As an industry analyst who keeps a close eye on the wearables market, friends often ask me for advice when trying to decide between smartwatch models. Lately, many have asked how Apple‘s Watch Series 5 from 2019 and Series 7 from 2021 compare – an excellent question!
In this guide starting with a brief background, we‘ll dive deep into all the technical nitty-gritty details between these two popular Apple Watch editions. My goal is to equip you with everything you need to determine which model best aligns with your wants, needs and budget based on their specs, features, and performance.
A Quick Primer on the Apple Watch Series Evolution
Apple first entered the smartwatch scene back in April 2015 after years of speculation they would develop a "wearable" to integrate iOS services into a tiny on-wrist computer. Since that original 1st generation model, Apple has iterated year after year with impressive consistency.
Here’s how the core Apple Watch line has evolved generation over generation:
- Series 1 & 2: Added GPS, swimproofing, faster chips
- Series 3: Debut of cellular LTE connectivity option
- Series 4: Larger displays, ECG heart sensor, fall detection
- Series 5: Always-on display, built-in compass, international emergency calling
- Series 6: Blood oxygen monitoring, S6 processor
- Series 7: Larger screen, 33% faster charging, dust resistance
Now onto our main event – the in-depth comparison between the Series 5 and 7 to determine a definitive winner for shoppers!
Apple Watch Series 5 vs Series 7: Deep Specs Dive
Let‘s start by examining how these two watches shake out across over 20 different technical specifications:
| Specs | Series 5 | Series 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Release Date | Sept 10, 2019 | Oct 15, 2021 |
| Case Sizes | 40mm, 44mm | 41mm, 45mm |
| Dimensions | 40 x 34 x 10.7mm (40mm) 44 x 38 x 10.7mm (44mm) | 41.0 x 35.0 x 10.7mm (41mm) 45.0 x 38.0 x 10.7mm (45mm) |
| Weight (Aluminum) | 30.5g (40mm) 36.4g (44mm) | 32g (41mm) 38.8g (45mm) |
| Display Type | Flexible LTPO OLED Retina | Flexible LTPO OLED Retina |
| Display Resolution | 448 x 368 pixels (40mm) 484 x 448 pixels (44mm) | 352 x 430 pixels (41mm) 396 x 484 pixels (45mm) |
| Pixel Density | 326 pixels per inch | 326 pixels per inch |
| Display Area | 759 sq mm (40mm) 904 sq mm (44mm) | 977 sq mm (41mm) 1143 sq mm (45mm) |
| Display Glass | Ion-X strengthened or Sapphire Crystal | Ion-X strengthened |
| Brightness | 1000 nits | 1000 nits |
| Chip | S5 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor | S7 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor |
| Memory | 1GB RAM | 1GB RAM |
| Storage | 32GB | 32GB |
| Battery Capacity | 296 mAh (40mm) 397 mAh (44mm) | 308 mAh (41mm) 402 mAh (45mm) |
| Battery Life (rated) | 18 hours | 18 hours |
| Water Resistance | 50 meters | 50 meters |
| Mobile Pay | Apple Pay | Apple Pay |
| Sensors | Optical heart sensor, electrical heart sensor, always-on altimeter, compass, accelerometer, gyroscope | Blood oxygen sensor, electrical and optical heart sensors, always-on altimeter, compass, accelerometer, gyroscope |
| Fall Detection | Yes | Yes |
| ECG App | Yes | Yes |
| International Emergencies | Yes | Yes |
| Emergency SOS | Yes | Yes |
| LTE/Cellular Options | Yes | Yes |
| Family Setup | No | Yes |
| Dust Resistance | No | Yes, IP6X certified |
| Swimproof Rating | 50 meters | 50 meters |
| watchOS Version | 6 | 8 |
| Fast Charging | No | Yes, 0-80% in 45 mins |
| Wireless Charging Method | Magnetic inductive charging | Magnetic inductive charging |
| Compatible iPhones | 6s or later, iOS 13+ | 6s or later, iOS 15+ |
| New At Release | Always-on display, compass, international emergency calling | Larger screen, faster charging, dust resistance |
| Prices | $399+ (aluminum) $699+ (stainless/titanium) | $399+ (aluminum) |
From the processor to pixel density to battery life and everything in between, this covers all the device-level specifications you need to know about what makes these two Apple Watch editions unique. Let‘s analyze the differences in more detail.
Series 7 Charges 33% Faster Than Series 5
One major frustration of smartwatches that needs frequent overnight charging is sluggish powering speeds. But Apple tackled this nuisance head-on with the Series 7 and its dramatically faster charging system.
While the Series 5 takes nearly 2.5 hours to charge fully from 0-100%, the Series 7 accomplishes the same feat in about 1.5 hours – 33% quicker. Even just 45 minutes on the charger juices up your Series 7 to 80% capacity. This matters for those frustrating moments when you glance down mid-day to see your Watch nearly depleted just as you‘re heading out for a workout or night on the town.
More Advanced Health Tracking Capabilities
The ability to quantify and track various aspects of our personal health data is why smartwatches like the Apple Watch have surged in popularity in recent years. Both the Series 5 and Series 7 allow wearers to closely monitor daily metrics like heart rate variability, steps taken, calories burned and more to optimize health and fitness.
But the Series 7 pulls ahead in advanced health tracking with two key upgrades:
1. Blood Oxygen Monitoring
This new sensor measures your blood oxygen saturation between 70-100% on demand or during select activities and sleep. Blood oxygen levels below 80% can indicate issues like asthma complications or sleep apnea (citation needed).
2. Faster Health Data Processing
Thanks to Apple‘s up-to-20%-faster S7 System in Package (SiP) chipset, the Series 7 delivers performance improvements across all data inputs including health statistics compared to the Series 5‘s S5 processor. For example, expect up to 30% quicker app launch times.
Apple Watch Series 7 (image credit: AppleInsider)
Larger, Brighter Display Upgrades Viewability
While keeping the signature square-shaped style intact, the Series 7 enlarged the display area over 20% versus previous generations like the Series 5. Apple achieved this by trimming down the borders surrounding the screen.
Additionally, the Series 7 utilizes a new curved crystal covering made from a stronger composite material. This allowed Apple to round the corners of the display for a cleaner aesthetic. The end result is visual improvements in both sharpness and maximum brightness – excellent for outdoor legibility.
Which Is the Right Model for You?
Now let‘s distill everything we‘ve compared between the Apple Watch Series 5 and Series 7 into straightforward buying advice:
Pick the Series 7 If:
- You want the newest Apple Watch with the fastest charging speeds
- Maximum health tracking capabilities are important – blood oxygen specifically
- You‘ll use your watch in dusty or sandy environments thanks to the dust resistance
Go With the Series 5 If:
- You can find it over 25% cheaper than the Series 7 from third-party sellers
- You don‘t need advanced health sensors like ECG or blood oxygen monitoring
- You want maximum savings – the Series 5 provides core Apple Watch functions at the best value
At the end of the day, I always tell friends that any Apple Watch provides immense utility from customizable watch faces to fitness tracking and seamless connectivity with your iPhone. It just comes down to your personal preferences and budget. I hope this comparison has helped you zero in on the right model choice! Let me know if any other questions come up during your shopping journey.
