From the outside, and on paper, there's not a huge difference between last year's Apple Watch Series 4, and the recently released Series 5. The aluminum and stainless steel models look identical, but the Series 5 has bragging rights, thanks to new titanium and ceramic housings.

All-day battery life; Always-on display; Tight integration with the iPhone

WatchOS 6 is buggy; Still no sleep tracking

It's still the best smartwatch

The Apple Watch is still the best smartwatch. Though the Series 5 feels like a minor update to last year’s Series 4, it will fit the bill for the vast majority of people buying Apple Watches for the first time.

Bright screen; Always-on display is useful and power efficient; Compass is handy for hiking and walking directions; International emergency calling on cellular models; Generally fast performance

No battery life improvements; No third-party watchfaces; No new fitness features

From the outside, and on paper, there's not a huge difference between last year's Apple Watch Series 4, and the recently released Series 5. The aluminum and stainless steel models look identical, but the Series 5 has bragging rights, thanks to new titanium and ceramic housings.

All-day battery life; Always-on display; Tight integration with the iPhone

WatchOS 6 is buggy; Still no sleep tracking

An always-on display makes the best smartwatch even better.

Apple's subtly improved watch adds a key overdue feature and improved software with this update, but it remains largely the same great smartwatch as last year.

The Apple Watch Series 5 adds an always-on display, so it can show the time all the time; An added compass aids navigation and improves elevation readings; Cellular models gain an international SOS mode.

Battery life remains a day and a half at best; No new health features, and the watch lacks native sleep tracking; Needs an iPhone to set up and work; Offers only Apple's growing but limited selection of watch faces.

The Apple Watch Series 5 brings an always-on display and other minor enhancements, but it's still missing the one thing it really needs: better...

If you aren't an iOS user, meanwhile, we recommend the $200 Fitbit Versa 2 . While it doesn't feature nearly as much in the way of apps as the Apple Watch, it offers an always-on display, accurate fitness tracking, and up to five days of battery life.

Always-on display; Excellent fitness tracking and heart rate monitoring accuracy; WatchOS 6 brings useful new apps; Smooth performance

Expensive; No built-in sleep tracking; Battery life remains the same

Love My Apple Watch the one bad thing is it doesn't seem like the battery life is as good as my previous series 4 was. but every thing else is great from new features to the ability to leave my phone at home and use the cell function is awesome.

There's no question that the Apple Watch Series 5 is the absolute best smartwatch money can buy. It has an incredible screen, excellent app support, and the strongest set of sensors and features you'll find anywhere.