Apple Announces Apple Watch Series 5 With Always-On Retina Display and New Titanium Case Option

Apple today announced the Apple Watch Series 5, alongside watchOS 6. Series 5 watches feature an always-on display, meaning you won't have to rely on wrist raises to read the Apple Watch screen. There's also a built-in compass and international emergency calling as the new standout features.

apple watch series 5
The always-on display allows the time and other important information to be visible at all times. Every watch face was optimized for the new display and to preserve battery life, featuring the ability to dim the screen when your wrist is down and return to full brightness with a raise or tap.

Despite the always-on display, Apple said that the Apple Watch Series 5 still features an all-day 18-hour battery life.

“We’ve seen Apple Watch have a meaningful impact on our customers’ lives and we’re excited to deliver even more capabilities with Apple Watch Series 5 and watchOS 6,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer. “The seamless integration of new hardware and software delivers an enhanced experience that makes it even easier to stay active and connected to the people and information users care about.”

There are also updated location features that provide greater navigation tools, like the built-in compass and updated Maps app. The compass app provides heading, incline, latitude, longitude, and current elevation, and it can be added as a complication to the watch face.

series 5 image
Series 5 cellular models include international calls to emergency services, regardless of where the device was originally purchased or if the cellular plan was activated.

The new lineup also comes with a titanium case, and returning styles include stainless steel, aluminum, and ceramic. There are also the expected Apple Watch Nike and Apple Watch Hermès models.

series 5 models
With a new Apple Watch comes the latest updated to watchOS, which is watchOS6, including new health and fitness features like a Cycle Tracking app for women. There's a Noise app to understand the ambient sound levels in environments such as concerts, and Activity Trends to provide a long-term view of your activity patterns.


watchOS 6 also has dynamic new watch faces like Meridian, Modular Compact, and Solar Dial. Apple is also finally letting you customize exactly which Apple Watch case and watch band you buy from the get-go with Apple Watch Studio. With this, you can pick your preferred case and band combination when you initially purchase the Apple Watch Series 5.

Apple Watch Series 5 with GPS starts at $399 while the GPS and cellular models start at $499. You can order your Series 5 device today on Apple.com, and the watches will then begin to ship on Friday, September 20. Apple has discontinued the Apple Watch Series 4 and is keeping the Series 3 around at the entry-level price of $199 for GPS and $299 for GPS and cellular.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 10
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)

Popular Stories

CarPlay Hero

Apple Releases Wireless CarPlay Fix

Wednesday April 16, 2025 11:28 am PDT by
If you have been experiencing issues with wireless CarPlay in your vehicle lately, it was likely due to a software bug that has now been fixed. Apple released iOS 18.4.1 today, and the update's release notes say it "addresses a rare issue that prevents wireless CarPlay connection in certain vehicles." If wireless CarPlay was acting up for you, updating your iPhone to iOS 18.4.1 should...
Beyond iPhone 13 Better Triad

Apple's 20th Anniversary iPhone May Finally Go All Screen

Tuesday April 15, 2025 6:31 am PDT by
Apple is preparing a "bold" new iPhone Pro model for the iPhone's 20th anniversary in 2027, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. As part of what's being described as a "major shake-up," Apple is said to be developing a design that makes more extensive use of glass – and this could point directly to the display itself. Here's the case for Apple releasing a truly all-screen iPhone with no...
iOS 19 Roundup Feature

iOS 19 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday April 15, 2025 7:37 am PDT by
The first iOS 19 beta is less than two months away, and there are already a handful of new features that are expected with the update. Apple should release the first iOS 19 beta to developers immediately following the WWDC 2025 keynote, which is scheduled for Monday, June 9. Following beta testing, the update should be released to the general public in September. Below, we recap the key...
maxresdefault

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Sunday April 13, 2025 7:52 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and ...
iphone 16 pro models 1

17 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17

Thursday April 17, 2025 4:12 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you skipped the iPhone...
AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Friday April 18, 2025 5:16 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
iOS 18

Apple Releases iOS 18.4.1 With Bug Fixes

Wednesday April 16, 2025 10:11 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 18.4.1 and iPadOS 18.4.1, minor updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating systems that came out last September. iOS 18.4.1 and iPadOS 18.4.1 come two weeks after the launch of iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. There have been complaints about ...
tvOS 18 Thumb 1

Apple Releases tvOS 18.4.1

Wednesday April 16, 2025 10:04 am PDT by
Apple today released tvOS 18.4.1, a minor update to the tvOS 18 operating system that came out last September. tvOS 18.4.1 comes two weeks after Apple released tvOS 18.4, and it is available for the Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD models. tvOS 18.4.1 can be downloaded using the Settings app on the ‌Apple TV‌. Open up Settings and go to System > Software Update to get the new software....
iPhone Security Feature 25

Five iPhone Security Features You Should Be Using

Wednesday April 16, 2025 4:15 pm PDT by
Apple has quite a few security features that it's added to iPhones, iPads, and Macs over the years. Now more than ever, it's important to make sure you're taking advantage of the built-in security tools that are available to keep yourself and your data safe, so we've rounded up a list of the most important options. If you don't already have these enabled, you might want to consider turning...

Top Rated Comments

benshive Avatar
73 months ago
I bet the people who complained about the Apple Watch not having an always on display are going to be here complaining about how this will affect battery life :rolleyes:
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
crawfish963 Avatar
73 months ago
No word on processor upgrades? Interesting. I doubt this will be enough to entice S4 owners.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CarlJ Avatar
73 months ago
Low on testosterone or menopausal design, form does not follow function, it should be circular, aod that is old news in galaxy watches.
... is it that you have low testosterone levels and need external devices to provide it for you? The Apple Watch certainly doesn't need nor provide testosterone. Similarly, watches do not experience menopause. What are you on about?

Should be circular? Since when? For decades, watches had mechanical mechanisms with rotating hands that dictated mostly circular cases. That requirement is outdated. Smart watches present information, which fits better on a rectangular screen. Round is the exact opposite of "form follows function" for a smart watch - it's being round to be familiar to those who can't cope with a rectangular watch.

If galaxy watches suit you better, no one is stopping you from buying one.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MrGimper Avatar
73 months ago
Always-on display, the watch forums will be dead now that complaint is negated.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CarlJ Avatar
73 months ago
I feel like they could just include this on Series 4 with a software update....
Sure, if you want 4 hour battery life. They've switched to a different kind of screen that uses less power.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jhfenton Avatar
73 months ago
Maybe if you wear this watch occasionally for fitness or workout it is fine, but for everyday watch it looks pathetic. Low on testosterone or menopausal design, form does not follow function, it should be circular, aod that is old news in galaxy watches. Come on apple, Steve Jobs should haunt you.
This is a terrible opinion. You should be ashamed to have expressed it publicly.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)