Apple Watch Series 7 - Review

Apple watches are by far the most coveted smartwatches out there and for very good reason. From their sleek design to their incredible functionality, Apple is changing how people perceive watches. This is no more evident than from the tech giant’s recent release, the Apple Watch Series 7 also known as the iwatch 7. Launched as a successor of the Apple Series 6, there isn’t much that separates the two. But if you are upgrading from an older Apple Watch, you will certainly feel the difference. Featuring all the smart features we’ve come to expect from an Apple watch and a collection of endearing enhancements over the Series 6, the Apple Watch Series 7 is in a class of its own. But are the additions worth the upgrade? Let’s take a look at what the Apple Watch Series 7 brings to the table.

Apple Watch Series 7 Price and availability

The Apple Watch Series 7 was launched on September 14th, 2021, but it wasn’t officially released until October 15th. The pricing is about the same as the outgoing Series 6, albeit a small price cut. You can bag yourself a 41mm model starting from $449 AUD or a 45mm variant starting from $479 AUD. Both models come in either a GPS-only or GPS + cellular variant, with Apple Watch Series 7 price starting from $519 AUD and $529 AUD, respectively. However, the stainless steel and titanium models are only available in LTE models and are slightly more expensive than their aluminium siblings. If you're on a tight budget then an older model would be a better option. The Apple Watch price in Australia starts at $219 AUD and they offer far better value for money than brand new ones.

Design and screen

The Series 7’s design isn’t much of an overhaul. It retains the traditional square design with rounded edges that we’ve become accustomed to since the Series 4 launch. It does, however, feature some significant physical changes, the biggest of them all being the increase in display size. Unlike the Apple Watch Series 6, which came in 40mm and 44mm case sizes, the Series 7 is available in 41mm and 45mm. While a 1mm difference may not feel like much, it does translate to 20% more screen real-estate. Due to the increase in size, the Series 7 has thinner bezels and a rounder, more expansive display. 

When it comes to the display resolution, the smartwatch sports a 1.90-inch LTPO OLED screen with a resolution of 484 x 396. The always-on-display is brighter than ever, peaking at 1000nits. That makes it 70% brighter outdoors than the Watch Series 6. Hence, you should have no problem reading or viewing time in bright light. The stand-out feature of the new Apple Watch is its new QWERTY keyboard, which allows for easier and faster texting and emailing. This is where the larger screen real estate really pays off. The keyboard offers auto-correct support and a combination of emojis and dictation options. 

We get a new set of colours for the aluminium model: midnight, green, starlight, and updated shades of red and blue. As usual, you can also get the watch in titanium or stainless steel, both of which come in their own unique colours. The stainless steel variant comes in a natural silver hue, graphite (deep gray), or gold. The titanium model, on the other hand, is available in either natural (gray silver) or space black. 

Performance and Battery

This refurbished Apple Watch is powered by the new S7 system-on-chip but runs the same watch Os 8 software as every cheap Apple Watch since 2015. As a result, you get pretty much the same smart features as you would from Series 6. The smartwatch supports blood oxygen level monitoring, the ability to take ECGs, and fitness tracking. It also gives you access to an always-on altimeter for measuring elevation, fall detection support, a compass for location tracking, and much more.

The battery charges considerably faster compared to previous versions, which will come in handy if you plan to use the watch for sleep tracking. Apple claims that the watch charges 33% faster than the Series Watch. Fast charging is all thanks to the USB-C Apple Watch charger that comes with the smartwatch. Apple still targeted the 18-hour battery life, which should essentially last you for a full day.

Most internal features remain the same as the Series 6. The watch still comes with 32GB of storage, speeds of up to 2.5GHz, and 5GHz Wifi bands. The S7 chip offers the same performance as that of the Series 6. However, it is significantly faster than that of the Watch SE. The smartwatch is IP6X dust resistant and swim-proof with WR50 water resistance.

Verdict

With its larger display, faster charging, and on-screen keyboard, the Apple Watch Series 7 easily earns a place as one of the best smartwatches in the market right now. If you already own an Apple Watch Series 6, it may not be worth upgrading to a Series 7 as the smartwatch already offers plenty. However, if you are coming from an older smartwatch, the upgrade will certainly be worth it. 

If you'd like to read more, check out:

Buying an Apple Watch Cellular from Vodafone - A Good Choice?