Many competing smartwatches have had always-on displays for several years, as have competing Android phones. iPhones and iPads do not have always-on displays.
The Series 5 can be easier customised when you buy it now. Apple offers it in 40mm or 44mm casing in either aluminium, titanium, stainless steel or ceramic and with umpteen strap options. You can pick and mix options online or in-store.
Always-on displays usually cane battery life to within an inch of its life but Apple claims the Series 5 still offers 18-hour ‘all day’ battery life – so you’ll still need to charge it every night. It also said its LTPO tech refreshes the display from 1Hz up to 60Hz to save power from usually battery-sapping OLED displays.
Raising your wrist or tapping the screen brightens it again. We presume you can turn off the function to save battery.
A white ceramic version and new Nike and Hermes models join the regular ones that are the same size and design as the previous Series 4. At the same time Apple has discontinued the Series 4, but will now sell the Series 3, first introduced in 2017, from £199 / $199.
Here’s everything Apple launched at the event in September 2019.
Henry is Tech Advisor’s Phones Editor, ensuring he and the team covers and reviews every smartphone worth knowing about for readers and viewers all over the world. He spends a lot of time moving between different handsets and shouting at WhatsApp to support multiple devices at once.
