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Apple Apple Watch Series 5 vs Apple Apple Watch Ultra (1st generation)
Apple Apple Watch Series 5 ($85) vs Apple Apple Watch Ultra (1st generation) ($209) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right smartwatch.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Apple Apple Watch Series 5 | Apple Apple Watch Ultra (1st generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $85 | $209 |
| Weight | 36.5g | 61.3g |
| Chip | S5, 64-bit dual-core | — |
| Display | Always-on Retina OLED, first Apple Watch | 2000-nit, brightest Apple Watch at launch |
| Compass | Built-in | — |
| Safety | International emergency calling | — |
| WR | 50m | — |
| Weight | 36.5g (Apple published, 44mm Aluminum) | 61.3g (Apple published) |
| Case | — | 49mm Titanium |
| GPS | — | Dual-frequency L1/L5 |
| Water | — | 100m WR, EN13319 dive rated |
| Battery | — | Up to 36h normal use |
Pros & Cons
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 Ultra (1st generation)
- Titanium case and sapphire crystal, the most durable Apple Watch build
- Dual-frequency GPS for genuinely more accurate outdoor tracking
- 100m water resistance with an official dive rating
- Brightest display of any Watch at the time, still class-competitive
- 61.3g is heavy on the wrist next to any Series or SE model here
- Orange Action Button placement takes adjustment
- Battery life trails Ultra 2's efficiency gains
- Case size doesn't suit smaller wrists
Apple Apple Watch Series 5 is the better value at $85. Both are part of our curated smartwatch index — tap through to check current pricing.
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