The Apple Watch has been one of the best smartwatches in the industry, and each new generation becomes the wearable of choice for those using an iPhone. Apple Watch has been improved over the years, with multiple generations each bringing in new features and capabilities. The new Apple Watch Series 7 launched this year features a bigger display, a new S7 SiP, a crack-resistant display, and fast charging, all while retaining features such as SpO2 tracking which was introduced last year with the Series 6. So is the Apple Watch Series 7 a big leap over the Series 6, or just a small iterative step? I put the Apple Watch Series 7 to the test to find out.
The Apple Watch Series 7 is available in three case materials – aluminium, stainless steel, and titanium. The aluminum case is available in five colour finishes: Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Green, and (PRODUCT) Red. The stainless steel case is available in Silver, Gold, and Graphite, while the titanium case is now available in Space Black and Titanium.
Apple Watch Series 7 price
The Apple Watch Series 7 starts at Rs. 41,900 in India for a 41mm GPS-only model with an aluminum case, while the bigger 45mm model of the same spec will set you back by Rs. 44,900. If you want a GPS + Cellular Apple Watch Series 7, it will set you back by Rs. 50,900 or Rs. 53,900 for a 41mm or 45mm case respectively. The stainless steel and titanium cases command significant premiums. I had a 45mm GPS + Cellular unit with a green aluminium case for this review.
The Apple Watch has a recognisable design, and the company hasn’t changed that much. However, the new Series 7 is slightly bigger – the cases have grown compared to the Apple Watch Series 6 (Review) and the Apple Watch SE. If you were expecting a big redesign this year, you will be disappointed.
The Series 7 now has bigger displays, and the front glass now curves over the sides of the case. The right side has the digital crown and a multi-function button just below it. Between these two is a microphone hole. On the left side you’ll find a single wide cutout for the speaker, while all the sensors for tracking are on the underside.
Apple Watch Series 7 design and specifications
My Apple Watch Series 7 review unit came with a Clover Sport Band which is made out of fluoroelastomer, and has a pin-and-tuck clasp design. The Series 7 still uses the same proprietary connectors for straps, so if you have an older Apple Watch of a matching size, it will slide right in. Standard watch bands can’t be attached to the Apple Watch easily, but given the popularity of the product, you won’t have an issue finding suitable replacements that are designed especially for it.
The Apple Watch Series 7 has a 1.9-inch LTPO OLED display with a resolution of 396×484 pixels for the 45mm model. It has a peak brightness of 1000 nits when it’s active and upto 500 nits when it’s in the always-on state. Apple has also shrunk the bezels on the Series 7 and claims that the front crystal is its most crack-resistant material yet (aluminium models have Ion-X front glass while stainless steel and titanium ones have sapphire crystal). This watch has an IP6X rating for dust resistance and is also water resistant upto 50m. If you are planning to go for a short swim, you can take this new Series 7 along to track it as well.
You get the new Apple S7 SiP powering the Apple Watch Series 7, but there is no performance improvement here. Apple says this new processor is on par with the previous-gen S6 SiP in the Series 6. The Series 7 supports dual-band Wi-Fi, Apple’s U1 chip, and ultra wideband antennas. It has health sensors for blood oxygen and heart rate tracking as well as the hardware to record an ECG. Just like the Series 6, the new Series 7 also has an always-on altimeter that can track elevation changes constantly. The fall detection feature now also works while tracking workouts.
Apple Watch Series 7 performance and battery life
The Apple Watch Series 7 can only be paired with an iPhone, but the process is seamless. The watch installs compatible apps that are already on your phone so you can access them on your wrist directly. For cellular models, the process of setting up LTE is simple and quick. Once done, you can stay connected using just LTE and leave your iPhone out of reach, for example while working out. Apple had also advertised faster charging speeds on the Series 7 at the time of its unveiling, but this feature is currently not available in India.