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Apple Apple Watch Series 4 vs Apple Apple Watch Series 5
Apple Apple Watch Series 4 ($73) vs Apple Apple Watch Series 5 ($85) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right smartwatch.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Apple Apple Watch Series 4 | Apple Apple Watch Series 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $73 | $85 |
| Weight | 36.7g | 36.5g |
| Chip | S4, 64-bit dual-core | S5, 64-bit dual-core |
| Display | 30% larger Retina OLED vs Series 3 | Always-on Retina OLED, first Apple Watch |
| Sensors | Electrical + optical heart sensor, ECG | — |
| Safety | Fall detection | International emergency calling |
| WR | 50m | 50m |
| Weight | 36.7g (Apple published, 44mm Aluminum) | 36.5g (Apple published, 44mm Aluminum) |
| Compass | — | Built-in |
Pros & Cons
Apple Apple Watch Series 4
- First Apple Watch with an ECG sensor
- Meaningfully larger display in the same case size class
- Fall detection, a safety feature that debuted here
- Digital Crown haptic feedback, still felt today
- No always-on display
- watchOS support window is closing
- Speaker and mic are a generation behind current models
- Battery health on a used unit is unverifiable before buying
Apple Apple Watch Series 5
- First Apple Watch you can actually glance at without raising your wrist
- Built-in compass, useful for hiking and orientation
- International emergency calling built in
- Same ECG and fall detection as Series 4
- Always-on mode measurably shortens battery life
- No blood oxygen sensor, that arrived with Series 6
- watchOS support window is closing
- Titanium and ceramic variants command a used premium over aluminum
Apple Apple Watch Series 4 is the better value at $73. If weight matters most, Apple Apple Watch Series 5 carries lighter at 36.5g. Both are part of our curated smartwatch index — tap through to check current pricing.
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