Apple Watch 5 price, release and specs: all the facts on Apple’s new wearable
UPDATE: Our Apple Watch 5 review is now live! How did we score the latest smartwatch from Apple? Check out our in-depth review for a full look.
Here’s a short snippet: ‘Apple Watch Series 5 might be a very small upgrade, but it’s a small upgrade to an already excellent wearable. If you held off picking up the Series 4, or are tempted to move from an earlier watch, then you’re getting a seriously good product here.”
If you’re looking for some more direct advice you can also check out one of our versus articles where we directly breakdown how the Apple Watch 5 compares to older Apple Watches and key rivals.
Keep on reading this page for more general information about the Apple Watch Series 5.
Apple Watch 5 release date – When is the new Apple Watch out?
The Apple Watch 5 was unveiled alongside the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max on the 10th of September. It went on sale and started shipping on the 20th.
Apple Watch 5 price – How much does the new Apple Watch cost?
Apple Watches are never cheap and this remains the case with the new Apple watch. The basic Wifi-Only Apple Watch 5 costs $399 in the US and £399 in the UK. The price for the LTE variant goes up to $499 in the US and £499 in the UK. Apple’s direct dollar-to-pound pricing strategy makes the new Apple Watch 5 one of the most expensive options on the British market. Be aware that the price shoots up if you opt for one of the new ceramic or titanium finishes.
Related: Best fitness tracker 2019
Apple Watch 5 specs and features
The Apple Watch 5 has the same square-screen design as the Apple Watch 4.
As with previous Apple smartwatches, the base version of the Watch 5 is made from 100% recycled aluminum. The only visual difference is that the watch will be available in ceramic and titanium, as well as the existing aluminium and stainless steel finishes seen on the Watch 4. Nike and Ermez Apple Watch 5 models have also been confirmed.
The new wearable runs on a 64-bit, dual core S5 processor, while the screen introduces an always-on display along with a variable refresh rate. For those out of the know, “always-on” is a key feature common to competing smartwatches, like the Samsung Galaxy Active 2, that we’ve been begging Apple to add to its wearable for years. It means the new display will automatically stay on, so that you can check the time and read incoming notifications when your hands are full.
The only downside to the tech is that it can impact battery life. To get round this Apple’s made it so the Apple Watch 5’s LTPO screen can dynamically refresh between 60Hz and 1Hz depending on what it’s doing. According to Apple this will let the Apple Watch Series 5 offer the same 18 hour battery life as the Apple Watch 4.
Related: Best smartwatch 2019
The addition of a compass sensor is another big tech upgrade. This’ll make it so the updated Maps app will offer better positional data, showing which way you’re facing when walking, and it’ll also add things like latitude and longitude data.
As a final perk Apple’s added a few health and wellness features that build on the Watch 5’s ECG and fall detection services. The biggest is the new Emergency Call functionality which allows the Apple Watch 5 to contact emergency services if it detects a fall or serious heart anomaly, even if its not connected to an iPhone.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
