The Apple Watch Series 5 is the first smartwatch from Apple with an always-on display. Here's a roundup of early reviews ahead of its release on Friday, September 20th.
The Verge:
It’s as if the Apple Watch is in high school and taking AP courses while everybody else is repeating the 7th grade for the third time. Sure, the Apple Watch Series 5 hasn’t reached anything close to its full potential yet, but right now, this thing is an overachiever.
CNET:
If the Apple Watch is really going to become a watch for everyone, it needs to last longer on a charge and there needs to be more ways to charge it. Last but not least, it shouldn't require an iPhone to pair with it. WatchOS 6 takes a step in the right direction by launching its own App Store for the Watch, but there are still miles to go. The Apple Watch continues to be one of the best smartwatches, but it remains limited by being an iPhone accessory for now.
TechCrunch:
While improved battery life would almost certainly be a welcomed feature in future updates, Apple’s made a bit of a compromise, offering an always-on watch that lasts the same stated 18 hours as its predecessors. I found I was, indeed, able to get through a day no problem with standard use. My own usage had the product lasting closer to 20 hours without the need to recharge, but even so, the device needs to get charged once a day, regardless — otherwise you’ll almost certainly be out of juice the following day.
Hodinkee
For me, it’s pretty simple: This is the Apple Watch I've always wanted. The matte titanium case is the perfect middle ground for me between the sometimes-a-bit-much white ceramic and the highly polished steel, and the always-on display makes it feel more natural and watch-like in daily use. I've said it before and I'll say it again: It's very clear to me that the days when the Apple Watch is nearly indispensable are coming – and probably faster than we think.
Rene Ritchie:
Apple Watch Series 5 takes the world’s best health and fitness tracker and motivator, connected communications and emergency contact band, and wearable computer platform, and brings it all back full circle — into just what might be the world’s best watch.
iJustine
Daring Fireball
Series 5’s always-on display solves my single biggest complaint about Apple Watch since day one. It’s not perfect, but it’s more than good enough. No other feature or improvement to Apple Watch to date has ever made me this happy. The watch face doesn’t really stay on on all the time — instead, when on previous Apple Watch generations the display would turn completely off, the watch face goes into a low-power mode. The display dims (but remains bright enough to be legible in most conditions), second hands go away, and you pretty much just see the hour and minutes. Raise your wrist and it fades in to full brightness. Notifications do not appear on screen while the watch is in its low-power state.
Wired:
The Apple Watch Series 5 is an excellent smartwatch. You shouldn’t upgrade just for the always-on display, but if you do, you’ll be happy to have it. The only thing that would give the smartwatch even more appeal would be if Apple considered opening it up to Android users. You still have to have an iPhone to use the Apple Watch. Sure, your productivity, your health, your overall well-being matter a great deal to Apple—you just have to pay for its premium hardware first.
CNBC:
Taking into consideration that 70% of Apple Watch buyers are new, then the Apple Watch Series 5 is worth buying. I don’t think you need to upgrade from the Series 4, and I don’t think Apple is really worried if people are planning to are not. I’m making the upgrade because I like the always-on display and the compass for navigating around the city. Some people won’t care about that.
The Verge:
It’s as if the Apple Watch is in high school and taking AP courses while everybody else is repeating the 7th grade for the third time. Sure, the Apple Watch Series 5 hasn’t reached anything close to its full potential yet, but right now, this thing is an overachiever.
CNET:
If the Apple Watch is really going to become a watch for everyone, it needs to last longer on a charge and there needs to be more ways to charge it. Last but not least, it shouldn't require an iPhone to pair with it. WatchOS 6 takes a step in the right direction by launching its own App Store for the Watch, but there are still miles to go. The Apple Watch continues to be one of the best smartwatches, but it remains limited by being an iPhone accessory for now.
TechCrunch:
While improved battery life would almost certainly be a welcomed feature in future updates, Apple’s made a bit of a compromise, offering an always-on watch that lasts the same stated 18 hours as its predecessors. I found I was, indeed, able to get through a day no problem with standard use. My own usage had the product lasting closer to 20 hours without the need to recharge, but even so, the device needs to get charged once a day, regardless — otherwise you’ll almost certainly be out of juice the following day.
Hodinkee
For me, it’s pretty simple: This is the Apple Watch I've always wanted. The matte titanium case is the perfect middle ground for me between the sometimes-a-bit-much white ceramic and the highly polished steel, and the always-on display makes it feel more natural and watch-like in daily use. I've said it before and I'll say it again: It's very clear to me that the days when the Apple Watch is nearly indispensable are coming – and probably faster than we think.
Rene Ritchie:
Apple Watch Series 5 takes the world’s best health and fitness tracker and motivator, connected communications and emergency contact band, and wearable computer platform, and brings it all back full circle — into just what might be the world’s best watch.
iJustine
Daring Fireball
Series 5’s always-on display solves my single biggest complaint about Apple Watch since day one. It’s not perfect, but it’s more than good enough. No other feature or improvement to Apple Watch to date has ever made me this happy. The watch face doesn’t really stay on on all the time — instead, when on previous Apple Watch generations the display would turn completely off, the watch face goes into a low-power mode. The display dims (but remains bright enough to be legible in most conditions), second hands go away, and you pretty much just see the hour and minutes. Raise your wrist and it fades in to full brightness. Notifications do not appear on screen while the watch is in its low-power state.
Wired:
The Apple Watch Series 5 is an excellent smartwatch. You shouldn’t upgrade just for the always-on display, but if you do, you’ll be happy to have it. The only thing that would give the smartwatch even more appeal would be if Apple considered opening it up to Android users. You still have to have an iPhone to use the Apple Watch. Sure, your productivity, your health, your overall well-being matter a great deal to Apple—you just have to pay for its premium hardware first.
CNBC:
Taking into consideration that 70% of Apple Watch buyers are new, then the Apple Watch Series 5 is worth buying. I don’t think you need to upgrade from the Series 4, and I don’t think Apple is really worried if people are planning to are not. I’m making the upgrade because I like the always-on display and the compass for navigating around the city. Some people won’t care about that.