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Apple Watch Series 7: Features, release date, design, more

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The Apple Watch Series 7 was announced during Apple’s “California Streaming” event with a larger and more durable display followed by its release in October of 2021. It was discontinued in September of 2022 after Apple Watch Series 8 was introduced.

History

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The Apple Watch was first introduced in 2015 and quickly became the best-selling wearable device of the year, reportedly selling 4.2 million units in Q2 2015. When the company introduced the Apple Watch Series 2 later in 2016, Apple labeled the original Apple Watch as “Series 0” while bringing an updated chip with “Series 1” and a brand new “Series 2” Watch.

When Apple introduced the Apple Watch Series 3 in 2017 a lot of things changed. The company started seeing the Watch more like a fitness device rather than a fashion one, although it was available in aluminum, stainless steel, and ceramic models. This Watch had a chip 70% faster than its predecessor, increased RAM, and introduced the LTE cellular connectivity variant with 16GB of storage.

Apple Watch Series 4, which launched a year later, featured a major redesign with a screen that was 30% bigger in both models and a 50% improvement on its processor over the Series 3 version. Speakers and microphones were rearranged so they were louder and more useful, and Series 4 introduced the fall detection feature, ECG capabilities, and the second-generation heart rate monitor.

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In 2019, the Apple Watch Series 5 was a notable upgrade over the Series 4: Apple introduced an Always-On display with an energy-saving LTOP OLED screen, a built-in compass, doubled the storage to 32GB, and brought back the Edition tier with a ceramic model and a brand new titanium version.

In 2020, Apple announced the Apple Watch Series 6. This Watch brought a new S6 processor, up to 20% faster than its predecessor, a brighter Always-On display, a blood oxygen app, and an always-on altimeter, alongside new health sensors.

In 2021, Apple unveiled the Apple Watch Series 7 with a more durable and larger display, now with 41mm and 45mm options. The Watch is more crack-resistant and can charge faster than previous models. It has the same processor as the Series 6 and maintains the three finishes: aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium.

Apple Watch Series 7: Specs and features

More durable and larger display

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Unlike all the rumors, the new Apple Watch Series 7 doesn’t feature a new design. Instead, it does have a larger display with 20% more screen area and thinner borders at 1.7mm, 40% smaller than those on Apple Watch Series 6.

This new Apple Watch is available in 41mm and 45mm sizes. While the wrist is down, the Always-On Retina display is up to 70% brighter indoors than the previous Watch, making it easier to see the watch face without having to lift the wrist or wake the display.

Apple Watch Series 7 features a redesigned front crystal with a more robust geometry that is over 50% thicker than that of the Apple Watch Series 6, making it more crack-resistant.

The Watch has also been certified IP6X dust-resistant and has a water resistance rating of WR50, making it a good choice for swimming performances and making users stay relaxed while on the beach or the desert.

Sensors

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Apple Watch Series 7 has the same sensors as Apple Watch Series 6, which means it has a third-generation optical heart sensor, Digital Crown with haptic feedback, a built-in compass, an always-on altimeter, and a second-generation speaker and mic. With Emergency SOS and International emergency calling, you can quickly call for help and alert your emergency contacts.

Apple Watch Series 7 also detect if you’ve taken a hard fall, then automatically calls emergency services for you. The Noise app alerts when decibels reach levels that could damage your hearing. 

Performance

Apple Watch Series 7 has the same processor as last year’s Apple Watch Series 6. Even though it has a new name, being called S7, it has the same CPU power. It’s not the first time Apple does something like that. With the Apple Watch Series 5, the S5 chip had the same performance as the S4 SoC but brought a Compass feature built-in as well.

The S7 SiP has a 64-bit dual-core processor and features 32GB of storage. As the S6 chip, it’s 20% faster than the processor found inside the Apple Watch SE.

Apple Watch finishes

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With Apple Watch Series 7, Apple brought three different finishes:

Aluminum

  • Midnight;
  • Starlight;
  • Green,
  • Blue;
  • (PRODUCT)RED.

Stainless Steel

  • Silver;
  • Graphite;
  • Gold

Titanium

  • Natural;
  • Space Black.

Release date: When will Apple Watch Series 7 come out?

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Apple Watch Series 7 is available since October 15.

Price: How much Apple Watch Series 7 cost?

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Apple Watch Series 7 starts at $399. The prices are the same as the last year’s model, as you can see below:

  • Aluminum, 40mm, GPS: $399
  • Aluminum, 40mm, GPS + Cellular: $499
  • Aluminum, 44mm, GPS: $429
  • Aluminum, 44m, GPS + Cellular: $529
  • Stainless steel, 40mm, GPS + Cellular: $699
  • Stainless steel, 44mm, GPS + Cellular: $749
  • Titanium, 40mm, GPS + Cellular: $849
  • Titanium, 44mm, GPS + Cellular: $899

Lower prices may be available from Apple’s official Amazon store.

Deals

In line with similar promotions offered for iPhone and iPad purchases, Apple says that customers can buy a GPS + Cellular model of the Apple Watch Series 7 and get a $100 rebate when they activate it with T-Mobile/Sprint or Verizon. Apple says: 

Customers can buy Apple Watch (GPS + Cellular) directly from apple.com/store or at an Apple Store and get $100 back when they activate it with T-Mobile/Sprint or Verizon. 

You can learn more about it here.

Over at 9to5Toys, you can find the best deals on the Apple Watch Series 7 and other Apple products. Download the 9to5Toys iPhone app to receive push notifications for new deals as well.

watchOS 8

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The Apple Watch Series 7 features watchOS 8. It was previewed during the WWDC21 keynote and is available since September 20. Here are its key functions:

  • New custom Watch Faces;
  • Focus mode so you can filter out distractions;
  • New Mindfulness app;
  • New Pilates and Tai Chi workouts;
  • Locate misplaced Apple devices with Find Devices, including Items, Devices, and People.

For the Series 7, Apple is also introducing a few tweaks thanks to its larger display. For example, it will be possible to write a message using QuickPath.

Learn more about watchOS 8 here.

watchOS 8.1 features

A month after releasing watchOS 8, the company updated the Apple Watch with version 8.1 with some bug fixes.

watch 8.3 features

Apple skipped watchOS 8.2 and seeded after 8.1, version 8.3 with the following improvements:

  • Apple Music Voice Plan gives you access to all songs, playlists, and stations in Apple Music using Siri
  • Support for App Privacy Report to record data and sensor access
  • Fixes an issue where notifications may interrupt Mindfulness sessions unexpectedly for some users.

watchOS 8.4 features

watchOS 8.4, which was released on January 26, fixed a bug that prevented Apple Watch from being recharged with some third-party chargers. Apart from that, there are no notable features in this operating system.

watchOS 8.5 features

How to authorize Apple TV purchases on Apple Watch

After small updates, watchOS 8.5 brings a handful of new features. Here are the most important:

  • New emoji;
  • New non-binary, American Siri voice;
  • Ability to authorize Apple TV purchases and subscriptions;
  • COVID-19 vaccination cards in Apple Wallet now support the EU Digital COVID Certificate format;
  • Updates to irregular rhythm notifications are designed to improve atrial fibrillation identification. Available in the United States, Chile, Hong Kong, South Africa, and many regions where the feature is available;
  • Audio hints in Fitness+ provide you with audio commentary of visually demonstrated movements during workouts.

watchOS 8.6 features

watchOS 8.6 enables the ECG app and irregular rhythm notifications for Apple Watch users in Mexico. With the ECG app, users can take an electrocardiogram directly from their wrist.

According to the release notes, the update also includes “improvements and bug fixes.”

watchOS 8.7 features

According to the release notes, the update includes “improvements and bug fixes.”

watchOS 9

Apple Watch running metrics

Now that watchOS 9 doesn’t support Apple Watch Series 3 anymore, the operating system revamps old Watch Faces, while adding four new ones. With these new faces, Apple makes them look better on bigger displays. In addition, the company is adding QWERTY keyboard support for more languages for the Apple Watch Series 7 and Series 8 and new QuickType technology with watchOS 9.

watchOS 9 also brings a significant update to the Workout app with a lot of new features for people who love to exercise. For runners, there’s a new Workout Views where they just need to turn the Digital Crown in order to see lots of metrics, which are available during the run:

  • Activity rings 
  • Heart Rate Zones 
  • Power
  • Elevation

Apple is also improving the Sleep app with watchOS 9. It now brings more sleep data and there’s a new Medications app that helps you track all the pills and vitamins you take every day.

Wrap up

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For Apple Watch Series 5 and Series 6 owners, the Apple Watch Series 7 isn’t a necessary upgrade. For those coming from a Series 4 or older, this new Apple Watch will sure bring improvements: a faster processor, bigger and brighter screen, more sensors, and, also, a slight redesign.

Apple Watch Series 8 vs Series 7 and earlier: What’s the best choice?

Apple Watch Series 8 vs 7 guide

The current Apple Watch lineup features three distinct wearables. While much remains the same between Series 8 and previous models, there are some differences worth considering. Read on for Apple Watch Series 8 vs 7 and earlier to help decide what’s the best pick for you or someone you’re shopping for.

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Smartwatch market leader Apple ‘irreplaceable,’ but doesn’t lead premium segment

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It’s no surprise that Apple remains the smartwatch market leader by a considerable margin, according to the latest data, but what’s unusual is that the company doesn’t top the list in the premium smartwatch segment.

At the other end of the scale, Xiaomi is showing increasing signs of owning the budget segment …

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Apple Watch SE vs 7: Differences between the affordable and flagship wearables

Apple Watch SE vs 7

The two most recent Apple Watches in the current lineup share a lot of features in common but there are at least eight differences that account for the more expensive Apple Watch Series 7 price. Whether you’re looking for yourself or someone else, read on for Apple Watch SE vs 7 to help you figure out which one to pick.

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Apple execs detail Apple Watch Series 7 design and watchOS 8 improvements in new interview

Apple Watch Series 7 pre-orders

The Apple Watch Series 7 features a new industrial design with a focus on larger 41mm and 45mm sizes. In a new interview with the Independent, Apple’s Alan Dye and Stan Ng talked more about this new design, how watchOS is optimized to take advantage of the larger displays, and more.

Alan Dye serves as Apple’s vice president of interface design, while Stan Ng is the company’s vice president of product marketing. Ng explained in the interview that the key for Apple was making the Apple Watch Series 7 display bigger, while also not compromising other aspects of the wearable:

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Here’s how the new green Apple Watch Series 7 color looks in the real world

We’ve only just got our hands on the new Apple Watch Series 7, and we happen to have the new green model. Much has been made about what the new watch colors actually look like in person, especially the green, since it’s the one Apple is choosing to market most prominently. Now that we’ve seen it, we can confidently say it’s one of the best aluminum finishes Apple has ever shipped.

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Comment: Here’s why the Apple Watch Series 7 is still a notable upgrade for many users

Rumors and leakers created enormous anticipation around Apple Watch Series 7. Multiple reports suggested it would receive a major redesign, improved battery life, and a faster S7 chip that would make people forget about the lack of new sensors.

But during the “California Streaming” event, we discovered that the Apple Watch Series 7 is not at all like the rumors suggested, which led to disappointment for some Apple Watch fans. Now that the Watch is finally available to pre-order, here’s why you shouldn’t care that much for this “S” year of the device.

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