Intro
Now that the Galaxy Watch 7 is here, how is it better than last year's Galaxy Watch 6? And should you upgrade?Well, first of all you should know that this year, we only get one Galaxy Watch 7 model in two sizes of 40mm and 44mm. Last year, we had a similarly sized Galaxy Watch 6, but also a larger 43mm and 47mm Galaxy Watch 6 Classic and that one had a rotating bezel. There is no Classic model this year, but instead Samsung has a new Ultra model with an extra large battery and advanced fitness features that we cover separately in our Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra review.In this article, however, we focus on the Galaxy Watch 7 and the differences compared to the previous Galaxy Watch 6, and among these are a new and much faster chipset, a bunch of new fitness and health tracking features, improved sleep tracking algorithm and more. Let's dive right in!
*Remember that Samsung's Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch 6 are ONLY compatible with Android phones and will not work with an iPhone.Amazon Prime Day is live! Check out the best deals below:Galaxy Watch 7 vs Galaxy Watch 6: differences
| Galaxy Watch 7 | Galaxy Watch 6 |
|---|---|
| Same 40mm, 44mm sizes | 40mm, 44mm sizes |
| Dimensions: 44mm: 44.4 x 44.4 x 9.7 mm, 33.8g 40mm: 40.4 x 40.4 x 9.7 mm, 28.8g | Dimensions: 44.4 x 42.8 x 9.0 mm, 33.3g 40.4 x 38.8 x 9.0 mm, 28.7g |
| Three times faster W1000 chip (3nm) | Older W930 chipset (5nm) |
| Double the storage, 32GB | 16GB storage |
| Same battery sizes 425mAh for 44mm 300mAh for 40mm | Same battery size |
| Enhanced BioActive sensor | Older version of the sensor |
| New Wear OS 5 platform | Wear OS 4 |
| Dual-band GPS | Single-band GPS |
| Suggeseted message replies on watch | - |
| Combine various exercise to create a Workout Routine | - |
| Race feature to compare your time against your previous workout | - |
| New sleep tracking algorithm | Old sleep tracking algorithm |
| ECG, Blood Pressure monitoring | ECG, Blood Pressure monitoring |
| New AGEs index | - |
Another difference to point out is the faster 15W charging on the newer model. Since the battery capacity is rumored to remain the same on the Galaxy Watch 7, this should mean less time on the charger before the watch gets to 100% compared to the Galaxy Watch 6.
Table of Contents:
Design & Sizes
These two look nearly the same: the same round shape, the same two sizes of 40mm and 44mm, same pretty much everything.
Get the smaller 40mm model if you have a smaller wrist, while 44mm would look better on mid-size and large-sized wrists. We are glad Samsung keeps these two sizes, as we know a number of people who really appreciate having the smaller size (some companies only release one size).
There is no physical rotating bezel on either one, but you do have a digital simulation, so you can say you have a digital bezel to navigate the UI.
In terms of water protection, we have IP68 and ATM5 rating on the Galaxy Watch 7, and both this new model and the older one can be used for swimming of course. If you want to use your watch for diving, consider the Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra, which comes with an ATM10 rating.
Bands
The Galaxy Watch 6 introduced a brand new way to swap bands, and Samsung achieved that while still allowing compatibility with the old-style Galaxy Watch bands. That said, we weren't too impressed with the new button-release system, as the button was somewhat small and hard to press.
What's more, the default silicone bands Samsung provided with the Galaxy Watch 6 were a bit too stiff and did not wrap around your hand that well, making them sit awkwardly on the wrist. We hope this year Samsung introduces upgraded bands with a better design, although no leaks have pointed to such changes just yet.
Software & Features
The Galaxy Watch 7 arrives as the first smartwatch running Google's new Wear OS 5 platform, which is good to see.
We, however, do not hear much about Galaxy AI magic features here as that seems to be reserved mostly for Samsung's phones and tablets.
Here's a breakdown of the notable new features:- New "Energy Score" provides daily insights into your overall well-being.
- Personalized workouts: Galaxy AI will recommend personalized workout routines for seamless transitions between exercises, keeping your workouts engaging.
- Challenge yourself: Runners and cyclists can use the "Race" feature to compare their performance on favorite routes, adding a competitive edge to your training.
- Smarter sleep tracking: Look forward to more comprehensive sleep analytics with detailed "Sleep Score" metrics, helping you understand your sleep quality better.
- Advanced running metrics: Get insights into your running performance with features like "Aerobic Threshold (AT) / Anaerobic Threshold (AnT) Heart Rate Zone," allowing you to optimize your training zones.
Stay tuned for a lot more detail about these and other new features over the coming weeks as we get to spend more time with the Galaxy Watch 7.
Battery and Charging
The battery size on the Galaxy Watch 7 remains the same as before, so we cannot expect big changes in battery life.
However, with the newer chipset some battery gains are possible, but this will probably still be a watch you have to charge every day.
We will be testing the battery life in detail over the next couple of weeks and will give you more information as we learn more about it.
As for charging, we don't have a confirmation yet, but it seems that the Watch 7 now supports 15W speeds, much faster than the 10W speeds on the Galaxy Watch 6. This would shorten your top up time and will be a big help.
Models and Prices
Just like with the Galaxy Watch 6, the Galaxy Watch 7 will come in two sizes: 40mm and 44mm. Buyers will also have the option to choose between a Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi + Cellular versions for both sizes.
And here are the Galaxy Watch 7 prices in the US:
- Galaxy Watch 7 (40mm): $300 Wi-Fi only; $350 Wi-Fi + Cellular (same as last year)
- Galaxy Watch 7 (44mm): $350 Wi-Fi only; $380 Wi-Fi + Cellular (same as last year)
Having cellular means you are able to use the watch without having your phone nearby, including for phone calls or anything that requires an internet connection. Keep in mind that even if you don't have support for cellular connectivity, you can still pay with your watch wirelessly at POS terminals.
The Galaxy Watch 7 is clearly all about refinement and better health and fitness tracking.
It's the same size and looks quite the same, so this is not about physical appearance, and prices haven't changed (which is a good thing considering that Samsung hiked the prices for its foldable phones).Should you upgrade to the Galaxy Watch 7?
If you already own the Watch 6, we don't see a big reason to upgrade, honestly, but we do see a few upgrades that are very welcome. The dual-band GPS will be great for runners who live in big metros, and the new health, fitness and sleep tracking promises to be more accurate, which is really important. The faster processor is also nice, but honestly, we care more about battery life than having a faster chipset on a watch.
Stay tuned for our full review and more impressions that will be coming here over the next week, and our final judgment of the Galaxy Watch 7!
View Full BioAleksandar is a tech enthusiast with a broad range of interests, from smartphones to space exploration. His curiosity extends to hands-on DIY experiments with his gadgets, and he enjoys switching between different brands to experience the latest innovations. Prior to joining PhoneArena, Aleksandar worked on the Google Art Project, digitizing valuable artworks and gaining diverse perspectives on technology. When he's not immersed in tech, Aleksandar is an outdoorsman who enjoys mountain hikes, wildlife photography, and nature conservation. His interests also extend to martial arts, running, and snowboarding, reflecting his dynamic approach to life and technology.
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