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The Apple Watch Series 7 Looks Like a Must Upgrade

Bigger, brighter display

By Sascha Brodsky Sascha Brodsky Senior Tech Reporter Macalester College Columbia University Sascha Brodsky is a freelance journalist based in New York City. His writing has appeared in The Atlantic, the Guardian, the Los Angeles Times and many other publications. lifewire's editorial guidelines Published on October 7, 2021 12:21PM EDT Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr University of Maryland Baltimore County Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Smart & Connected Life Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming

Key Takeaways

The Apple Watch Series 7 goes on preorder tomorrow, and I can’t wait to get my hands on one. The display of the Apple Watch Series 7 has thinner borders at just 1.7 mm—40% smaller than those on Series 6. I’m skeptical about the 7’s new QWERTY keyboard that can be tapped or swiped. Apple The bigger display on the new Apple Watch Series 7 might have looked ridiculously large a few years ago, but now I’m eager to buy one. The Series 7 is available for preorder Friday and boasts 20% more screen space and a 70% brighter display. The bigger screen allows for more information to be displayed simultaneously, and you even can type on it, although awkwardly. It starts at $399. My Apple Watch Series 6 still works well, but it’s a victim of its success. The Series 6 has become such an integral part of my daily life that I want more of its beautiful display.

Bigger and Badder

The thing I'm most looking forward to about the Series 7 is its new look. Since it was first released, I've been an Apple Watch owner, and while I love what they can do, it's always been a bland design. The changes to the case that Apple has made with its latest release are subtle but significant. The display of the Apple Watch Series 7 has thinner borders at just 1.7 mm—40% smaller than those on Series 6. Somehow, Apple managed to cram more stuff into less space, and it's available in 41mm and 45mm sizes. The Series 7 also comes in new colors, making me want to upgrade from my basic black model. I have my eye on the green one, but the 7 also is offered in a new blue and (PRODUCT)RED. Of course, Apple is also tossing out new Apple Watch band designs like a bunch of confetti. Before buying the Series 6, I scoffed at the need for an Always-On display because I had grown used to doing without one on my Apple Watch Series 3. But I'm constantly glancing at my Apple Watch now to check on the time, and I'm looking forward to the brighter display on the Series 7. I can't wait to try out the new user interface that is optimized to take advantage of the shape and size of the larger display. The 7 also offers two larger font sizes. Apple claims the Series 7 is the "most durable" Apple Watch with a redesigned front crystal. However, I've bashed my Apple Watches on rocks worldwide, and they've never once suffered a crack.

Finger Typing

The Series 7’s larger display will be a balm for my aging eyes, but Apple is trying to shoehorn more utility into what’s still a relatively small screen. With watchOS 8, more prominent menu titles and buttons in apps like Stopwatch, Activity, and Alarms are designed to make the screen simpler to interact with. Apple I’m skeptical about the 7’s new QWERTY keyboard that can be tapped or swiped with QuickPath—allowing users to slide a finger to type. Apple claims the keyboard uses on-device machine learning to anticipate the next word based on the context, making text entry easier and faster. I have a hard time imagining doing a lot of typing on the Series 7, even if the machine learning works as advertised. Instead, I’d like Siri to be better integrated into the Apple Watch, so it’s easier to dictate notes and other items. One area where the Series 7 is getting a big boost is fast charging. Apple claims the new watch allows 33% faster charging than Apple Watch Series 6 through a new charging architecture and Magnetic Fast Charger USB-C Cable. I use my Apple Watch so much for calls and to listen to music that I invariably run out of juice. It will be great to put the new Series 7 on the charger for a quick top-up. Overall, the Series 7 isn’t a huge upgrade over its predecessor. But I use my Apple Watch so much that even just the promise of a bigger, brighter screen is enough to have me polishing my credit card. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Apple Watch: Everything You Need to Know The 110 Best Fall Instagram Captions This Year (2022) Apple Watch Series 7: Price, Release Date, News, and Specs Apple Watch Ultra: Release Date, Specs, Price, and News Apple Watch Series 8: Release Date, Specs, Price, and News Google Pixel 7 & 7 Pro: News, Price, Release Date, Specs & More Is an Apple Watch Worth It? Apple Watch Series 6 Review: A Modest Upgrade, But Still the Best Is the Apple Watch Series 6 Waterproof? Expert Tested: The 9 Best Smartwatches in 2022 Apple Watch SE Review: A More Affordable Apple Watch How Far Does the Apple Watch Reach? Apple Watch Series 6 vs. Samsung Galaxy Watch3 How to Get Weather on Your Apple Watch Face How to Pair an Apple Watch With Your iPhone Is the Apple Watch 7 Waterproof? Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies