Apple Watch Series 5 (GPS, 44mm) - Space Gray Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band

I completely love my Apple Watch it was a great investment and I would buy it again, I’m very athletic so it is an awesome fitness tracker, I can talk on the phone through it, I can go on the Internet, I get my emails, I get my text messages and I can text on it, and it’s awesome extension of my smart phone iPhone. I really don’t have any complaints about the Apple Watch except for the fact that it did not come with a sleep tracker on it I had to download a separate app, also that it did not always register completely when I touch the screen or when I’m swiping down on the apps sometimes I have to flip the screen on and off to get it to register properly. I love the Always-On screen and the option to turn it off. The sports fans fit perfectly I love that I can shower with it on and swim with it on, and it’s compatible with my AirPods, everything about this watch is pretty good, I can look at my pictures I could change my screensavers, I can read my Bible and use all my other various apps, it works as a controller, it’s pretty much flawless. Again there were a few things I would change Another one being that there wasn’t many directions when I open my watch, I had to go on YouTube and Google how to use it and how to get certain commands to work. For a watch that cost so much apple should’ve sent directions. There are a whole bunch of gestures that you will not know unless you watch YouTube videos. I also think they should’ve made it so I can play music through my Apple Watch without having my headphones in,If I could talk to my watch I should be able to listen to music through my watch without my AirPods.Another flaw is that the volume is very low so I need my AirPods when I’m talking through my watch because it’s very hard to hear the other person on the phone.I love that you can write in the messaging app, but I also think they should’ve made that a little more responsive as well and easier because writing every single letter gets frustrating. I absolutely love the competition, I’m competing with friends every single day and it’s amazing and I’m winning by the way, thanks Apple! I can see all my friends stats and they can see mine, including but not limited to calories distance walked, activities, workouts, goals achieved, awards, steps ETC. The battery life on this thing is amazing it never dies I use it all day and only charge it for a couple minutes and it’s right back ready to go! The heart rate monitor, and the ECG Features are great.Again I pretty much love everything about this watch! I love that the watch remind you and motivate you to get up and move to get up and stand, to breathe, to work out, to Burn calories exercise and complete your daily rings! It’s a fitness trainer on your wrist, plus iPhone, plus a computer and everything else! Honestly I highly recommend this watch it was a great investment again they’re only a couple things I would change like the volume, the apps that come pre-downloaded, and the ability to listen to music through the Watch without headphones should be a added feature. It also would be nice to compete with other brands like Fitbit not just Apple Watch. They also should make it so you can compete or at least track your steps with someone who does not have an Apple Watch but has an iPhone Because as of right now you can’t do that. I couldn’t post my full video but I will copy the link to my YouTube page and my website so those who want to look at my unboxing Of the Apple Watch Series 5 can check it out.

I bought this Apple Watch 5 to replace my 3.5+ year old Apple Watch Series 1 that had an expanding battery and I didn’t feel comfortable with a battery that could explode and burn me with acid attached to my wrist. The Series 5 is absolutely an amazing bit of kit. Having owned an Apple Watch for over 3.5 years prior I’m no novice but the difference is night and day. The Series 5 is super fast and responsive. AND I LOVE THE ALWAYS-ON DISPLAY! And lets talk about the display! It’s almost edge to edge, extra sharp, no visible pixels like the Series 1 and is bright and vibrant. I love having the time always displayed like a “normal” watch and not being forced to awkwardly raise my wrist nearly to my face to get the S1 screen to turn on just to see the time. I love the new complications and watch faces too! I had so much fun picking complication and mix-matching different clock faces. Just lovely. The battery life is much better than even my S1 when I first bought it 3.5+ years ago. I can get through nearly 2 days with moderate use and one day with heavy use. I use a sleep tracking app called Sleep++ so I literally have the watch on for 24 hours straight and only recharged while I’m bathing in the morning to top up the battery. Apple will be officially releasing WatchOS 7 with native built-in sleep tracking— but you can test it out right now with the Public Beta of WatchOS 7 but because you can’t downgrade an Apple Watch if something goes wrong, I don’t put betas on my main and only Apple Watch but if you’re daring or have a backup Apple Watch, definitely try out the new, amazing WatchOS 7 features. And that brings me to the Apple Watch 5’s longevity. Even though I am sure an Apple Watch 6 is just a month or two away from being announced, The Apple Watch 5 is future proofed for at least a couple more years because it’s so fast, has the always on display, stellar battery life, the ECG and Fall Detection. Also it has the hardware for measuring Blood Oxygen (Blood Oximeter) but it’s not activated in the OS because Apple hadn’t gotten clearance yet by the time the Apple Watch 5 was released— they allegedly have clearance and approval now so AW5 will be getting this feature too! I can go on and on about all the great features and uses for my AW5 but I’ll end this review saying that it’s been worth every penny I paid for and will be an amazing companion on my wrist for the next 3.5 years!

The watch is great. I have tried MANY cheaper smart watches and I have to say this one is very well appointed. And if I got to used it for the whole day without taking it off and charging it, it would be even better. I want to track my sleep with it so that means I cant charge it overnight. They also have many write-ups on how you to make your battery last longer by, well... basically downgrading the function of the watch!! here you can make it not make so many motions and not light as long and not update and not this and not that... but I WANT THE WATCH TO DO all it can do!!! I do not have any idea why by generation #5 they can't make a battery that definitely lasts 24 hours. I charged mine last night to 100%, slept with it on (and it tracked my sleep great), did an hour of cardio this morning and I have it checking my heart rate all day. It is 5PM and I have 4% left. Inexcusable! At the very least they could create a charging system that you could attach while you wear it, which I think I have seen on the Pebble, where it magnets to the side. AND the charging takes 2 HOURS!!! seriously? so basically I am wearing this for maximum 22 hours a day AND then I don't actually get 22 hours of battery out of it. For the money? I am not nearly as happy with it as I am my XS MAX. So if you want a watch that can do only some of what it can do, go ahead and buy it. UPDATE: 10/29/2019 - I decided to try turning off the active face. My battery lasts plenty to get through the day and I have to charge it while watching tv at night and then I wear it through the night to track sleep. (which there are AWESOME sleep tracking apps for BTW, you have NO idea how your sleep patterns really are until you use these things... Sleep is way more than just being unconscious for 6-8 hours.. so I updated my rating to a 5. Things Ive learned I like about it: When I am at my computer and my phone is not, and I go to a site that needs 2 factor codes? The watch gets them. If my phone isnt close.. I can answer a call on it, and the person cant even really tell. The watch reminds me when I have been a LAZY ASS all day and I have now met my activity rings 4 times later in the night because it egged me on so I would go for a "brisk walk". Its a simple goal to want to achieve your daily rings.. but its such a good thing. when you get a text, answering with your voice is nice and easy. Pictures are however close to worthless on it.. Buy one!!

An amazing product that makes my life eDier and helps keep me on track. 4 times a day the watch prompts me to meditate for a minute. I’ve been doing that and it helps me maintain my calm. After a minute it asks if I want to do it again and often do. I can control my iPhones music app from the watch. Turn the crown to adjust volume or skip songs or go back. The sleep app really helps me be more aware of getting better consistent sleep. The workout app really works in motivating me to get more exercise. Text messages on my watch are far less intrusive than my phone chiming at me and interrupting conversations. While talking I can glance at me watch without feeling interrupted. On the rare occasion that my phone is in another room and I get a call, the watch let’s me know that I’ve got a call And I can even answer the call on my watch. I can ping my phone instantly from my watch, so no more finding my iPad, opening the “find my iPhone “ app, waiting for it to load and connect. Siri: I can ask my watch to set a timer or an alarm. It only goes off on my watch, not my phone. Flashlight. Hit thefjadhlight icon and the screen goes white which makes for a decent flashlight, turn my watch so the screen points down and it doubles in brightness. Swipe the screen and it goes to flashing, Squiers again snd it goes to red which will not wake up my wife or mess with my circadian rhythms. I could go on and on with what this abs omg little piece of technology does. I have to charge it about once a day which takes maybe 20 minutes.

When I saw that my Series 2 Apple Watch wasn't going to be supported with updates anymore - I bit the bullet and upgraded to the 44mm Series 5. Feel a little guilty about not waiting for the Series 6 but justify it by saving $ vs. whatever the cost of the new one will be. Plus I got 3 solid years out of the Series 2 so expect the same with this one. Functionally, it feels very familiar - I was right at home using the watch as it more or less works the same as the Series 2. Where I'm really floored and glad I upgraded is the form factor. The screen is noticeably larger, while the body of the watch is noticeably sleeker. It looks and feels better on my wrist than my old Series 2. Photos shows the difference. The screen is very sharp and easier to read. I also like the always on display! Only hesitation is battery life. If it's an issue, or if I learn I can dramatically extend battery by turning it off, I will turn it off. The old "wrist turning" method of seeing the screen never really bothered me before so we'll see. The best smartwatch and a worthy upgrade to the Series 2. Can't wait to go for my first run with it tomorrow.

What can I say. Apple watch is still the best smartwatch out there and the sole reason I stick with iPhone year after year. It's a pity really that no one can even remotely compete in creating as full featured watch as Apple. I upgraded from series 3 watch to this always on display in series 5 and the changes in design are obvious and to the better. The screen is bigger, everything is a bit sharper to my aging eyes, responsiveness is improved to the point where any action is executed without any delays. I also noticed that heart pulse sensor and GPS sensors have both quite improved from series 3, which is great as I rely on this watch for all my outdoor workouts. If you exercise outdoors quite a lot and have been eyeing new Garmin Fenix series smartwatches, take a look at WorkOutdoors app in the Apple App store. Needless to say, it removed any temptation I had to switch to Garmin series. I initially was concerned with battery life that seemed to last much less then my old watch, but since the WatchOS bug fix release, battery improved to the point that I don't worry anymore that it will die on me before I put it on charger at night. Something was off in the initial WatchOS 6.0 release and it affected many watches, but Apple quietly fixed the issue.

I'll start by saying I returned my apple watch. Before I get to why, this thing is incredible. It's a work of art with a fantastic screen. Design marvel. So why return it? I wanted it to track my heart rate during exercise. It can do that, but this watch is more of an iphone on your wrist than a dedicated fitness watch. The Garmin 245 (I tried that one too) is a more serious fitness watch in my opinion. The apple watch is more of a marvel, more elegant, but the Garmin is the more serious FITNESS watch. Both are geared to runners. Both have substantial learning curves. I returned the Garmin because it was functional overkill if you aren't a serious runner. The complexity of the watch and associated IPHONE app were just too much for me, a non-runner. I thought the Apple watch would be a better functional fit. It's loaded with fantastic capabilities, but again, more geared to communications and app do-dads. Yes it can serve as a fitness watch, but as mentioned, that's not really the focus of the device. I finally realized my 100 dollar Polar H10 chest strap could do almost all I wanted for heart rate, probably more accurately, and at a fraction of the costs. Part of my reason to try out the Apple (over just a chest strap) was to investigate sleep patterns. The Apple Watch doesn't have native sleep analysis though 3rd party apps claim to be able to. OK. But the more you read about sleep analytics the more you realize its just a huge black box. No one really knows how to extract verifiable info on sleep or sleep cycles from a watch. You need EEG signals for that. I should have realized that before ordering. In summary, this is a fantastic, stylish, multi-function computer that looks something like a watch. If you intend to use it as a watch, AND a wrist worn IPHONE of sorts, this is your thing. If you really just want fitness tracking, consider cheaper alternatives. For the serious runner, perhaps the Garmin forerunner series is a better choice if you're willing to invest considerable time figuring out how to configure and use it. If you just want exercise heart rate, the chest belts are probably the gold standard for accuracy and pair nicely with all sorts of great 3rd party IPHONE apps. They also come in at a quarter of the price of this Apple Watch (or less), and have batteries that last months. The Apple Watch battery might not last a full day.

I decided to upgrade from the Series 3 Apple Watch, as there are several features in the Series 5 that I intend to use on a regular basis. The most important to me is the built-in ECG, as my doctor just diagnosed that I have an irregular heartbeat. I also like the built-in compass, the fall emergency notification system, and the always on feature. The always on feature is especially useful, as I no longer have to move my wrist in order to tell the time, or to view other information on the screen. I can't overemphasize how important the always on screen is. It's probably the single most important upgrade the Series 5 comes with. I'm disappointed that the watch doesn't come with a native sleep tracker, as I have OSA, but all in all this watch has everything else that I need. While I'm giving it 5 stars, I think that a few improvements could be made. Having owned a previous version of the watch, I've discovered that it's very easy to scratch the crystal screen. Apple requires that you purchase a much more expensive version of the watch to get a sapphire crystal screen. In my opinion, all of the Apple watches should come with sapphire crystal, as it's extremely difficult to scratch. I own several less expensive regular watches, all of which use sapphire for the screen. The other area that needs improvement is the sport band. While functional, it's very hot when wearing the watch on warm days. It's also a pain in the neck to put on. For this reason, I purchased a different sport band to replace it with. The replacement band has holes in it, which allow for a much more comfortable feel. As soon as my new band arrives, it's adios to the standard Apple band. The other area where the watch needs improvement, is in the nightstand mode. Apple claims that while in this mode, the watch functions like an alarm clock. This isn't true, as the watch will only stay on for about a minute until it goes dark. In order to turn it on again, you need to touch the watch, or tap something near to it. Who wants to do this in the middle of the night; certainly not me. Overall, this is a great smart watch, and arguably the best one on the market. I have no regrets about upgrading from the Series 3, as there are many additional features in this latest version. The watch feels solid and other than the crystal & the lousy nightstand mode, it's a great watch. No doubt that future editions will resolve some of the minor annoyances, but for now, it's the best smart watch on the market. Addendum 10/04/2019: Last night I was relaxing, watching TV. I was feeling kind of strange & had shortness of breath, so I took an ECG reading & sure enough the watch notified me that I was having an episode of Atrial Fibrillation. I'm seeing my doctor on Wednesday. The watch randomly checks for irregular heartbeat, but you can get a reading anytime by using the heart app. This watch has the potential to save lives.