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'How much is the Apple Watch Series 5?': A breakdown of each model's price and new features

Apple Watch Series 5
The Apple Watch Series 5 starts at $399, and is available in several other versions at various prices. Tony Avelar/AP
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The Apple Watch Series 5, the 2019 version of Apple's popular smartwatch, is starting at retail for $399. There are several different price points, though, depending upon the style and model you choose. 

The base model sports an aluminum case. You can buy it with GPS only (no cellular plan) for $399, or GPS + Cellular for $499. 

A stainless steel version of the watch is available for $699, while a titanium-case version starts at $799. 

In addition, the watch is available in two sizes: a 40mm case and a 44mm case; the latter costs about $30 to $50 more, depending upon the model. 

There are also specially branded versions of the Apple Watch Series 5, such as Apple Watch Nike (starting at $399) and Apple Watch Hermès (starting at $1249). 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Apple Watch Series 5 (From $399 at Best Buy)

What's new in the Apple Watch Series 5

Without a doubt, the most important new feature in the Apple Watch Series 5 is its always-on Retina display. Previous models of the watch turned off the display entirely to conserve battery life, so you had to raise your wrist to activate the screen and read the time or other information. 

Now, thanks to a high-efficiency processor, the Series 5 shows a dimmed version of the screen all the time, though it changes to full brightness when you raise your wrist. Apple claims that even with the always-on display, battery life remains consistent with previous models of the watch at about 18 hours between charges. 

Apple Watch Series 5
The Apple Watch Series 5 screen is set by default to stay lit all the time.  Apple

Apple has added a built-in compass, which allows location-aware apps like Apple Maps to orient the display automatically. And cellular versions of the Series 5 will allow international emergency calling in over 150 countries, even if your paired iPhone is not nearby.

The new WatchOS 6 operating system includes a few useful health features, like the ability for women to better track their menstrual cycles, and get insight into fertility windows. A sound sensor warns about potentially unsafe audio levels (such as at concerts) and the watch is built to detect if you fall (which, on cellular models, can automatically place emergency calls). 

Apple Watch Series 5
The Apple Watch Series 5 can be set to call emergency services automatically if it detects a fall.  Apple

 

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Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.