Apple Watch Series 5 And Series 4: Should You Make An Upgrade?

Apple Watch Series 5 has been out for half a month now, and it offers some new exciting features like always-on display. However, for owners of Apple Watch Series 4, what they really care about is whether it is worth upgrading to the latest model.

If you are one of these users, here is our comparison of Series 4 and 5 so that you can make a more informed decision:

Apple Watch Series 4 vs. Apple Watch Series 5

Apple differentiates the Apple Watch Series 5 in four main categories: the built-in compass, new options for titanium and ceramic, always-on display feature, and battery life.

Always-on Display

The most noticeable new feature on the Apple Watch Series 5 is the always-on display. This is by far the most requested function over the past few years. With always-on display, users will no longer have to raise the wrist or tap on the watch to know what time it is.

Adding this function is also an opportunity for Apple to optimize several of its watch faces accordingly. This means when you have no use for the watch, you can still see the time and some of the device’s complications without tapping or raising your wrist. When you wake the watch up, it will turn the full brightness on again.

Users can take advantage of this feature when using the Workout app of Apple Watch Series 5, so now you can see calories, time, and other data without stopping mid-session to raise your wrist or tap on the watch.

This is the first time an Apple Watch features this function, so for the Series 4, you still have to wake the watch up to check the time, as it has always been ever since the first watch was launched in 2015.

The always-on display is a real improvement for the Apple Watch Series 5. The expansion of the Workout app is also welcomed. The best part is, there are more areas where Apple can apply this feature to.

Compass

Apart from the always-on display, Compass is another new feature on the Apple Watch Series 5. It gives information on users’ latitude, longitude, incline, and elevation. Compass can also be added to some watch faces.

The major benefit one can enjoy with the addition of Compass is that now, the function makes it easier for you to use Apple Maps to navigate, as it shows you to which direction you are facing. In the future, the hardware can facilitate a lot more benefits as third-party developers can make use of it for their apps.

Apple Watch Series 4 does not have Compass, so you may miss out on these wonderful upcoming features. If you have an active lifestyle and want to bring only a smartwatch when walking, riding, or hiking, the Compass on the Series 5 will be a handy feature.

New Materials

At first look, the Apple Watch Series 5 looks quite similar to Series 4, at least with certain materials. Users have the choice to acquire the watch in ceramic, aluminum, titanium, and stainless steel with two new offers are titanium and ceramic.

Ceramic was one of the material choices for Apple Watch Series 2 and 3. However, it is absent for Series 3, leaving users with only one option if they want a high-end case, which is stainless steel.

This year, ceramic makes a comeback, along with the brand-new titanium offer. Those who prefer a lightweight watch may want to consider the titanium as it is 5 grams and 6 grams lighter than one with ceramic and stainless steel respectively.

There is no change with the stainless steel and aluminum version of Apple Watch Series 5 in comparison with the Series 4. So if you want a high-end edition with more options for materials, this year’s offer seems to be a better choice.

Battery Life

According to Apple, the Apple Watch Series 5 should be able to hold up around 18 hours between charges, which is no different to what it claimed with the Series 4. However, this year’s version has run into some early issues with battery life.

Users of a Series 4 watch will know that the real battery life of the device depends largely on how they use it, and the watch can last for more hours than the average of 18 in some cases. For example, on days that users do not workout, the watch can last longer than those they do. However, with the always-on display, that is not the case with Apple Watch Series 5.

Apple was too modest when they talked about the battery life of the Series 4, whereas with Series 5, their claim is much closer to reality. Many users of the latest offer can barely last through 12 hours before the watch needs to be charged again. For now, all we have are some indications that watchOS 6.1 will somehow fix this problem.

With this decrease in battery life, users should take this feature into consideration if they are thinking of an upgrade.

More

Apart from the new features we have just talked about, Apple Watch Series 5 is similar to Series 4. You do have twice as much the amount of storage, but the processor is the same on both versions.

Apple Watch Series 5 has another feature that Series 4 does, which is the international calling function. Now you can make a call to emergency services from almost anywhere in the world. All you have to do is to hold the side button and make sure that you have a cellular connection and you will be able to the help you require. The function can work even if you are not near your iPhone.