Design and Build

The Apple Watch Series 5, available in 40mm and 44mm sizes, comes with an aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, or ceramic chassis that has a 10.7mm depth. The 40mm model is 30.8g (aluminum, GPS) or 40.6g (stainless steel), and the 44mm model is 36.5g (aluminum, GPS) or 47.8g (stainless steel). The color options are Space Gray, Silver, Gold (aluminum), and White (ceramic), Ditto for the 130-200mm (40mm) or 140-220mm (44mm) wrists, and the Digital Crown, side button, and band release. The front is made of sapphire crystal, and the back is made of ceramic, making the watch waterproof up to 50m. Some say they like the top ceramic version very much and only mention that it isn't dust-resistant.

• Aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, or ceramic chassis, 10.7mm depth
• Digital Crown, side button, band release
• Sapphire crystal front, ceramic back
• 50m water resistance
• No dust resistance rating

Apple Watch Series 5 Display

Series 5 now comes with an LTPO OLED Retina display with 368 x 448 pixels (44mm, ~977 sq mm) or 324 x 394 pixels (40mm, ~759 sq mm), both at ~326 PPI. The display is bright enough with an upper limit of 1000 nits and also has an always-on feature. The screen is the same as Series 6, however, 30% smaller than the Series 10 with lower brightness. Many appreciate the fact the device is energy-efficient but do not find it very useful when the brightness is low.

• LTPO OLED Retina, always-on
• 40mm: 324 x 394, 44mm: 368 x 448, ~326 PPI
• Up to 1000 nits
• Sapphire crystal protection
• 30% smaller than Series 10

Performance and Software

Injected with S5 System in Package and a 64-bit dual-core processor, the Series 5 has 32GB of storage and runs on watchOS 6 (it can be upgraded to watchOS 9). The S5 can attain the same status as the Series 4 in the sense that it can guide a user via compass and it allows for international emergency calls but is not equipped with Neural Engine features. Its overall performance is just not up to par as that of S6, and that is why it is capable of supporting old apps. The majority of users consider it not inferior to the one back in 2019 but unworthy for tasks in 2025.

• S5 SiP, 64-bit dual-core
• 32GB storage
• watchOS 6 (up to watchOS 9)
• Compass, international emergency calling
• No Neural Engine or Apple Intelligence

The S5 handles basic tasks, but watchOS 9 limits access to features like sleep apnea detection.

Sensors and Health

The Series 5 is the first watch in the Series that has a second-generation light sensor, an electrical heart sensor (ECG), high-g acceleration sensor, gyroscope, compass, and an always-on altimeter. This device is available for ECG and fall detection features only, but it doesn't have blood oxygen, temperature, or depth sensors. The health features of 2019 are complete of the range, although it does not have the newest capabilities. Consumers who have ECG as a priority would appreciate but are displeased with the limited health tracking in comparison with Series 6–10.

• ECG, heart rate
• Fall detection
• High-g accelerometer, gyroscope, compass
• Always-on altimeter
• No blood oxygen or temperature sensors

Battery and Charging

The Series 5 offers ~18 hours of battery life with a 296mAh battery (44mm) or 245mAh (40mm). It charges to 100% in ~2 hours via a Magnetic Charger USB-C Cable. Real-world use yields 14–16 hours, impacted by the always-on display. Battery life matches Series 6 but lacks fast charging. Users report frequent charging with heavy use.

• 296mAh (44mm), 245mAh (40mm)
• ~18h (normal)
• Charging: 100% in ~2h
• Magnetic Charger USB-C
• No fast charging

Connectivity

The Series 5 supports Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Bluetooth 5.0, L1 GPS, LTE (cellular models, $499+), and Apple Pay. It lacks Ultra Wideband and Wi-Fi 5GHz, matching Series 6. GPS supports fitness tracking, but connectivity is dated compared to Series 9/10. Users report stable connections but note slower data transfer.

• Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Bluetooth 5.0
• L1 GPS, LTE (cellular models)
• Apple Pay, GymKit
• No Ultra Wideband or Wi-Fi 5GHz
• No voice isolation

Pricing and Availability

Costing $399 (40mm, GPS only, and aluminum material) and released on September 20, 2019, the Series 5 was available on that date from Apple, telephone carriers, and certain authorized retailers. Cellular options are being sold for $100 more, while those with a stainless steel/ceramic case start at $699. After being officially out of stock in September 2020, the watch is now offered as a refreshed item for as little as $150 or as high as $300. People say that it is a worthwhile device for finding heart rate but also mention about the lack of support for software.