When it comes to smartwatches, there's the Apple Watch and then there's everything else. Five generations of wearable have seen Cupertino's timepiece lose most of its rough edges; now, the Apple Watch Series 5 is taking one of the last big usability issues to task.

Always-on display doesn't impact battery life; watchOS 6 brings App Store and more to the wrist; Display looks great; Still the smartwatch to beat

Still no third-party watch faces; Standalone features still aren't quite divorced from iPhone; Battery life has stayed the same

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.

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 battery life.

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...

Even with small changes, the Apple Watch Series 5 remains the best smartwatch

Stylish design; Comprehensive fitness features; Health features are genuinely helpful; Useful always-on display; Cellular model can replace your phone for a short time

No major changes over the Series 4; No native sleep tracking

The Apple Watch 5 (or Series 5) is the best smartwatch on the market – if you're an iPhone user that is. While the upgrades this year are minimal on paper, the addition of a screen that displays the time whether you're looking at the watch or not should make lots of people very happy.

Always-on display makes it feels a lot more like a 'proper watch; All the previous straps still work; Great at making you want to move and be active

No huge improvements to battery life; No support for Android users

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

Apple worked out most of the Apple Watch's kinks with the Series 3, and since then the company has been adding improvements that make the Watch a more convenient and phone-freeing accessory.

Solid build quality and design; Always-on display mode doesn't impact 18-hour battery life; Always-on display mode can be disabled; Accurate internal sensors (heart rate; GPS; etc); On-Watch app store is easy to use and useful; Cycle tracking is thorough and discrete with watchOS app

Activity Trends isn't as detailed as it should be; Still no native sleep tracking; Not many Watch-only apps yet; Only works with iOS devices; Expensive; No third-party watch faces

The 2018 Apple Watch Series 4 brought a lot to the table, and the Apple Watch Series 5 hasn't added a lot. But, Apple has added where it counts, and importantly, kept the same price point.

There's a running joke in my recent iPad reviews: I just get to say "it's an iPad," and everybody knows what that means. It's a sign that the product isn't changing year over year, sure.

Finally; an always-on screen; Big; beautiful display; New apps round out its capabilities

Battery life hasn't improved; Still no third-party watchfaces; Doesn't work with Android phones