Apple
Apple recently launched the latest version of its smartwatch – Series 7. The standout new features are a bigger, better, more durable display, faster charging, and a lower entry price than the Series 6. last year. These adjustments help Apple keep its lead in the smartwatch market.
Valuation
The Series 7 version costs from £369 / $399. Meanwhile, last year’s Series 6 was £10 more expensive at launch. Despite the lower starting price, the Series 7 remains the most expensive Apple smartwatch on Apple’s current list, which includes the Watch SE, priced from £249 / $279, and the Series 3 (£179) UK / $199). It requires iPhone 6S or later and is not compatible with Android.
Size
The Series 7 comes in 41 or 45mm case sizes, both of which are 1mm taller than their predecessors. This increase in height, combined with significantly thinner bezels, means that the screen is 20% larger. On a device as small as a smartwatch, where every extra pixel matters, this represents a significant size increase. The advantages of increased screen real estate are variety: more text fits on the screen, fonts can be enlarged and easier to read, and buttons are larger and therefore easier to press. Furthermore, new watch faces, such as the Modular Duo, can hold two full-size information widgets simultaneously and feature a new full qwerty keyboard for entering messages – a feature exclusive to the Series 7 .
Performance and Battery Life
In terms of charging time, the Series 7 will reach 50% in about half an hour and full in 70 minutes using the new, faster USB-C charging socket (power adapter not included). It can still charge from an older USB-A charger, but at a slower rate.
The new S7 chip matches last year’s S6 performance, making the Series 7 the fastest and smoothest smartwatch available today. Battery life is also similar, lasting about 36 hours between charges with overnight sleep tracking and the screen on throughout the day. Tracking my 60-minute elliptical workout consumed 10% of the battery, so endurance athletes can count on the watch to see them through a triathlon or two.
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WatchOS 8 and health tracking
In common with every Apple Watch since Series 3 2015, Series 7 runs the same watchOS 8 software. Improvements include portrait photo watch faces, “focus” notification handling from iOS 15, and the ability to set multiple concurrent timer. Furthermore, the Apple Watch can now also be used to unlock iPhones with Face ID while wearing a mask, which is hugely useful as counterfeit measures still exist in many jurisdictions.
Another improvement is better text input, which includes the ability to use a combination of dictation, emoji, scribble, and a full qwerty keyboard. There’s also an improved meditation app that combines breathing training with mindfulness.
WatchOS 8 is the best supported and most adept smartwatch operating system out there, despite Google’s recent advances with WearOS. Users can expect 5 years or more of software support, including security and feature updates, which means the watch’s lifespan is much longer than that of its smartwatch competitors.
The Series 7 is packed with the same comprehensive health monitoring features as the Series 6, including one of the most accurate wrist-worn heart rate sensors available, plus blood oxygen and blood oxygen monitoring. Tracks physical activity across multiple types of workouts. Only specialized multi-sport watches can track more metrics in running, cycling and extreme sports. Sleep tracking now includes respiratory rate, although it still doesn’t provide sleep cycle data like some of its competitors.
Sustainability
Series 7 uses 100% recycled aluminum, 99% recycled tungsten and rare earth elements, and 100% recycled tin in soldering its main chips. Apple offers a free exchange and recycling service for devices and bands for older Apple Watch models that fit the Series 7.
While Apple doesn’t provide an expected lifespan for the batteries in the Series 7, batteries of similar devices typically last at least 500 full charge cycles while maintaining at least 80% of their original capacity. The battery can be replaced for around £80. Repair costs range from £285/$385 to £460/$645 depending on the model.
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Price
Apple Watch Series 7 comes in two different sizes, three materials, and models with a 4G option that requires an eSIM and a compatible phone plan add-on.
The aluminum or Nike versions in 41mm are priced at £369 / US$399 / US$599 or £399 / US$429 / US$649 respectively. The 4G models cost an extra £100/$100/A$150. Stainless steel and titanium models are more expensive.
Inference
Series 6 sets a high standard, so the key improvements introduced to Series 7 – faster charging and a bigger, better display – elevate an already excellent product.
It’s pricey, but the top health features, great tactile vibration, always-on display, 50m water resistance, activity tracking, and long software support fit the price.
If you have a Series 6, it’s probably not worth the upgrade this year. However, for users of older models or iPhone users investing in their first smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 7 is unbeatable.
Specifications
Case size: 41 or 45mm Case Thickness: 10.7mm Weight: 32/38.8g, 42.3/51.5g or 37/45.1g depending on material and size Processor: S7 RAM: 1GB Warehouse: 32GB Operating system: WatchOS 8 Water proof: 50 meters (5ATM) Sensor: gyroscope, HR, ECG, blood oxygen, microphone, speaker, NFC, GNSS, compass, altimeter Connection: Bluetooth 5, wifi n, NFC, ultra-wideband, optional 4G/eSIM
To configure your watch and to purchase, please visit apple.com/
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