Apple Watch Series 7 Review:
Design: The Apple Watch Series 7 sports a refined design with larger and more durable Always-On Retina display, offering thinner borders and rounded edges. This results in a sleek appearance without compromising overall durability.
Performance: Powered by the S7 chip, the Series 7 offers snappy performance. App launch times, animations, and general usability remain fluid.
Durability: One of the standout features is its improved durability. It’s certified with WR50 water resistance and has a more robust front crystal, claimed to be the toughest in any Apple Watch.
Features: The watchOS offers various health monitoring features like heart rate, blood oxygen level, sleep tracking, and more. Fall detection, international emergency calling, and the ECG app remain valuable tools for health and safety.
Battery Life: The battery life remains consistent with previous models, offering around 18 hours. However, the Series 7 introduces faster charging, allowing for about 80% charge in roughly 45 minutes.
Compatibility: Compatible with existing bands, ensuring users don’t need to invest in new ones if they’re upgrading.
Conclusion: The Apple Watch Series 7 offers subtle but valuable improvements over its predecessor. While it might not be a necessary upgrade for Series 6 owners, its larger display, enhanced durability, and faster charging make it a tempting choice for those with older models or new adopters.
Top Competitors:
- Samsung Galaxy Watch Series: Samsung’s line of smartwatches offers features like health tracking, sleep monitoring, and a rotating bezel for navigation.
- Fitbit Versa and Sense: Fitbit, well-known for its fitness trackers, also offers smartwatches. The Versa and Sense models include extensive health and fitness features, with the Sense adding EDA and skin temperature sensors.
- Garmin Fenix and Forerunner Series: Garmin is a top choice for serious athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. Their watches offer advanced fitness and health tracking, GPS capabilities, and long battery life.
- Fossil Gen 5: Fossil brings a more traditional watch aesthetic to the smartwatch world. Powered by Wear OS, it offers a blend of style and functionality.
- TicWatch Pro Series: TicWatch, by Mobvoi, provides a dual-layer display for extended battery life and is also powered by Wear OS.
- Withings Steel HR Sport: This watch combines the look of a classic analog watch with smart features like heart rate monitoring and sleep tracking.
- Huawei Watch GT 2: Huawei’s watch boasts a sleek design, long battery life, and a range of fitness features.
- Amazfit Bip and GTS: Produced by Huami, these watches are known for their affordability and long battery life.
- OPPO Watch: A relatively newer entrant, the OPPO Watch has a design reminiscent of the Apple Watch and runs on Wear OS.
- Suunto 7: Aimed at outdoor enthusiasts, this watch combines Wear OS with Suunto’s sports tracking features.
Feature/Smartwatch | Apple Watch | Samsung Galaxy Watch | Fitbit Versa & Sense | Garmin Fenix & Forerunner | Fossil Gen 5 | TicWatch Pro | Withings Steel HR Sport | Huawei Watch GT 2 | Amazfit Bip & GTS | OPPO Watch | Suunto 7 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Health Monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Fitness Tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Advanced | Yes | Yes | Basic | Yes | Yes | Yes | Advanced |
GPS | Yes | Yes | Some Models | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Sleep Tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Battery Life (Days) | ~1 | 2-4 | 4-6 | 7-14 (Model dependent) | ~1 | 2-30 (Dual mode) | ~25 | 14 | 14-45 (Model dependent) | 1-2 | 2 |
Customizable Design | Yes | Yes | Limited | Limited | Yes | Yes | Limited | Limited | Limited | Yes | Limited |
Contactless Payments | Yes | Yes | Yes | Some Models | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
App Store/ Ecosystem | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Yes (Wear OS) | Yes (Wear OS) | No | Limited | Limited | Yes (Wear OS) | Yes (Wear OS) |