Apple Watch Series 5 vs Apple Watch Series 7
Staying with Apple narrows the field but doesn’t settle it. The Apple Watch Series 5 and the Apple Watch Series 7 still take different approaches. This is less a contest than a fine-tuning exercise: both cover the same ground, with only a few meaningful gaps.
At a glance
- Display Tie
- Health & Fitness Sensors Apple Watch Series 7 wins
- Battery Life Tie
- Smart Features & Connectivity Tie
- Price Tie
- Display5.0
- Health & Fitness Sensors4.3
- Smart Features & Connectivity8.2
- Display5.0
- Health & Fitness Sensors5.7
- Smart Features & Connectivity8.2
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
-
The Apple Watch Series 5 has a 0.08 oz lighter case
The gap on weight (largest, no band) is slim (1.29 oz against 1.37 oz), yet it tips toward the Apple Watch Series 5. The Apple Watch Series 5 puts less weight on your wrist, which you’ll appreciate if you wear it around the clock.
-
The Apple Watch Series 7 has blood-oxygen readings
Having blood-oxygen readings gives the Apple Watch Series 7 one more thing the Apple Watch Series 5 can’t match. Wrist-based blood-oxygen data is a wellness indicator rather than a medical measurement, so treat it as a trend.
Design & Size
- Apple Watch Series 5 44 mm × 0.42 in
- Apple Watch Series 7 45 mm × 0.42 in
The Apple Watch Series 7 is the larger watch of the two, while the Apple Watch Series 5 is the more compact choice. Weight goes to the Apple Watch Series 5, which sheds 0.08 oz compared with the Apple Watch Series 7.
Design & Durability
| Spec | Apple Watch Series 5 | Apple Watch Series 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Case size (largest) | 44 mm | 45 mm |
| Available sizes | 40 mm, 44 mm | 41 mm, 45 mm |
| Water resistance | 50 m | 50 m |
| Case material | Aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, ceramic | Aluminum, stainless steel, titanium |
| Thickness | 0.42 in | 0.42 in |
| Weight (largest, no band) | 1.29 oz (winner) | 1.37 oz |
Display
Too close to call
This is a tie in all but name. On display, both deliver about the same. This section won’t settle the choice, so weigh the other areas more heavily.
Health & Fitness Sensors
Apple Watch Series 7 leads
If you’re keeping score, the health & fitness sensors point goes narrowly to the Apple Watch Series 7. The Apple Watch Series 7 gives you blood-oxygen readings. Blood-oxygen readings can add context to sleep tracking and to training at altitude. In short, the Apple Watch Series 7 is the better-equipped watch for health & fitness sensors.
Blood oxygen
Apple Watch Series 5: no Apple Watch Series 7: yes The Apple Watch Series 7 can take blood-oxygen readings; the Apple Watch Series 5 can’t.
Battery Life
Too close to call
Both the Apple Watch Series 5 and the Apple Watch Series 7 cover battery life equally well on paper. The takeaway: battery life is not where these two differ.
Smart Features & Connectivity
Too close to call
Call the smart features & connectivity round a draw. If smart features & connectivity was going to be your tiebreaker, you’ll need a different one.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | Apple Watch Series 5 | Apple Watch Series 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Display type | Always-On Retina LTPO OLED | Always-On Retina LTPO OLED |
| Resolution (largest) | 368 x 448 | 396 x 484 |
| Peak brightness | 1,000 nits | 1,000 nits |
| Always-on display | Yes | Yes |
Health & Fitness Sensors
| Spec | Apple Watch Series 5 | Apple Watch Series 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Optical heart rate | Yes | Yes |
| ECG | Yes | Yes |
| Blood oxygen | No | Yes (winner) |
| Skin temperature | No | No |
| GPS | Built-in GPS/GNSS | Built-in L1 GPS (GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou) |
| Dual-frequency GPS | No | No |
Battery Life
| Spec | Apple Watch Series 5 | Apple Watch Series 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Rated battery lifeManufacturer rating, typical use | 18 h | 18 h |
| Charging | Magnetic charging cable | USB-C magnetic fast charging, 0 to 80% in about 45 min |
Smart Features & Connectivity
| Spec | Apple Watch Series 5 | Apple Watch Series 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | S5 | S7 |
| Storage | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| Cellular option | Yes | Yes |
| Contactless payments | Yes | Yes |
| Phone compatibility | iPhone only | iPhone only |
| Software | watchOS | watchOS |
Design & Durability
| Spec | Apple Watch Series 5 | Apple Watch Series 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Case size (largest) | 44 mm | 45 mm |
| Available sizes | 40 mm, 44 mm | 41 mm, 45 mm |
| Water resistance | 50 m | 50 m |
| Case material | Aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, ceramic | Aluminum, stainless steel, titanium |
| Thickness | 0.42 in | 0.42 in |
| Weight (largest, no band) | 1.29 oz (winner) | 1.37 oz |
Price
| Spec | Apple Watch Series 5 | Apple Watch Series 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $399 | $399 |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
Price is a tie: both launched at the same figure.
Launch prices in the US as of October 2021; street prices move, so check before you buy.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the Apple Watch Series 5 if…
- you wear your watch to sleep and barely want to feel it (1.29 oz vs 1.37 oz)
- you’d rather not pay for improvements you won’t use
- you value compactness over sheer size
Choose the Apple Watch Series 7 if…
- you like tracking blood oxygen during sleep or at altitude
- you’re buying fresh and prefer the more recent model
- you like more of everything, size included
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for most people, the Apple Watch Series 5 or the Apple Watch Series 7?
The Apple Watch Series 7 wins more of the areas we compared, so it’s the safer pick unless having a 0.08 oz lighter case matters more to you than the rest.
Is the Apple Watch Series 7 worth it over the Apple Watch Series 5?
The Apple Watch Series 7 adds blood-oxygen readings. That’s welcome, but owners of the Apple Watch Series 5 who are happy with it can reasonably wait.
Which has better battery life, the Apple Watch Series 5 or the Apple Watch Series 7?
On paper, the Apple Watch Series 5 and the Apple Watch Series 7 are evenly matched on battery, so expect similar endurance.
Which is larger, the Apple Watch Series 5 or the Apple Watch Series 7?
It’s the Apple Watch Series 7 that is larger: 0.42 in, versus 0.42 in for the Apple Watch Series 5.
Which weighs less, the Apple Watch Series 5 or the Apple Watch Series 7?
The Apple Watch Series 5 is lighter, by 0.08 oz.
Executive Summary
Two siblings, one decision. Here’s how I’d think about the Apple Watch Series 5 versus the Apple Watch Series 7. My main argument for the Apple Watch Series 7? It comes with blood-oxygen readings. I don’t want to sell the Apple Watch Series 5 short, though: it has a 0.08 oz lighter case.
I’d steer portability fans toward the Apple Watch Series 5 and health & fitness sensors fans toward the Apple Watch Series 7.
My pick: if it were my money, the Apple Watch Series 7, unless what you want most is a 0.08 oz lighter case.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.