Apple Watch series 5 - what can we expect and when?

[DeNachtwacht]

You forget one thing... Garmin devices are equipped with software that is focussed much more on sporters. Things like recording tracks are not possible with AW, and besides that it lacks the hardware start/stop button that are so necessary when you’re wet from sweat. Ever since my AW2 my mind has not changed; fanatic sporters should chose garmin, casual sporters are most likely better of with an Apple Watch.

 

[futurist101]

Bluetooth car audio. If someone hasn't mentioned it before.

https://9to5mac.com/2018/09/04/apple-watch-car-bluetooth-audio/

This would address my desire to transition to a smaller iPhone (SE size) if I could just leave my iPhone 7 plus at home instead.

 

[dannyyankou]

You know what would push it to the next level? Ultrasound blood pressure monitoring.

 

[xDKP]

If they had a system that monitored recovery time, the system could take a lower % of your normal Active Calorie goal so that it not only motivates you to do exercise but also to help you not over train. It would be easy enough to do... provide they used Recovery Time.

Mine broke the day after a hard marathon. Couldn’t really go for a run and smashed the rings the day before so it could be a bit more clever

 

[WLS]

Just give us a micro LED display with always on.

 

[Monkswhiskers]

You forget one thing... Garmin devices are equipped with software that is focussed much more on sporters. Things like recording tracks are not possible with AW, and besides that it lacks the hardware start/stop button that are so necessary when you’re wet from sweat. Ever since my AW2 my mind has not changed; fanatic sporters should chose garmin, casual sporters are most likely better of with an Apple Watch.

Pressing both buttons on the AW is effectively a start/stop. I ride 100mi, run 25 mi and swim 6mi a week and AW is fine for me.
I have just been toying with the idea of going to Garmin but after borrowing a F5 and Instinct recently I realise that the gps is dreadful on them thesedays, nowhere near as good as my old 310xt, go figure!

 

[44267547]

Just give us a micro LED display with always on.

Technically, OLED is more than capable of having an always on display, it’s Apple’s decision why they’re not including it, so Micro LED doesn’t necessarily change that opposing factor. With micro LED, (which I assume is nowhere near ready yet), the advantages are with a higher resolution, significantly brighter over OLED and improved color gamut.

 

[Monkswhiskers]

I am guessing that the series 5 will be an 's' year with a focus on longer battery life/another speed bump etc. I'm not sure what new health sensors they could put in with the current tech, pulse oximeter? not worth it for most customers, non-invasive glucose monitor? tech a few yrs away yet.
Better software in os6 for sporty stuff would be welcome.

 

[oeagleo]

I am guessing that the series 5 will be an 's' year with a focus on longer battery life/another speed bump etc. I'm not sure what new health sensors they could put in with the current tech, pulse oximeter? not worth it for most customers, non-invasive glucose monitor? tech a few yrs away yet.
Better software in os6 for sporty stuff would be welcome.

I agree, more activity types, or maybe even being able to name our own? Perhaps the ability to add other sensors, like perhaps bike speed/cadence? Or, (dreaming here, 'cause it would cost Apple money) the addition of FirstBeat Technologies, metrics to enable Training Effect, Recovery Time, etc.

 

[Monkswhiskers]

I agree, more activity types, or maybe even being able to name our own? Perhaps the ability to add other sensors, like perhaps bike speed/cadence? Or, (dreaming here, 'cause it would cost Apple money) the addition of FirstBeat Technologies, metrics to enable Training Effect, Recovery Time, etc.

Yes, I agree, I think I posted on another thread that I would love that.
I think, if they wanted to, Apple could buy Firstbeat! I think this is a really interesting area for smart watches.
Like a lot of people, I am guilty of overtraining and not listening to my body or maybe doing a hard session instead of recovery.
Someone I know with a Garmin 935 said they felt the Firstbeat stuff was a bit of a gimmick but I think with a decent wrist HR like the AW has (Garmin ones are junk) it would be great. Obviously strength/interval type workouts are best done with a chest strap, (I have just purchased a Wahoo TickR and am really pleased with it) but for the day to day readings this type of software can give you a great picture.

 

[oeagleo]

Yes, I agree, I think I posted on another thread that I would love that.
I think, if they wanted to, Apple could buy Firstbeat! I think this is a really interesting area for smart watches.
Like a lot of people, I am guilty of overtraining and not listening to my body or maybe doing a hard session instead of recovery.
Someone I know with a Garmin 935 said they felt the Firstbeat stuff was a bit of a gimmick but I think with a decent wrist HR like the AW has (Garmin ones are junk) it would be great. Obviously strength/interval type workouts are best done with a chest strap, (I have just purchased a Wahoo TickR and am really pleased with it) but for the day to day readings this type of software can give you a great picture.

Way back when I was using Suunto devices, I became familiar with Firstbeat Technologies through an app that isn't supported anymore, "Firstbeat Athlete". They have many white papers describing their entire process, and it appears very valid. Not so much for me, a 71 year old overweight guy that's just trying to render out a little of the lard that has accumulated from having a sitting job for-ev-er... but the concept makes sense. I particularly like the "training load" and Recovery times, as I'm wary of my heart, and would like to keep it going in the best shape it can be. We'll see what happens, but it's for those reasons that for serious activities, I'll strap on my Garmin Fenix 5+ and a chest strap, or possibly an OH1 Polar Optical strap. I have had a Tickr-X for a couple years and absolutely it's my "go to" chest strap, unless I'm on a bike ride, then it's a PowerCal chest strap that determines power as well as heart rate.

 

[Monkswhiskers]

Way back when I was using Suunto devices, I became familiar with Firstbeat Technologies through an app that isn't supported anymore, "Firstbeat Athlete". They have many white papers describing their entire process, and it appears very valid. Not so much for me, a 71 year old overweight guy that's just trying to render out a little of the lard that has accumulated from having a sitting job for-ev-er... but the concept makes sense. I particularly like the "training load" and Recovery times, as I'm wary of my heart, and would like to keep it going in the best shape it can be. We'll see what happens, but it's for those reasons that for serious activities, I'll strap on my Garmin Fenix 5+ and a chest strap, or possibly an OH1 Polar Optical strap. I have had a Tickr-X for a couple years and absolutely it's my "go to" chest strap, unless I'm on a bike ride, then it's a PowerCal chest strap that determines power as well as heart rate.

I never realised that there was a chest strap that could determine power, interesting, will check it out. I was considering buying a Garmin 645 but with gps no better than AW and sketchy headphone support and Garmin pay not great for the UK I realised AW does all those things effortlessly. I was also maybe considering the 935 (Fenix too big/heavy for my skinny wrist), 945 is out at the end of the month but same deal with the 645 re music/nfc payment. One thing I am holding out for is the Wahoo Rival watch, their products are great and it will be interesting to see what they come up with. My concern with having 2 watches is the hassle of cross-pollenating all the health data, I like simplicity haha!

 

[oeagleo]

I never realised that there was a chest strap that could determine power, interesting, will check it out. I was considering buying a Garmin 645 but with gps no better than AW and sketchy headphone support and Garmin pay not great for the UK I realised AW does all those things effortlessly. I was also maybe considering the 935 (Fenix too big/heavy for my skinny wrist), 945 is out at the end of the month but same deal with the 645 re music/nfc payment. One thing I am holding out for is the Wahoo Rival watch, their products are great and it will be interesting to see what they come up with. My concern with having 2 watches is the hassle of cross-pollenating all the health data, I like simplicity haha!

This is the chest strap I have, not sure about the linked one, but mine is ANT+/BT, so it will connct to anything.. I love it, as I simply can't afford a pedal/wheel based power unit. I've tried the Velocel power pod, and it's pretty good too, but felt "weird" having a half dozen things across the handlebars of my bike...

https://www.powertap.com/product/powertap-powercal

 

[alongdingdong]

I have the AW4 allu cellular since launch and its fantastic, i am glad i did not spend the double amount for saphire glass because *knock on wood* not a single scratch after many many hours of hiking, skateboarding and swimming, and working in IT.

I used mine for the majority of the time as my sole phone replacement.

Things i wish for AW5, longer battery life, i wear this watch 22 hours a day for 5/6 days per week. i charge it daily for 2 hours, not bad, but wish i just could do it once in the 2 days instead, i cant because i track activity. I use it as my alarm not to track sleep btw but still wear it in plane mode when sleeping, just a habbit.

Also i want a accurate chest heartbeat monitor, blood suguar level monitor from AW all intergrated nicely.
I dont need a bigger screen (flatter means less battery, so i dont want that unless the chips inside will run on significantly less power)

Honestly i do not feel they need to upgrade the AW4 this year, i rather have a 2 year cycle and see big improvements, so i will just skip the AW5.

nothing really i am in need for atm.

 

[44267547]

Honestly i do not feel they need to upgrade the AW4 this year, i rather have a 2 year cycle and see big improvements, so i will just skip the AW5.

nothing really i am in need for atm.

I absolutely agree with you. I like the Apple Watch a lot, but I do believe we are to a point where the Apple Watch does _not_ need to be released every 12 months, it’s not necessary for a third-party accessory to the iPhone to be upgraded with the Apple Watch/smart watch on an annual basis, most consumers likely don’t do that. (And there is topic called ‘consumer exhaustion’.) and I think eventually the Apple Watch will reach ‘market saturation’, [similarly to the iPhone], but I do think the technology with the Apple Watch is more advanced and compelling, which has a brighter future.

I personally would like to see the Apple Watch updated about every 18 months at this point, unless Apple has some ‘new’ technology that’s ready to debut within 12 months, then by all means, they can release it.

 

[MrGunnyPT]

I just want 2 days battery life.... I use workout and heart rate a lot...

 

[Akrapovic]

I'd really like improved GPS. Apple Watch GPS for running and cycling is just all over the place. Lots of errors and loss of signal where there shouldn't be. It falls back to the pedometer and gyroscopes at that point, but its estimates are always miles off what's happening.

Significant improvement to GPS tracking is my #1 request.

 

[The Game 161]

Does make you wonder what they can do to improve this years...maybe sleep tracking and better battery life?

 

[hanser]

The next big step should be independence from iPhone. The next WatchOS seems to have all the components necessary like app store.

 

[DeNachtwacht]

The next big step should be independence from iPhone. The next WatchOS seems to have all the components necessary like app store.

Which is exactly why I think Apple does not release a S5 this year. All the necessary updates are in watchOS 6. You don’t need new hardware for that. Also, all the new Watch faces are already released in the watchOS 6 beta. Until watchOS5, most of the new Watch faces were exclusively for the to-be-released new Apple Watch (the S4 last year).

And besides that the really important hardware upgrades are not ready yet (blood pressure measurement, blood sugar measurement).

 

[Vspruce]

I think that if we will see a S5 clock this fall it will be one that has minor improvements. Thats based on that the S4 released last year was a new design, so this year should be a S year in iPhone terms, if Apple follows that logic.

So waht will be improved in the S5 (if released)? A slightly better battery, and improved GPS. I guess thats about it.

In 2020 we should see new features and sensors added.

 

[xDKP]

I'd really like improved GPS. Apple Watch GPS for running and cycling is just all over the place. Lots of errors and loss of signal where there shouldn't be. It falls back to the pedometer and gyroscopes at that point, but its estimates are always miles off what's happening.

Significant improvement to GPS tracking is my #1 request.

I have pretty good accuracy with my S4 - do you use the build in workout app or 3rd party?

All YouTube reviews I’ve seen of the gps compared to Garmin, Suunto etc. is also pretty solid.

Better battery life would be one of my wishes. We had company away day this past Friday with a round of golf (using Golfshot: GPS) and party in the evening.

The battery was almost bust when I woke up. Would be great to be able to go a double day like that without charger

 

[Akrapovic]

I have pretty good accuracy with my S4 - do you use the build in workout app or 3rd party?

All YouTube reviews I’ve seen of the gps compared to Garmin, Suunto etc. is also pretty solid.r

Whether I use a standard or third party, the result is the same. I've even had the 2 apps make the same mistake at the same point. The app itself shouldn't matter, as it's the raw GPS data that's incorrect. You can use WorkOutDoors and it'll actually provide the GPS accuracy in numbers, which is interesting.

I've seen a lot of varied opinions on the AW GPS. The S2 was poor. The S3 was "ok" even under the best circumstances. The S4 is better but if you have friends on Strava, it's always worse than those with a Garmin.

https://www.cultofmac.com/571769/apple-watch-route-maps-accuracy/

This article is a strange one, but does illustrate how bad the AW2 was. But the article says there's no real difference between the 3 and the 4, and I'd absolutely disagree with that. The 4 has a more pronounced shape, and the multiple identical laps overlay each other cleaner than they do on 3.

For sure, the 4 is better, but the 3 isn't great and results in a lot of errors. I'd like to see another step forward with the 5.

 

[44267547]

I think that if we will see a S5 clock this fall it will be one that has minor improvements. Thats based on that the S4 released last year was a new design, so this year should be a S year in iPhone terms, if Apple follows that logic.

So waht will be improved in the S5 (if released)? A slightly better battery, and improved GPS. I guess thats about it.

In 2020 we should see new features and sensors added.

I’d agree with everything you said here. The Apple Watch is the one piece of hardware that has been very quiet this year, and not much discussion in terms of what to expect for upgrades for the Series 5 in general, but I do expect it to be a fairly discrete update, but I’m still not convinced we will see a new Apple Watch this fall, where I don’t think it needs to be released every 12 months, the watch has matured enough where it could be released every 18 months. But I expect like you said, the Series 6 to be a greater improvement over likely an incremental improvement with the Series 5.

 

[yegon]

The one upgrade I’ll be unable to resist is an always on screen, in whatever form it takes. Otherwise I can see me skipping the next one. Don’t want to get into the habit of constant upgrades, which I’ve stuck to, skipped the original watch and had S2 and now S4.