Apple Watch Series 5 -- hands on and first impressions
Apple has made the Apple Watch Series 5 official and AppleInsider has already gone hands-on with the new features, case designs, and Always-On Retina display. Here are our first impressions.

Apple Watch Series 5
A year ago we got the Apple Watch Series 4 with a big redesign, larger display, and a host of other features. Today's Apple Watch Series 5 is a bit more iterative -- but with two big additions.
Apple Watch Series 5 First Look
While the Apple Watch Series 5 now has 32GB of flash store, the most prominent feature addition is the new display which retains the same 40mm and 44mm sizes but is now an Always-On Retina display. It works great in practice and was easy to see the display dim when we dropped our wrist wearing the watch.
On the watch face, third-party complications dim just as Apple's do though third-party apps are slightly different. When in a third-party app on Series 5 and focus is lost, the display appears to frost over and the time is overlaid on top.
Premium Titanium and Ceramic Cases
We also have two new case materials this year in the form of ceramic and titanium in the Apple Watch Edition lineup. We've seen the ceramic offering before in the clean, glossy, creamy white but the titanium is new for Apple Watch.

The titanium Series 5 has a brushed, metallic appearance versus the matte anodized aluminum or the glossy stainless steel. The silver titanium is very apparent whereas the Space Black titanium is slightly less noticeable thanks to the diamond-like coating that provides for its color.
For deals and product availability on the Apple Watch Series 5, be sure to check out our Apple Watch 5 Price Guide.
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Comments
It's nice that all the aluminum colors are the same price now - charging more for black when it debuted was obnoxious.
The Milanese Loop is indeed a work of metal art, but I've been extremely pleased with the velcro loop bands (whatever they call them) - light weight and astonishingly durable. I garden and do other crap with the watch on and the dirt rinses right out and the band dries amazingly fast. Whatever material Apple made them from was chosen wisely!
From what I can tell, they’re both advertised as being 2x faster than the S3 chip, both dual core, so what gives?
We’re not used to Apple slapping on a new chip name without some improvements, but does this new watch iteration only have a new display allowing for “always on,” and a compass?
Thank you,
A Loyal Reader
Apple Watch Series 5 First Look
Is the Apple Watch now subject to a Tariff? Is Apple absorbing the Tariff or does that get added on at checkout like a sales tax? The last I heard was the Tariff on the Watch was 15% but that can change on an hourly basis because of Trump.