Apple Apple Watch Series 7 (45mm) vs Apple Apple Watch Series 5
Apple Apple Watch Series 7 (45mm) ($91) 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 7 (45mm) | Apple Apple Watch Series 5 |
| Price | $91 | $85 |
| Weight | 38.8g | 36.5g |
| Chip | S7 SiP | S5, 64-bit dual-core |
| Case | 45mm aluminium, GPS | — |
| Display | Always-on Retina, larger than Series 6 | Always-on Retina OLED, first Apple Watch |
| Water | 50m, WR50 | — |
| Durability | IP6X dust resistant | — |
| Weight | 38.8g (Apple published) | 36.5g (Apple published, 44mm Aluminum) |
| Compass | — | Built-in |
| Safety | — | International emergency calling |
| WR | — | 50m |
Pros & Cons
Apple Apple Watch Series 7 (45mm)
- Bigger display than the Series 6 in a similar footprint
- IP6X dust resistance
- The cheapest always-on Apple Watch worth buying
- No temperature sensor
- Older S7 chip feels slower on modern watchOS
- Will drop off watchOS support before the others here
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 5 is the better value at $85. Both are part of our curated smartwatch index — tap through to check current pricing.