In fear that you will stop reading this review after the first paragraph: if you have an Apple smartwatch on your wrist purchased in the last two or three years, you probably do not need to upgrade to the Apple Watch Series 7 . I would say that the Series 4, Series 5 or Series 6, for now, are more than enough.
In fact, if you were expecting a major new feature in this new generation, there isn't. The Apple Watch Series 7 offers a reduced list of improvements – if we compare it with previous generations – and I would say that it is, above all, aimed at new users who have never had a smartwatch or who have not renewed in the last four or five years.
Everything I comment in my in-depth review of the Apple Watch Series 6 is valid for the Apple Watch Series 7 , including sensors, functions, processor speed, water resistance and autonomy. But in 2020 he also mentioned something similar. Although there were some very particular improvements, most of the functions were already found in the Series 5 .
But that does not mean that the Apple Watch Series 7 is not worth it, that it is not a good smartwatch or is not a great product; of course. It is the best smartwatch on the market, by far . Nothing comes close to it, not in features, design, build quality, or integration with its ecosystem. The device is in a separate galaxy when compared to its competition.
That said, the Series 7 does offer two subtle improvements: a one-inch larger screen – and a bit brighter in sleep mode – and fast charging under certain conditions.
Apple Watch Series 7: 40 to 41 millimeters, 44 to 45 millimeters
The Apple Watch Series 7 has a slightly larger screen than its predecessor. The small version goes from 40 to 41 millimeters and the large version from 44 to 45 millimeters. If you upgrade from a previous design, the difference will not be very significant. If you come from the Apple Watch Series 2 or Series 3 , however, you will notice an important change because those units had 38 and 42 millimeter screens.
If you come from any other smartwatch, you will find a device that takes advantage of every pixel of its graphical interface. In fact, it's now big enough to display a full-screen keyboard – something that couldn't be done on previous models – and certain buttons are slightly larger.
Apple Watch Series 7 (left) compared to Series 6 (center) and Series 3 (right) screen sizes To achieve this they have reduced the size of the borders by 40%. This way they get the screen to be 20% bigger with that extra millimeter (diagonal) and up to 50% bigger than a Series 3 . In addition, the active area of the screen extends to the edges.
With one of the new spheres, called Contour, you take full advantage of the new screen. And not only is it beautiful from an aesthetic point of view, but due to the position of the elements and the way the light refracts at the edges, it creates a curious effect that blurs the border and separation between the box and the screen.
Finally, the screen does have a bit more brightness, but only in sleep mode (always-on mode), that is, when you are not looking or actively using the device. It is a welcome improvement but, after a few days of use, it does not make a big difference if I compare it with the Series 6. With the active screen of the Series 5 the change is larger, since in this model the brightness decreased significantly. .
Faster charging, but no more autonomy
The second great improvement of the Apple Watch Series 7 comes from the hand of the battery. The autonomy does not change. In fact, the total battery life remains the same as previous models: 18 hours (not changed since the Series 3 ).
What it does offer is a fast charge that is 33% faster than previous models. In fact, it is capable of charging the equivalent of eight hours of autonomy in eight minutes, which comes in handy to use it at night to measure sleep. Apple's recommendation is to leave it on its charger for a few minutes before putting it back on and going to sleep.
Of course, to get fast charging you must meet some conditions:
You must use the new USB-C charger that comes in the box of the Apple Watch Series 7 You must use it with a at least 5W adapter. Device must have less than 80% battery. A faster charge always comes in handy, but the reality is that we are at a point where I would like to have an Apple Watch with real autonomy of at least two days . I also think that it is about time that the company allows the device to be used with any wireless charger under the Qi standard.
Apple Watch Series 7: the good, even better
The few times in the year that I forget to put my Apple Watch on before leaving the house, I feel naked. It's a good way to understand how important the device has become in my day-to-day life. It does not attract as much attention as a smartphone, but its usefulness, importance and practicality were no longer in doubt long ago.
Apple has been doing relatively minor iterations with the product for three years. The last big design change we saw with the Series 4 in 2018. That doesn't mean that the Apple Watch Series 7 is a bad device; actually, it's the best in its class. What was already very good, they have done even better.
In fact, its biggest competitors are the Apple Watch Series 6, Series 5 or Series 4 . It is the best problem that any company could dream of: to dominate the market in this way and know that the challenge to overcome is themselves.
It is also a dangerous situation . In the absence of competition, perhaps there is a certain level of complacency and the pace of innovation is not necessarily going to go as fast as we would like. That said: it's easy to order new designs or batteries with more capacity, but the complexity behind achieving greater autonomy behind such a small product is immense .
My recommendation is: if you bought an Apple Watch in the last three years, I don't think it is necessary to renew. I also believe that annual device change cycles are not entirely healthy for the environment, and are not necessary.
If you come from older devices, from other competing brands to Apple or have never used a product like this, the Apple Watch Series 7 is the best smartwatch you could buy today. Period.
Where to buy the Apple Watch Series 7?
The Apple Watch Series 7 is already on sale in its two sizes, 41 millimeters and 45 millimeters, with three different materials: aluminum, stainless steel and titanium, in ten different colors.
In the case of the aluminum box, available in green, blue, red (PRODUCT) RED, star white and midnight. The stainless steel case is available in gold, silver and graphite. Finally the natural titanium case in space gray. In all cases, the back is made of ceramic and sapphire crystal.
In addition, Apple offers a wide range of straps in different colors and materials that give a lot of play and that help to use the Watch in different situations. From sports straps owned or designed by Nike, to straps for very formal occasions in leather or stainless steel and a series designed by Hermès .
Apple Watch Series 7 GPS in Amazon Spain Apple Watch Series 7 GPS + Cellular in Amazon Spain Apple Watch Series 7 GPS in Apple Mexico Apple Watch Series 7 (aluminum) in Apple Spain and in Apple Mexico Apple Watch Series 7 (stainless steel) in Apple Spain and in Apple Mexico Apple Watch Series 7 (titanium) in Apple Spain and Apple Mexico For fast charging with the USB-C charging cable we recommend this 20W Anker PowerPort III adapter which is quite small and gives excellent results. In addition to being very comfortable for travel. For our readers in Mexico, we recommend the UGreen 20W USB-C charger.
