The Apple Watch is truly a product of iteration—every year, it gets better just enough to stay ahead of the competition. This year, the Apple Watch Series 5 doesn't come with any aesthetic changes or improvements to battery life, and its starting price of $399 remains unchanged. So what's different? In addition to a new processor, the Series 5 comes with a Compass app and an International Emergency Calling feature, and watchOS 6 brings new apps like Cycle Tracking for women and a Noise app that measures sound exposure. These are welcome additions, but the most transformative feature this go-round is an always-on display, so you you can see the time, workout stats, and other information at a glance. The rest of the experience remains the same, but these changes are enough to keep Apple at the head of the pack, and earn the Series 5 our Editors' Choice for smartwatches. Apple Watch Pricing The Apple Watch Series 5 costs anywhere from $399 to $1,399, depending on the model you choose...

The Apple Watch Series 5 doesn't feature any drastic changes, but an always-on display makes the best smartwatch you can buy even better.

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

The only product I’ve given a perfect review score to is the Apple Watch. The 2018 Series 4 Apple Watch, to be exact, as it was not just Apple’s best product of the year, but also the best smartwatch you could buy. Apple has updated the Watch to the Series 5, bringing with it a handful of new features while still retaining the same design. Does this mean it’s no longer excellent? Don’t be silly. It’s still miles ahead of the competition. The Apple Watch Series 5 is visually unchanged compared to the Series 4. It comes in either a 44mm case size or a slightly smaller 40mm size for those who have slimmer wrists. The case is still a svelte 10.7mm, and the 44mm model — which I’m wearing in the pictures — weighs only 36 grams. It’s barely noticeable on your wrist, never gets caught under a shirt cuff, and the curvy case is wonderfully ergonomic. Sounds like it’s designed by someone who knows watches right? Yes, it was, and it really shows. The days of getting upset over the Apple Watch not ...

Stylish design; Comprehensive fitness features; Genuinely helpful health features; 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 Series 5 isn't super affordable, starting at $399 (£399, AU$649), and in many ways it's nearly the same watch that last year's Apple Watch Series 4 was. But its always-on display delivers one of the key features I've been waiting for. I notice it a lot because now I can glance at the time when I'm typing. Or casually watching TV. Or driving. No more weird arm twists.

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.

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

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 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

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

With so many big advances in 2018, the Apple Watch Series 5 looks to hone and refine the experience that we saw with the Apple Watch Series 4 - which is no longer on sale. The changes, while welcomed, are fairly small this time around suggesting that Apple is putting the brakes on to avoid adding...

Always-on display; Compass; Heart-rate monitoring; Bands still fit from previous versions; Two sizes

Not much of an upgrade from Series 4; No sleep tracking; No international roaming

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

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.