No second place for Apple
Its smartwatch still the best around
Apple Watch Series 5 From €459, apple.com/ie ★★★★★
his week we learned that Google’s parent company may buy Fitbit. However, even with Google’s muscle anyone looking to make ground in the smartwatch business, has a huge hurdle to leap – the Apple Watch.
The newly released Series 5 Apple Watch looks almost exactly like the Series 4. That’s fine by me and unboxing it is almost an event. Watch 5 has a broader range of styles, with nine strap colours alone within the sport band range. Bands are available in leather and stainless steel.
There are two sizes, 44mm and 40mm for those with slimmer wrists. Setting up the watch is a snip. You use your iPhone to manage the process and when it’s done you can customise the watch’s face and other features from your phone.
The first noticeable difference from the last version is the alwayson screen. It wasn’t a hardship raising your wrist to activate the older version, but it feels like a great improvement. It also means that if you’re using it for fitness you can check your progress without interrupting your workout. There are also nice subtle improvements like the little tap the watch gives your wrist to mark the hour.
Apple has slowly and very surely improved their watches to focus on your health. The activity, ECG and heart-tracking features are there
IT GIVES THE WRIST A LITTLE TAP TO MARK EVERY HOUR
but there’s also a new Noise app. This lets you know when the sound around you reaches a level that could impact your hearing.
Apple say that you can expect 18 to 20 hours of battery life. By comparison, Fitbit’s Versa 2 will run for around three days with the screen always-on.
The Apple Watch 5 though, remains unquestionably the top of the pile. Its build quality and ease of use is flawless. Its array of sensors make it as useful for helping to keep an eye on an elderly relative as it is for budding marathon runners.
Perhaps I wouldn’t upgrade if I owned an Apple Watch 4 and it’s disappointing only the GPS version is on sale in Ireland for now. But if you want to buy the best smartwatch around, look no further.