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Apple Apple Watch Series 8 (45mm) vs Apple Apple Watch Series 5
Apple Apple Watch Series 8 (45mm) ($102) 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 8 (45mm) | Apple Apple Watch Series 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $102 | $85 |
| Weight | 38.8g | 36.5g |
| Chip | S8 SiP | S5, 64-bit dual-core |
| Case | 45mm aluminium, GPS | — |
| Display | 1000 nit always-on Retina | Always-on Retina OLED, first Apple Watch |
| Water | 50m, WR50 | — |
| Sensors | Temperature, ECG, blood oxygen | — |
| 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 8 (45mm)
- Full sensor suite including ECG and temperature
- Crash Detection
- Cheap for a watch with this much hardware
- 1000 nits looks dim next to a Series 9
- Same 18 hour battery
- Design is three generations old
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.
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