Hands-On With the New Apple Watch Series 5

[sakurarain]

I upgraded from the original version. I would say the display is great, App launches very fast, the battery life is as expected and I have designed my watch + band at Watch Studio. So I am very happy with my S5. It will run for the next 3 or 4 years 😆😆

 

[ralphdaily]

I’m happy with upgrading to Series 5 from the 4. Battery life was fine by second day. The AOD is great.

 

[fmcshan]

I still have the series 3 stainless steel model... I think I'm gonna wait till next year to upgrade because Apple added minor, incremental updates this year. I'm loving the iPhone 11 Pro Max though!

 

[Waughy]

It’s been a huge upgrade over my S0.

Mine is waiting to be picked up after work, also replacing a S0. Looking forward to it.

 

[okieoutwest]

Thankfully the new faces are also compatible with the Series 4. One of my favorite things about this refresh cycle is the Nike Hybrid watch face which allows me to use the neat corner complications AND put a digital display clock prominently in the center of the watch.

 

[Commodore 64]

It does also include the Apple Workout app for AOD -- doesn't show the hundredths of a second, but does show seconds. Can be a little difficult to read at an angle in direct sun with sunglasses and a smudged display, but is fully readable with a little shade. So maybe not as handy on a bicycle as for a runner.

Ah, yes, I forgot that part from the keynote. But I don’t remember anyone saying specifically that AOD isn’t supported for 3rd party apps so I wonder what people’s experience is. From the presentation/website it seems like some complications are supported. Or...? Could other apps get supported with a later OS update? Next logic step for S6? Hm... I hardly ever use the Apple workout app for working out (it’s just a bag of lack...) and would see a HUGE reason to upgrade if other/all apps could show on the AOD.

Talking about workout, anyone noticed the funny conversation on one of the watches on Apple’s website, had me laughing:
-Want to go for a run later?
-Way ahead of you. Did 3 miles this morning.
-Sorry, I meant a real run.

😄 Funny cause it’s true, that’s what buddies say...

 

[B4U]

One thing I didn't realize is that even if you don't pay the monthly fee you can still call emergency services with just the watch. I might get the cellular model next time.
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My battery life was bad yesterday. I turned the watch off this morning before I put it on and it's much better today.

The emergency does work?

 

[FreeSpeech1st]

It doesn't make any sense to call it a  watch series 5 if there aren't changes except AOD.

 

[Apples Apples Everywhere]

All in all, while there are some useful features in the Series 5, there's not a compelling reason to update if you already have a Series 4.

Always-on compelled me to upgrade from Series 4.

 

[tunastink]

I picked up a discounted S4 while watching the early reviews for the S5. Now I’ve returned the S4, ordered a Nike S5, and now these comments about the battery life make me think I made a big mistake.

 

[MagicKnights]

One thing I didn't realize is that even if you don't pay the monthly fee you can still call emergency services with just the watch. I might get the cellular model next time.
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This is not true unless it’s changed as I contacted both Apple and AT&T multiple times to clarify this when series 3 cellular came out 2 years ago.

 

[Wondercow]

This is not true unless it’s changed as I contacted both Apple and AT&T multiple times to clarify this when series 3 cellular came out 2 years ago.

I’m not sure when your law was instituted (I believe it's much older than three years), but all cellular devices in the US (and Canada, possibly others) are required to be able to call 9-1-1 without active service or even a SIM card installed. Any cellular Apple Watch can call 9-1-1, but it has to be able to find a network that supports not just LTE, but VoLTE, since that’s all it can connect to.

 

[UltimaKilo]

I upgraded from series 3 to the series 5. Battery life is definitely worse. I could get to end of day on my series 3 and still have 30% left even 2 years in. I'm struggling to get through a whole day so far with the series 5. Right now its at 15%.

I changed from the Siri Watch Face to Infographics which has a bunch more complications. I'm wondering if that's causing some battery drain.

Please report back after a couple of days, the watch is likely calibrating.

I'm not sure what I'm doing. I want a series5 but my fiancé wants to go from a series1 to a 4. (she wants Fall detection, ECG and the emergency calling features). Trying to figure out a way to make money off our Watches to upgrade us both. Haha.

Get her a S5 and wait for the S6 for yourself.

I’ll likely pass on this one, even though I have a Series 2 version. I’m a little miffed at Apple’s ordering model for the stainless watch. There’s no option to buy it without cellular — something I have no need for. I love the look of my stainless Series 2. I can’t imagine why they don’t offer stainless without cellular.

Apple really baffles me sometimes.

The Series 2 should easily hold you over until the S6 next year, which hopefully will have a good processor speed bump, 21 hours of battery life and sleep tracking alongside better sensors,

I have the S2 and it’s plenty fast, but let’s see how Watch OS6 works on it.

I'm coming from a S2 and am seriously considering upgrading. I wouldn't know what potential features would make me wait for S6. (other than sleep tracking - which was rumored and might come in a software update?)

I'm interested in the different design, AOD, ECG, fall detection.... I've been toying with the idea of going cellular after having a Wifi only S2, but unfortunately my iPhone is on a prepaid plan.... (and no, I can't change that as I'd lose my number)

There’s a few that are having me consider sticking with my S2, which is plenty fast: integrated sleep tracking alongside 21 hour battery life, speed bumps and maybe better sensors.

Granted, if you have a Series 0 or Series 1, this is the best upgrade in years.

 

[himanshumodi]

Has heart rate measuring tech improved in Series 5? For intense insanity kind of workouts, I do like keeping an eye on the heart rate to ensure I am recovering enough in between intervals. To that end, I need a reasonably accurate heart rate sensor. I use a chest strap for my workouts, which is pretty accurate. I have tried a Garmin wrist based wearable, that isn't as accurate, but that's as much a limitation of the optical heart rate sensing tech as Garmin's own implementation. Has apple worked some Data Science, AI/ML magic along with its sensors to be more accurate?

 

[DaveMcM76]

I upgraded from a series 2 and so far the 5 is an absolute revelation of speed and responsiveness.

As my 5 only arrived yesterday lunchtime I've not had enough time to make a call on battery life yet, but from what I've read elsewhere one of the main theories about excessive battery drain seems to be the linked to the environmental noise monitoring keeping the microphone active - especially where the noise complication is being used on the watch face.

Also if you have battery concerns AOD can be turned off in settings so it works like previous generations, although this does remove what is probably the main differentiator over the 4 so seems a bit pointless...

 

[bosatsu]

One question about the international emergency calling feature of the new AW5.

"The international emergency calling feature requires an Apple Watch Series 5 (GPS + Cellular) model. For a list of supported countries and regions see www.apple.com/watchos/feature-availability/."

Checking Apple's site I understand that to be able to use this function when traveling abroad:
a) You only need a AW5 GPS and Cellular model
b) You do NOT need to active any monthly plan.
c) You do not need to have your iPhone with you.
d) You do not need to be connected to any wifi network.

Anyone can please confirm this info?
Thank you!!

 

[Keniutek]

Meh, sticking with the 4.
I just hope watchOS6.1 fixes "my screen". I have to sometimes tap it 3-4 times to wake it (never happened on previous OS).

 

[ipedro]

I’ve been waiting patiently all year to upgrade from my Series 3 to the large display of the Series 4 and now 5. The always on display is tempting but the fact that the CPU wasn’t upgraded, there are no additional health sensors and the biggest and most important change is coming next year with a 5G radio, is all giving me pause. Then it turns out, WatchOS 6 noticeably improved the speed of my Series 3 and the “Hey Siri” response time. I think I might be waiting one more year to upgrade.

 

[bobob]

Series 5, like all Apple Watches, remains the most accurate timepiece available.

 

[ipedro]

Oh, but remember. S4 was "completely redesigned" /s

It was. The Series 4 may share the design language of previous generations but it was completely redesigned from the ground up. Everything from the case shape and size, to the redesigned larger screen, to the Digital Crown, to the health sensor design and technology, to the internal chipset organization. Nothing was left untouched other than the watch band slots.

 

[deadlock]

Series 5, non cellular.
Yesterday was my first "real" day with it - i.e. at work, not "playing" with new features, 7am - 11pm.
55% remaining when back on the nightstand

 

[Khedron]

My most wanted feature for S6+ would be standard lugs. Unfortunately there's zero chance of that happening. For the money they charge for straps they could at least match the connector to the watch to avoid monstrosities like this:

 

[bobob]

A circle design would cut the amount of information the screen would present.

Circular smartwatches make about as much sense as circular smartphones.

They're strictly for those with an incurable case of skeumorphitis.

 

[BruiserBear]

I’ve always found battery life to be worse after setting up a new watch or phone. Happened to me with the series 4 and every update before. Those who are just setting up the series 5, I’d like to hear your experiences after using the new watch for a few days. I’ve found battery life always improves after a few days of use.

I think this is just wishful thinking. Apple didn’t increase the battery size and is using the exact same processor. But now the display is always on. The moment they announced this feature this is the outcome I expected.

 

[MrGimper]

Still torn between whether to get the cellular or not.
Never even activated my Series 3's cellular function because of the ridiculous monthly fee.

Remember that if you want any material other then aluminium, you don't get a choice of not having cellular!