Andrew O'Hara
Apple has made the Apple Watch Series 5 official and AppleInsider has already gone hands-on with the new features, case designs, and Always-On Retina display. Here are our first impressions.
A year ago we got the Apple Watch Series 4 with a big redesign, larger display, and a host of other features. Today's Apple Watch Series 5 is a bit more iterative — but with two big additions.
Apple Watch Series 5 First Look
While the Apple Watch Series 5 now has 32GB of flash store, the most prominent feature addition is the new display which retains the same 40mm and 44mm sizes but is now an Always-On Retina display. It works great in practice and was easy to see the display dim when we dropped our wrist wearing the watch.
On the watch face, third-party complications dim just as Apple's do though third-party apps are slightly different. When in a third-party app on Series 5 and focus is lost, the display appears to frost over and the time is overlaid on top.
Premium Titanium and Ceramic Cases
We also have two new case materials this year in the form of ceramic and titanium in the Apple Watch Edition lineup. We've seen the ceramic offering before in the clean, glossy, creamy white but the titanium is new for Apple Watch.
Apple Watch Series 5 in space black titaniumThe titanium Series 5 has a brushed, metallic appearance versus the matte anodized aluminum or the glossy stainless steel. The silver titanium is very apparent whereas the Space Black titanium is slightly less noticeable thanks to the diamond-like coating that provides for its color.
For deals and product availability on the Apple Watch Series 5, be sure to check out our Apple Watch 5 Price Guide.
Andrew Orr
Charles Martin
Marko Zivkovic
Wesley Hilliard
Malcolm Owen
39 Comments
I wonder how the natural brushed Ti looks with the Link Bracelet and the Milanese Loop. I probably wont upgrade from my S4, but the Ti S5 looks pretty sleek... perhaps upgrading t6 S6 next year :P
Black titanium looks awesome!
Can you actually turn off the always on feature? I would like it if we can have the screen turn on only if I touch the screen or crown. That way I can extend the battery life even more.
The titanium is intriguing, but I still prefer the lightest weight option - aluminum. Which, as a Cheap Bastard™, also rewards me from that perspective too :)
It's nice that all the aluminum colors are the same price now - charging more for black when it debuted was obnoxious.
The Milanese Loop is indeed a work of metal art, but I've been extremely pleased with the velcro loop bands (whatever they call them) - light weight and astonishingly durable. I garden and do other crap with the watch on and the dirt rinses right out and the band dries amazingly fast. Whatever material Apple made them from was chosen wisely!