Hands-On With The Apple Watch Series 5: Same Old Design, New Features

Early this morning, Apple announced the Watch Series 5 with one feature we have always wanted from Apple’s smartwatch since its debut: an always-on screen. Besides the new display, the Apple Watch Series 5 also offers an option for titanium finish along with an option for the ceramic finish which came on prior models but was vanished in 2018’s Watch Series 4.

Apart from the always-on display and optional finishes, the Series 5 looks exactly like the Series 4, measuring 40x44mm in size, the same screen size, rounded corners as well as the same Digital Crown that can measure EKG readings.

By offering the ability to check the time without the need for an arm gesture, the Apple Watch has finally become a competent device. Its operation is just like what consumers would expect: normally, the watchface is at a dimmer brightness, but when you lift up your wrist, the display will be at full brightness. In addition, the screen can display all the complications along with data in its always-on mode.

Furthermore, users can slap their hand down on Series 5’s watchface to dim it immediately, this feature is more satisfying on this model compared with previous ones as it switches modes rather than simply turning off the display.

The compass mode is impressive too although a few early devices had trouble making it work. When the compass mode works, it offers somewhat similar to a “cone of confidence” that shows how precise the product believes its directional reading is. The more accurate it is, the more the cone shrinks, this works in not only the compass app but also Apple Maps.

The Series 5, which was announced at iPhone 11 event, is open for preorder from today and will be on sale starting September 20th.