Detailed Technical Specifications

Product Information

• Product Name: Apple Watch Series 5
• Model: GPS + Cellular, 40mm
• Brand: Apple
• Series: Series 5 (5th Generation)
• Category: Smartwatch
• Case Material: Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Titanium, or Ceramic (Edition)
• Color Options: Aluminum: Silver, Space Gray, Gold | Stainless Steel: Silver, Space Black, Gold | Titanium: Natural, Space Black | Ceramic: White
• Release Date: September 2019
• Status: Discontinued (no longer sold by Apple)

Display

• Screen Size: 1.57 inches (40mm) diagonal
• Display Type: Retina LTPO OLED with Always-On Display
• Resolution: 324 × 394 pixels
• Brightness: Up to 1000 nits
• Always-On Display: Yes (first Apple Watch with this feature)
• Screen Protection: Ion-X strengthened glass (aluminum) or Sapphire crystal (stainless steel/titanium/ceramic)
• Display Technology: Low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) display with variable refresh rate (1Hz to 60Hz)

Processor & Memory

• Chipset: Apple S5 SiP (System in Package)
• Processor: Dual-core 64-bit (same performance as S4 but more efficient)
• Storage: 32GB
• Wireless Chip: Apple W3 wireless chip
• Ultra Wideband: Apple U1 chip for spatial awareness (first Apple Watch with this)

Sensors

• Electrical heart sensor: For ECG app
• Optical heart sensor: Second generation, for heart rate monitoring
• Accelerometer: Up to 32 g‑forces with fall detection
• Gyroscope:
• Built-in compass: First Apple Watch with compass
• Barometric altimeter: Always-on altimeter for real-time elevation
• Ambient light sensor: For automatic brightness adjustment
• Note: No blood oxygen sensor (introduced in Series 6)

Health & Fitness Features

• ECG App: Take an ECG anytime, anywhere (FDA cleared)
• Heart Rate Monitoring: High and low heart rate notifications, irregular rhythm notifications
• Fall Detection: Automatically call emergency services if hard fall detected
• Emergency SOS: International emergency calling
• Workout Types: Multiple workout types including swimming, yoga, hiking, dance, etc.
• Activity Rings: Move, Exercise, Stand rings with sharing and competitions
• Water Resistance: Swimproof - suitable for pool and open water swimming
• Elevation Tracking: Real-time elevation with always-on altimeter
• Noise Monitoring: Alerts when ambient sound levels reach 90 decibels
• Cycle Tracking: Menstrual cycle tracking with predictions

Connectivity

• Cellular: LTE and UMTS support (with cellular model)
• Wi-Fi: 802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz and 5GHz
• Bluetooth: 5.0
• GPS/GNSS: Built-in GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and QZSS
• NFC: For Apple Pay
• Emergency SOS: International emergency calling (available in over 150 countries)
• Ultra Wideband (U1): For spatial awareness (Directional AirDrop, Car Key feature with compatible cars)
• Compatibility: iPhone 6s or later with iOS 13 or later

Smart Features

• Siri: Voice assistant with raise-to-speak, on-device processing for faster response
• Phone Calls: Make and receive calls directly from watch (with cellular model)
• Messages: Send and receive messages, Digital Touch, and animated emoji
• Apple Pay: Contactless payments
• Walkie-Talkie: Live voice communication with other Apple Watch users
• Maps: Turn-by-turn navigation with haptic feedback, compass integration
• Music & Podcasts: Stream and download for offline playback (32GB storage)
• Audible: Listen to audiobooks
• Find My: Locate people, devices, and items
• Noise Monitoring: Real-time decibel monitoring
• Emergency Features: Fall Detection, Emergency SOS
• Compass: Built-in compass app with waypoints and backtrack

Battery

• Battery Type: Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion
• Battery Life: Up to 18 hours (all-day battery life with Always-On Display)
• Charging: Magnetic charging cable (USB-A connector included)
• Charging Time: 0 to 80% in about 1.5 hours, 0 to 100% in about 2.5 hours
• Power Reserve: Time-only mode extends battery life
• Low Power Mode: Available with watchOS 9 (reduces background activity)

Water Resistance

• Rating: Water resistant 50 meters under ISO standard 22810:2010
• Swimproof: Suitable for swimming in a pool or ocean
• Water Lock: Ejects water from speaker after swimming
• Not Suitable For: Scuba diving, water skiing, or other activities involving high-velocity water

Physical Specifications

• Dimensions: 40mm height × 34mm width × 10.74mm depth
• Weight: Aluminum: 30.8 grams | Stainless Steel: 40.6 grams | Titanium: 35.1 grams | Ceramic: 39.7 grams (with sport band)
• Case Material: Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Titanium, or Ceramic (Edition)
• Back Material: Ceramic and sapphire crystal (with heart rate sensors)
• Strap Compatibility: All Apple Watch bands (40mm, 41mm, 45mm, 49mm - some may need sizing)
• Digital Crown: With haptic feedback
• Side Button: For contacts and power
• Speaker: 50% louder than Series 3

Operating System

• Original OS: watchOS 6
• Latest Supported OS: watchOS 10 (current as of 2024)
• Initial Features: App Store on Watch, Cycle Tracking, Noise app, Calculator app on Watch

Audio & Haptics

• Speaker: 50% louder than Series 3, redesigned for clearer calls
• Microphone: Improved microphone for better call quality
• Haptic Feedback: Taptic Engine with refined haptics

Environmental Requirements

• Operating Temperature: 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C)
• Storage Temperature: -4° to 113° F (-20° to 45° C)
• Relative Humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing
• Maximum Operating Altitude: Tested up to 10,000 feet (3000 m)

In the Box

• Apple Watch Series 5 (GPS + Cellular, 40mm)
• Sport Band (size: S/M and M/L) or other band depending on configuration
• 1m Magnetic Charging Cable (USB-A)
• 5W USB Power Adapter
• Documentation

Warranty & Support

• Limited Warranty: 1 year
• AppleCare+: Optional extended warranty (if purchased within 60 days)
• Software Support: Currently supports watchOS 10 (2024)
• Current Status: Vintage product (limited hardware service available)

Certifications

• Water resistant 50m (ISO 22810:2010)
• CE, FCC, ICES, MIC, RCM, UKCA
• ECG app cleared by FDA (US) and other regulatory bodies

Key Improvements Over Series 4

• Always-On Display (biggest upgrade)
• Built-in compass (first Apple Watch with this)
• International emergency calling
• Apple U1 Ultra Wideband chip
• 32GB storage (double the Series 4)
• watchOS 6 with App Store on Watch
• More case materials (Titanium and Ceramic editions)
• Low Power Mode (with later watchOS updates)

Important Notes & Limitations

• Still receives software updates (watchOS 10 as of 2024)
• No blood oxygen monitoring (introduced in Series 6)
• No Always-On altimeter (introduced in Series 6)
• No family setup (requires watchOS 7+ and cellular model)
• Cellular service requires carrier plan and iPhone setup
• ECG app not intended for users under 22 years old
• Considered vintage by Apple as of 2024
• Some features require iPhone and/or internet connection
• Battery life varies by use, cellular connectivity, and Always-On Display settings
• Smaller display may be less readable for some users compared to 44mm model
• Always-On Display reduces battery life compared to Series 4