Samsung is making a big push in the smartwatch market this year with two new models: the Galaxy Watch Ultra and the Galaxy Watch 7. While the Ultra model boasts a bold, unique design, the Galaxy Watch 7 takes a more familiar approach, offering a refined version of its predecessor, the Galaxy Watch 6.
The Galaxy Watch 7 retains the nearly bezel-less display and two size options (40mm and 44mm) from its predecessor. It also features the same high-quality build and finish, feeling every bit as polished as the Galaxy Watch 6. Under the hood, the Galaxy Watch 7 gets a significant upgrade with the same powerful 3nm Exynos W1000 chip found in the Galaxy Watch Ultra, along with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. This makes it a clear step up from the Galaxy Watch 6’s 5nm chip and 16GB of storage.
Samsung has also introduced some new health features in the Galaxy Watch 7. The most notable is Energy Score, a feature that utilizes on-device AI to analyze your sleep, activity, heart rate, and other metrics to give you a score from 1 to 100, indicating how ready you are for the day ahead. This feature is similar to the Readiness score found on the Oura Ring, and it promises to be a valuable tool for understanding your overall well-being.
Another new feature, Wellness Tips, also leverages your health data to provide personalized recommendations. For example, if you haven’t been sleeping well, the Galaxy Watch 7 might suggest you go to bed earlier.
Overall, the Galaxy Watch 7 presents a compelling package. It boasts an attractive design, a brilliant display, impressive speed, and enhanced health features. It’s likely to offer excellent battery life, just like its predecessor. However, the catch is that the Galaxy Watch 7 doesn’t offer a significant leap forward compared to the Galaxy Watch 6. The new chipset is welcome, but the Galaxy Watch 6 is already quite fast. The new health features are promising, but they might eventually be available on older Galaxy Watch models.
Ultimately, if you’re in the market for a new Samsung smartwatch and haven’t purchased one recently, the Galaxy Watch 7 is a good option. However, if you already own the Galaxy Watch 6, or even the Galaxy Watch 5, it’s harder to justify the extra cost. While the Galaxy Watch 7 is likely to be a very good smartwatch, it doesn’t offer the level of excitement or innovation that some might expect.