The Apple Watch remains the original and best smartwatch. Now in its fifth incarnation, the Apple Watch comes in a host of styles and boasts plenty of features, albeit with a high price tag. For men who are keen to benefit from great functionality and stylish good looks, the Apple Watch is a great choice.
The Background
Having released the original Apple Watch to great acclaim, the brand has gone from strength to strength, releasing newer and more updated models year on year which offer even more in the way of functionality, features and style. The most recent is the Series 5, but for those who are happy to opt for an older model, there is plenty to enjoy at a good price.
The Apple Watch Series 4
Although the Series 4 isn’t the newest model from this iconic brand, in many ways it rivals its younger sibling the Series 5. With its attractive, large display, thin bezel and more rounded corners, this is a very wearable device which has a slimmer and rounder chassis and a ceramic redesigned back.
This smartwatch is powered by an S4 64 bi dual core processor, which ensures that it can provide double the performance of its predecessor, the Series 3. It also has some excellent features which weren’t found on earlier versions of the Apple Watch, including an ECG system which can detect any cardiac abnormalities and an inbuilt fall detection alert which contacts the emergency services automatically should you fall. The Series 4 also boasts a louder speaker, ideal for receiving calls on the go. It also has plenty of storage capacity which is essential for anyone who wants to listen to music or podcasts on the go.
There are two sizes of Series 4 available – 40mm or 44mm – so you should be able to find one to suit your wrist size. There is also a GPS-only model and a GPS + Cellular model, which is more expensive but means you can leave your phone behind when going for a jog.
What Are The Main Advantages?
- Water resistant
- ECG system
- Inbuilt fall alert
- Contactless payments are enabled
- GPS (with a cellular GPS model available)
- 2 sizes to choose from
What Are The Main Disadvantages?
- Expensive
Apple Watch Series 3
This model represents excellent value for money and although its functions and abilities are a little dated, it still offers a great user experience.
The display area is a little smaller than that of the Series 4, and the internals are older. This makes it slightly harder to see, and a little slower in terms of processing speed. Nevertheless, it’s still packed with excellent features including water-resistance to 50 meters, a battery which lasts as long as 18 hours before needing to be recharged, a barometric altimeter and an onboard heart sensor.
Again, there are two size variants to choose from – one measuring 38mm and one measuring 40mm – and there is also a GPS only and a GPS + Cellular model and a choice of colours.
What Are The Main Advantages?
- Water resistant to 50m
- Inbuilt heart sensor
- Barometric altimeter
- Choice of colors
- GPS (with a cellular GPS model available)
- 2 sizes to choose from
- Great value for money
What Are The Main Disadvantages?
- No ECG system
- No fall alert
Apple Watch Series 5
The Series 5 comes with a high price tag and, with only a handful of additional features to set it apart from the Series 4, it may not be worth the extra unless you’re desperate to have the latest device.
Of course, you’d expect the Series 5 to have stylish good looks, and you won’t be disappointed. Its big selling point is an always-on display , combined with a host of case materials including stainless steel, titanium, ceramic and aluminium. Each option comes in several different finishes so there’s a lot of versatility.
While there is an upgraded processor, there isn’t a lot of difference in terms of performance or speed. There is, however 32G of storage so you can save songs and podcasts to your heart’s content. There are also a couple of new health and fitness apps including a noise detection app as well as the inbuilt fall alert and the ability to detect heart abnormalities.
What Are The Main Advantages?
- Inbuilt heart sensor and fall alert
- Barometric altimeter
- Huge range of finishes and materials
- GPS (with a cellular GPS model available)
- 32G of storage
- Always on display
What Are The Main Disadvantages?
- Not much better than the Series 4 for the price
How Do We Test Smartwatches?
We take the time to test every smartwatch that we review here, looking at the various aspects of each model. We test out the fitness and health functions as well as the apps that come inbuilt into the device and even download and use some third party apps when the models allow this. Next, we look at its design and ease of use, and how well its battery life lives up to expectations. Once we’ve looked at all of the elements that go into each watch thoroughly, we’ll bring you the information you need to make a well informed purchasing decision.
In Summary
When you want a highly functional smartwatch from an iconic brand, you’ll be hard-pressed to beat an Apple Watch. There are several different models out there, but these three are the best. Overall, we think the Apple Watch Series 4 represents the best overall value thanks to the functionality and good looks that it offers, but if you’re looking for a lower price, the Series 3 won’t disappoint. On the other hand, if you haven’t upgraded your smartwatch for a while and want the latest model, the Series 5 is a top contender.
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