in the Watch app on your iPhone. Here, the user selects the watch faces and applications that are displayed on the Apple Watch screen, updates the software, changes the appearance of the text on the watch display, and controls other gadget settings. Apple Watch also uses the Activity app, which contains workout and time on the move metrics.

Dials

There are dozens of watch faces to choose from. Most of them have customizable widgets: time in a different time zone, battery level, reminders, activity indicators, weather and much more. You can also put an application icon on the dial for quick access to it.

The "Infograph" dial, presented last year with nine add-ons on one screen, remains the record for the number of widgets.

The Meridian with four widgets, which is available on Apple Watch Series 5, can compete with it. It's enough to add the most necessary things to the screen. The dial was created to show the beauty of the Always On Display mode: when activated, it changes colors to inverse.

In addition, you can add other watch faces: with normal and huge numbers, photos on the screensaver, activity rings, animations with fire or Mickey Mouse filling the screen. Typically, users only need 2-3 options that are used at the same time.

Protection

The watch allows diving to a depth of 50 meters. This means you can swim and shower with your Apple Watch without worrying about its safety.

Swimming mode is activated in the control room. When activated, the screen stops responding to touches. To return the watch to its normal state, you need to twist the digital crown. The screen unlocks and the built-in speakers blow out moisture.

The watch is protected from intruders with a PIN code that must be entered each time the watch is put on.

Autonomy

The specs say 18 hours of mixed mode use on a single charge. Judging by the experience and similar data from the previous model, you will have to charge the Apple Watch Series 5 every night with active use and once every one and a half days with moderate use.

If you want a “long-playing” watch that can withstand several weeks without an outlet and track activity in your sleep, Apple Watch will not work.

Functions

Activity and workout tracker

Apple Watch Series 5 always tracks three key metrics: calories burned, exercise time, and warm-up hours. The gadget considers any active movements to be a sports load, and this is not necessarily a run or classes in the gym. The data can be displayed on a special dial with three rings.

The watch supports dozens of workouts and can read and display relevant information for different types of exercise.

All data is integrated into the "Activity" and "Health" applications.

Music player

Apple Watch Series 5 received 32 GB of memory. You can use them for music. The watch can work with AirPods or other Bluetooth headphones, which means you can go for a run with your favorite playlist without a smartphone.

Compass

The watch has a magnetic compass. His application shows not only the directions of the cardinal points, but also the climb, coordinates and tilt angle. In addition, compass data can be picked up by other applications, such as Night Sky with a star map.

Purse

Apple Watch has an NFC chip. This means that you do not need to take your smartphone when you go to the store. Just pay with your cards linked to the analogue Wallet in the watch.

Voice assistant

Apple Watch has Siri, which you can ask about the weather outside or what track is playing. The need to reach for the iPhone disappears in some scenarios.

Sound volume detector

The microphone of the watch will notify you if you are in a noisy place and may damage your hearing. In case of danger, the body will vibrate. You can also see the noise level in the corresponding “Hearing” application.

Tracking your menstrual cycle

Special software appeared in watchOS 6. In it, you can mark the days when your period begins, and receive notifications about the favorable period for conception.

Calculator or voice recorder

WatchOS 6 has full calculator and voice recorder apps on the watch screen. In addition, the new version of the operating system has its own App Store for the Apple Watch, which means that you do not need to store duplicate applications on the iPhone.

Watch

Apple Watch shows the time. Roman and Arabic numerals of all sizes and on a variety of dials.

Differences Apple Watch Series 5 from previous models

Almost all the features of the Apple Watch Series 5, which we talked about earlier, are in the previous model, and many innovations came not with the new watch, but with the new watchOS. Here are the differences between the fifth generation of watches and the fourth:

• Always On Display function. Prevents the screen from dimming when you unscrew your wrist or deactivate the display with your palm.
• Magnetic compass. Apple Watch Series 4 doesn't have it. It can be useful for travelers. It also has the potential for interoperability with other applications, but it is not very useful, at least for now.
• Built-in memory. Doubled to 32 GB.

But the novelty has gone far from the watches of the third series. The design and dimensions have changed, while the ratio of the screen area to the area of the front panel has grown. The Infograph and Meridian watch faces are not available on Apple Watch Series 3. Performance has increased: Apple Watch Series 5 is a little faster. The built-in memory in the third version is four times less - only 8 GB.

At the same time, Apple Watch Series 3 is an excellent watch that is still relevant and even sold in the official Apple store. They are protected from water, can measure heart rate and track workouts, last up to 18 hours without recharging and support the same straps.

And here is a price comparison of current Apple Watch models:

• Apple Watch Series 3 (38 mm) - 15,990 rubles.
• Apple Watch Series 3 (42 mm) - 17,990 rubles.
• Apple Watch Series 4 (40 mm) - 26 490 rubles (approximate price).
• Apple Watch Series 4 (44 mm) - 29,150 rubles (approximate price).
• Apple Watch Series 5 (40 mm) - 32,990 rubles.
• Apple Watch Series 5 (44 mm) -34,990 rubles.

Specifications

• Colors: "Gray space", silver, gold.
• Dimensions: 40 and 44 mm.
• Display: 40mm version - 1.57 inches, 394 x 324 pixels, LTPO OLED; 44mm version - 1.78 inches, 448 × 368 pixels, LTPO OLED.
• Operating system: watchOS 6.0.
• CPU: Apple S5.
• Built-in memory: 32 GB.
• Wireless interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g / n, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, NFC.
• Sensors: accelerometer, gyroscope, optical heart rate sensor (second generation), electrical heart rate sensor, compass, microphone.
• Autonomy: up to 18 hours in mixed mode.
• Charger: wireless, adapter included.
• Compatibility: iPhone 6s or later with iOS 13 or later.
• Protection: allow diving to a depth of 50 m.
• Dimensions: 40mm version - 40 × 34 × 10.7mm; 44mm version - 44 × 38 × 10.7mm.
• The weight: 40mm version - 39.8g 44mm version - 47.8g

Outcomes

Before us is the same Apple Watch Series 4, just with a non-fading screen. It makes no sense to update from last year's version.

Apple Watch Series 3 is not that expensive, performs about the same functions as the new watch, supports watchOS 6 with all the new chips, and will only become completely obsolete when Apple shows something really new.

The Apple Watch Series 5 is a good buy if you have an iPhone and are looking for your first smartwatch that will be around for a few more years. This is Apple's best wrist gadget, just not much better than the previous ones.