Apple today announced the Apple Watch Series 5, debuting an Always-On Retina display that never sleeps, so it's easy to see the time and other information, without raising or tapping the display.

New location features, from a built-in compass to current elevation, help users better navigate their day.

The Watch Series 5 comes with watchOS 6, that has new features like Cycle Tracking, the Noise app and Activity Trends.
“We've seen Apple Watch have a meaningful impact on our customers' lives and we're excited to deliver even more capabilities with Apple Watch Series 5 and watchOS 6,” says Apple's chief operating officer Jeff Williams.

Starting today, Apple Watch Series 5 (GPS) is available to order in 41 countries and regions and Apple Watch Series 5 (GPS + Cellular) is available to order in 22 countries and regions.

Both models will be available in stores beginning Friday, 20 September.

Always-on retina display

Apple Watch Series 5 features a new display that allows the time and important information to remain visible at all times.

Each watch face has been optimised for the new display and to preserve battery life, the screen dims when a user's wrist is down and returns to full brightness with a raise or a tap.

This is enabled by the low-temperature polysilicone and oxide display (LTPO), ultra-low power display driver, efficient power management integrated circuit and new ambient light sensor.

This combination allows Apple Watch Series 5 to offer 18-hour battery life.

Navigation

Updated location features on Apple Watch Series 5 provide customers with greater navigation tools to use throughout the day.

The new built-in compass and updated Maps app allow users to see which way they are facing.

With Apple Watch Series 5, customers can use the new Compass app to see heading, incline, latitude, longitude and current elevation.

Users can add one of three new Compass complications to their watch face to see direction at a glance.

watchOS 6

Additional health and fitness features come with watchOS 6, including the new Cycle Tracking app, which gives customers the ability to log important information related to their menstrual cycles, and see predicted timing for their next period and fertile windows using the Apple Watch.

The Noise app helps users understand the ambient sound levels in environments such as concerts and sporting events that could negatively impact hearing, and Activity Trends on iPhone provides a long-term view of their activity patterns to help them understand their progress.

watchOS 6 also brings new watch faces, including Meridian, Modular Compact and Solar Dial, which can be easily customised for quicker access to favourite apps.

Apple Watch Studio

For the first time, Apple Watch customers can enjoy a more personalised experience when purchasing Apple Watch Series 5 from the Apple New Zealand website and in the Apple Store app.

The new Apple Watch Studio gives customers the opportunity to pick their preferred case and band combination to create a look that is their own.

Apple Watch lineup

The aluminium case in silver, gold and space grey is now made for the first time from 100 percent recycled 7000 series aluminium.

This spring, a new sport loop and a wide range of great new band colours are also available, which work with any generation of Apple Watch.

Apple Watch Nike features a new watch face inspired by the classic Nike Windrunner jacket design, accompanied by new colours of the Nike Sport Band and reflective Nike Sport Loop.

Pricing and availability

Apple Watch Series 5 (GPS) starts at RRP NZ$729 inc. GST. The popular Series 3 (GPS), with built-in GPS, optical heart rate sensor and water resistance, starts at a new low price of RRP NZ$349 inc. GST.