Apple Watch Series 7 updates don’t seem so dramatic – that’s what changes

This story is part of it Apple Event, our full coverage of the latest from Apple.

The Apple Watch Series 7 starts at $ 399 and will arrive later in the fall. It was announced at The Apple event on Tuesday. But the changes don’t seem so dramatic. It has a larger screen with thinner bezels, a faster charging battery that promises 8 hours of use after 8 minutes of charging, and a more crack-resistant front glass. But the battery life (18 hours) is the same as last year’s watch. There are also new colors for the aluminum case: blue, green, midnight (black), star (a gold-silver mix) and product red. You can also add even more expensive upgrades to the steel and titanium versions.

Apple seems to be keeping its course in the rest of the watch design, on the contrary previous reports of a massively renewed flat design. For anyone expecting a completely new watch (like me), the seemingly small updates seem like a disappointment. But Apple made small changes year after year compared to previous Apple Watches. The only real novelty of last year Apple Watch Series 6 was the estimated addition of blood oxygen. This year, the updates also seem sparse and don’t look that different from a casual distance. Promises of better durability and faster loading seem useful, though probably not enough for most to consider an upgrade from a recent model.

A larger screen

The larger screen should allow for more readable and detailed views, notifications, and applications, just like the 4 series increase in size A few years ago. Apple says it is 20% larger than the 6 Series and 50% larger than the 3 Series. The buttons are larger on the screens and Apple says it can fit 50% more text on the screen, while that the screen is 70% brighter inside. mode always activated. (A new full-screen keyboard will appear to enter text, in addition to the doodle and dictation options.)

Now, the screen curves at the corners, surrounding the box a bit. I haven’t seen it in person yet, but I looked at a 3D model in RA and it shows the subtle side effect.

There are also new clock faces: a revamped modular clock housing and a clock housing that adjusts the numbers with the digits around the curved edge. But there is still no way to get new watches in one watch shop, even though Apple’s watch faces have a lot of them customization options.

Promises of better durability

The 7 watch has an IP6X rating, which is new and promises better dust resistance. According to Apple, the curved glass is also 50% thicker, which could lead to fewer cracks. But we haven’t tried it yet and we still don’t know how long it’s durable (and we won’t know until late fall, as long as the clock arrives). The watch has the same 50-meter water resistance for freshwater, pool or ocean swimming as previous models.

Faster charging, but no better battery life

Apple announces the Watch 7’s fast charging features, which promise 8 hours of battery life in 8 minutes of charging. This is useful, especially when you may have forgotten to charge the watch the night before (or for people who carry the Apple Watch to bed to track sleep), but the overall battery life of the watch is still the same. Expect about a day and a half of use, based on my previous experience.

There are no new health features

However, new functions or health sensors are missing. Samsung is recent Galaxy Watch 4 and last year Fitbit Sense began introducing new health sensors, such as body analysis and electrodermal activity, but Apple has not introduced anything new in terms of health for the 7 Series compared to last year. There is also no improvement in battery life either watch shop.

TBD price levels

The Apple Watch Series 7 starts at $ 399, but we don’t know the prices for the different sizes, models prepared for LTE or for different materials. However, expect prices to rise like previous Apple watches.

WatchOS 8 comes ahead of the Apple Watch Series 7

From Apple the latest version of WatchOS should be here on September 20, adding new cycling features, a redesigned Mindfulness app, and Wallet app updates. Perhaps these updates will be enough for existing Apple Watch owners and they won’t see the need to update their watches.

Apple’s watch range has been a constant hit, especially as portable competitors have consolidated. From Apple Fitness Plus subscription service, released late last year, requires the watch to take advantage of its video workouts. Apple announced a new one group training function in today’s act, too.

Last year Apple Watch SE it tried to become a more affordable Apple Watch, but its starting price of $ 279 was still well above the physical tracking budgets of companies like Fitbit. This year, the Watch SE and Series 3 remain on sale, with the SE still at $ 279 (269 pounds, 429 Australian dollars) and the Series 3 at $ 199 (199 pounds, 299 Australian dollars). International Series 7 prices were not announced.