Apple’s wearable keeps improving year after year. The Series 7 features a more extensive and brighter screen, demonstrating why it is the best smartwatch available. The battery life lasts for just one day.
For
- A bigger screen is better
- Compatible with previous Apple Watch straps
- Design that is dust- and waterproof
Against
- Battery life is still limited to one day per charge
- Are all these sensors vital?
Although the Apple Watch is widely regarded as the best smartwatch, the Series 6 was a poor choice. The Series 7 of 2021 is a much larger upgrade, quite literally. It offers a bigger screen and a brighter screen.
Other than the size change, there aren’t many other changes over previous years. Do you think the Apple Watch Series 7 is a good choice?
What’s new?
- Finishes: Aluminium (five colours), Stainless Steel (three colours), Titanium (2 colours).
- Special models: Nike+, Hermes, (Product)Red
- IP6X dustproof, 5ATM water-resistant (to 50m).
- Available in two sizes: 41mm or 45mm
The Series 7’s design approach is very similar to the Series 6. The casing design, digital crown, and bands are all the same. This is good because it means that older models will still fit.
Wi-Fi and Cellular options are available in new sizes 41mm and 45mm and special edition Nike or Hermes models. There are three options for materials – aluminium, stainless steel and titanium – as well as a range of colours to choose from if you need something more eye-catching.
There are three new aluminium cases:
- Midnight is black.
- Starlight is white with a hint gold.
- Green is similar to the Midnight Green colourway on the iPhone 11.
The Red watch model has a brighter cherry hue. A variety of new bands matches these new colours.
The Apple Watch Series 7 has an IP6X dust-resistant rating to match its 5ATM waterproof rating. This wearable is now much more “beach-ready”, since dust, sand and water (up to 50 meters) are not a concern.
It is also stronger thanks to the thicker, redesigned front glass. This is something that the aluminium models get, while the stainless steel, titanium, and other models still have sapphire crystal. However, we are unable to judge this new crystal without going hammering and tongs at them.
The Series 7 is available in two new sizes, 41mm and 45mm. This means that the display size has increased only 1mm. The Series 6 was available in sizes 40mm and 44mm. But it’s a classic case where the smaller Bezel Trick works, with the Series 7 delivering a 20% increase in size over its predecessor.
Compared to the Series 3 the screen is now huge – it’s 50 per cent bigger – and delivers several other benefits aside from the screen’s subtle curving-around-the-edges design.
Although the Series 7 screen upgrade is more minor than you might think, it still offers subtle benefits for day-to-day use. For example, the buttons are larger, which makes it easier to interact and use the Watch. The new QWERTY keyboard is swipe-friendly and uses Apple’s QuickPath technology to make it easier to reply to messages.
The display is 70% brighter indoors for those who prefer to check the time discreetly when the Watch is asleep. When it’s “not turned on”. You can’t manually adjust the brightness. It’s either completely off or on.
You can squeeze every pixel from the design without making it larger than what we have seen. It’s 10.7mm thick so it doesn’t feel any different. Instead, you get a refined Apple Watch experience.
- Same sensors as Series 6
- Blood oxygen monitor
- An electrical heart-rate sensor
- Altimeter and compass always-on
- Battery life of 18 hours and faster charging
- S7 processor
- U1 Chip
The Watch Series 7’s display is not as impressive as the Series 6 model.
Although it is labelled as an S7 processor to match the new Watch, the processor delivers the same performance and speed as the S6 in Series 6. We have not seen any performance differences.
The same sensors are used, although there are many more. However, none of them are new. There are rumours that Series 8 will have many more.
This is not to say that what you get will be anything less than impressive. However, if you had hoped for more than the GPS and optical heart rate monitors, blood oxygen monitors, electrical heart-rate sensors, always-on altimeter, compass and fall detection then you’ll be disappointed.
Apple also includes the U1 chip that was first introduced with the iPhone 11 Pro. This will allow the device to be future-proofed. It will be extremely useful when you can use the Watch to replace your house keys or car keys.
The Watch now has a USB-C cable included in the box and some internal modifications to the Watch. This allows for faster charging. This should be helpful for people who need to charge quickly, but we haven’t noticed any significant difference despite the 33% improvement. If you are an Apple Watch user and have been charging your device overnight, then it really doesn’t matter if you charge faster.
The battery life has not been affected. The Series 7 will continue to deliver all-day battery performance at 18-hours per recharge, but that’s not enough to get you through the night or the next day. This is especially true if the watch has been used to track your activities.
WatchOS 8 software includes several new watch faces that will help you show off the larger screen. The Series 7 is the only one that has Contour and Modular Duo.
Both the more traditional and modern faces allow you to add additional complications. The latter allows you to showcase the watch’s “refractive edge”, which includes two large complications.
WatchOS 8 also features the QuickPath keyboard. It is much easier than expected to use, although it isn’t as intuitive as the iPhone experience.
Verdict
The Apple Watch Series 6 wasn’t a compelling reason to upgrade. However, the Series 7’s bigger and brighter screen clearly indicates its superiority – it’s crisp, clear and beautiful to use. The new WatchOS 8 software improves the user experience by adding watch faces and a swipe to type keyboard.
The Series 7 is not for everyone. If your Series 3 is getting a bit tired, this upgrade will make a huge difference in what can be done, seen, and enjoyed.
The Apple Watch keeps improving. This constant refinement, which is the term we keep returning to with Apple products 2021, has resulted in a device that looks more like an actual watch with each iteration. The Series 7 smartwatch is not clunky or cheap.
Simply put, there is no smartwatch better on the market.
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