Watch · Retina & Beyond · 2019
Apple Watch Series 5
The screen finally stayed on, dimming intelligently to show the time at a glance without a wrist-flick. That was the feature that made it feel like a real watch.
First always-on display and a built-in compass.
Apple Watch SE (1st generation) (2020)
Apple Watch Series 5: key facts
When was the Apple Watch Series 5 released?
The Apple Watch Series 5 arrived on September 20, 2019. Apple discontinued it in September 2020.
How much did the Apple Watch Series 5 cost?
The Apple Watch Series 5 launched at $399 in 2019, about $491 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Apple S5 (64-bit dual-core) at 1 GHz, 1 GB RAM, 32 GB storage, 1.78" LTPO OLED always-on display.
Why does the Apple Watch Series 5 matter?
First always-on display and a built-in compass.
Full specifications
| CPU | Apple S5 (64-bit dual-core) · 1 GHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 2 |
| Memory (RAM) | 1 GB |
| Storage | 32 GB |
| Display | 1.78" LTPO OLED always-on |
| GPU | Integrated |
| Ports | Magnetic inductive charging |
| Weight | ~36 g |
| Dimensions | 40 mm or 44 mm case |
| Operating system | watchOS 6 |
| Released | September 20, 2019 |
| Discontinued | September 2020 |
| Launch price | $399 |
How the Apple Watch Series 5 compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 16× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 1 GHz, the clock is roughly 3.2× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro, and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
This held about 8,190 modern phone photos, a respectable library even today.
Launched at $399 in 2019, about $491 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Sources
Specs checked against Apple technical specifications archive, EveryMac, Mactracker, Wikimedia Commons image credits.
Did you know?
An LTPO display let the refresh rate drop to 1 Hz to keep the always-on screen efficient.
Related Watch models
Open the Apple Watch Series 5 in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11