As it turns out, rumors that claimed Apple wasn't going to unveil a new Apple Watch model were wrong. Onstage at its just-finished iPhone 11 event, the Cupertino brand revealed the new Apple Watch Series 5 featuring a bevy of new things that people looked for in last year's model.
Apple Watch Series 5 Specs
The Apple Watch Series 5 retains the bigger screen and built-in electrocardiogram test the Apple Watch Series 4 before it brought, seen at the time as major additions. This time, the differences only run few. There's a new always-on display feature, for starters. It's constantly visible at dim brightness then springs into fuller brightness when tapped.
Despite that, Apple says the new model will still feature 18 hours of battery life, just like the Series 4.
There's now also a built-in compass that can display latitude, longitude, elevation, and incline. These will be bundled in a standalone app in watchOS 6, but Apple demoed the feature integrated with other apps. For instance, users can open Apple Maps and see not only their location but what direction they're facing.
Apple Watch Series 5 Titanium And Ceramic Models
Beyond those two things, there really isn't much to see. There are some new bands and finishes, though, including a titanium model and a ceramic one. In classic aluminum, you get three color options: silver, gold, and space gray. That aluminum is also 100 percent recycled. The stainless steel model, on the other hand, will be available in three color variants: metal, gold, and space black.
Another thing rumors got wrong is sleep tracking. Apple did not announce first-party sleep tracking with the new model, which was something rumors and leaks heavily claimed.
Apple Watch Series 5 Price And Release Date
Apple Watch Series 5 pricing starts at $399 for GPS models and $499 for cellular ones. It's available to order now and will hit stores on Sept. 20, the same days news iPhones will be out. Steel models will start at $699, the titanium ones will retail for $799, while the ceramic variant will start at a whopping $1,299.
Apple is also permanently discounting older Apple Watch models. The Series 3 now just costs $199. Last year's Series 4, meanwhile, has been dropped from the lineup altogether. Check out Apple's website to find out more.
Thoughts on the new Apple Watch Series 5? As always, if you have anything to share, feel free to sound them off in the comments section below!
