Skip to main content

24-hour hands-on with the Apple Watch Series 7: Bigger is better

The Apple Watch Series 7 started shipping to most customers today — at least for those who pre-ordered —  but I got my hands on the 45mm blue model early yesterday. At this point, I’ve spent 24 hours with the Series 7, updated to the latest Watch OS 8.0.1, and wore it overnight for sleep tracking. I also spent some time comparing it to my Apple Watch Series 6. Here are my initial impressions.

Size does matter

The Apple Watch Series 7 may have gotten a bit less attention than the fancy new camera capabilities of the iPhone 13 series, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t significant changes and improvements here. The biggest and most visibly apparent one is the 20% bigger screen, with its smooth curved glass that pours over the edge.

Recommended Videos

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise — the bigger screen size makes a difference. Text is bigger and more legible, complications feel less cramped, and the thinner bezels make it feel like a sleeker, better-looking device overall. I got the largest size of both models — 44mm for the Series 6 and 45mm for the Series 7 — so the size difference was even more apparent. The overall experience of scrolling through apps and checking stats was more pleasant, especially on the denser, more info-packed watch faces.

One important note if you get the blue Series 7 as I did: The color is lighter than the darker navy blue on the Series 6, so I’m finding it a bit harder to match to my outfits. If you’d prefer the more flexible and conservative option, you may want midnight, which replaces last year’s space gray. The opposite goes for the red Series 7, which is a deeper red than before. You should consider your options and outfits accordingly before picking one.

If you already have a Series 6, it’s probably not worth the upgrade

While I’m all praise for the Series 7 screen, I can’t recommend the upgrade if you’re already a Series 6 owner. The bigger screen is an excellent quality-of-life improvement, but the guts of the two smartwatches are more or less identical. You still have the S6 processor, all the sensors are the same, and both can run the latest versions of WatchOS 8, so you can take advantage of all the new features. These include Portrait photos on the home screen, new watch faces, improved sleep tracking, smart device control, mindfulness, and more.

The only place where you might notice another difference between the Series 6 and Series 7 is charging time. The new charger that comes with the Series 7 supports a USB-C input, can connect to a higher-wattage power brick, and charges 33% faster. It’s too early to comment on battery life, but I’m currently at 40% of juice after topping up to full upon initial setup with the always-on display. I expect most people will get a full day of use out of the Series 7, but probably not much more than that.

If you have a Series 4 and older, this will be a game changer

The calculus changes for most people — and me — once you start getting to the Apple Watch Series 4 and older. Everything I said about the screen size disparity gets amped up tenfold when putting the Series 7 and older models side by side. One of our writers dove into the many reasons you shouldn’t get an Apple Watch Series 3 anymore. If you’re keen on not spending the extra cash for the Series 7, the Apple Watch SE has a better design and more reliable software support than the Series 3.

The functionality gap is still huge

One of the biggest things that struck me after switching from the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 to the Apple Watch Series 7 is how big the gap between WatchOS and Wear OS still is, despite the best attempts of Google and Samsung to rectify it. WatchOS is a uniform ecosystem that largely works the way it’s meant to: Delivering notifications, connecting to first and third-party apps, and just generally acting as a coherent experience. This is something that the Samsung-flavored Wear OS 4 hasn’t managed, considering notifications are often more miss than hit and apps just don’t interact well with each other.

Ajay Kumar
Former Freelance Writer, Mobile
Ajay has worked in tech journalism for more than a decade as a reporter, analyst, and editor.
watchOS 12 / watchOS 26: everything you need to know
The next major update for Apple Watch devices is almost upon us, and its name could change quite significantly
The Apple Watch SE 2 with the Apple Watch Series 10.

One of the great things about modern smart devices is that they’re gifts that keep giving, thanks to their frequent software updates. Whether it’s a phone, a watch, or even a TV, chances are the device you’re using today isn’t quite the same as the one you bought three or four years ago.

That’s equally true for the Apple Watch. When Apple releases its watchOS 12 / watchOS 26 update, many Apple Watch owners will have an even more powerful wearable than the one they originally purchased.

Read more
Apple is finally fixing the alarm situation on its smartwatches
A person wearing the Apple Watch Series 3.

Apple is prepping the release of a thoughtful new feature that will bring some peace of mind to smartwatch users. The upcoming watchOS 11.4 update will give users an option to activate the alarm sound even when the Apple Watch is put on silent mode.
The change was first spotted in the update notes for watchOS 11.4 RC (Release Candidate) built, which means the stable update is right around the corner. “An option to allow Sleep Wake Up alarm to break through Silent Mode,” says the release document.
In its current shape, the Silent Mode only provides vibration-based haptic feedback for all kinds of alerts, including alarm rings. After all, the whole idea behind it is to keep audible distractions at bay.
https://x.com/aaronp613/status/1904223745662669099
There are, however, scenarios when a sound cue could come in handy. For example, if you’re charging your watch near your bed while silent mode is enabled, you would ideally want it to play the wake-up alarm.
An alarm should beep. Period.

A healthy few people aren’t comfortable with sleeping with a watch on their wrist, because it’s an uncomfortable experience to begin with. Moreover, a strong alarm vibration on the wrist isn’t always the most pleasant way to wake up each morning.
I fall into the latter category. From time to time, however, I keep my Apple Watch close to my headrest so that I can hear the alarm beep the next morning. So far, that has meant keeping the watch in general mode, but watchOS 11.4 will finally allow some much-needed flexibility.

Read more
The Apple Watch badly needs the iPhone 16e treatment
A person wearing the Apple Watch SE 2.

Apple isn’t very quick to update its lower cost products, but there’s one model which badly needs its attention: the Apple Watch SE. The company’s willingness to let the SE languish for several years is now affecting its bottom line, and when the Apple Watch Series 11 arrives later this year, an Apple Watch SE 3 needs to be there alongside it.
Hitting where it hurts

In 2024 shipments of Apple Watch models declined by 19% compared to 2023, according to Counterpoint Research, and a quote in the report stated, “The slowdown of the existing Apple Watch SE lineup and the lack of new SE models contributed to the decline.” While the entire smartwatch industry slowed over the same period, Apple saw the largest fall in shipments, which points to something being awry with its current product range.

Read more