Higher efficiency, well being, and health
The Galaxy Watch 7 stored the identical design as final 12 months (solely barely thicker) and shed the fashionable Traditional improve choice, which you’ll not like. However the Watch 7’s revamped BioSensor will make the watch extra helpful for well being monitoring, the brand new Exynos chip hundreds apps sooner, and LTE followers will admire the doubled storage for higher on-wrist music playlists.
For
- Quicker, extra environment friendly Exynos chip
- Higher HR and GPS accuracy
- New and upcoming well being options like AGEs index
- Doubled storage
- No worth enhance
Towards
- No Traditional choice
- No extra Wi-fi PowerShare
- Similar show, battery, and so forth. as Watch 6
Solely a step behind
The Galaxy Watch 6 and seven could possibly be twins, at the very least on the floor. If you happen to have been hoping the Watch 7 would make adjustments to issues just like the show, battery capability, or general look — or if in case you have the Watch 6 Traditional and love your rotating bezel — then it’s possible you’ll need to stick along with your Watch 6 for now, because it’s nonetheless a superb smartwatch.
For
- Comparable design, show, capability, and so forth.
- Helps Wi-fi PowerShare
- Similar Put on OS software program by 2027
- Thinner, with extra band choices
- Had a Traditional improve
Towards
- No dual-band GPS
- No multi-color LEDs for future Samsung Well being metrics
- Slower efficiency
- Not a lot cupboard space
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 follows an identical template to the Galaxy Watch 6. Most Galaxy Watch 7 vs. Galaxy Watch 6 upgrades will be present in its efficiency, storage, and well being/health monitoring.
Modifications to the colours and bands apart, you’d have loads of bother telling the Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch 6 aside; they’ve the identical show sizes, safety, digital bezel, and general look, with their weights differing by lower than a gram.
Beneath, we’ll evaluate the Galaxy Watch 7 vs. Watch 6 that can assist you resolve whether or not to commerce in your Watch 6 for the Watch 7 or to carry out for the Galaxy Watch 8. Though the Galaxy Watch 7 is the greatest Android watch accessible as we speak, it’s possible you’ll not discover sufficient main variations to justify an improve.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 vs. Galaxy Watch 6: Specs
| Class | Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Show | 1.3-inch (432 x 432) or 1.5-inch (480 x 480) AMOLED | 1.3-inch (432 x 432) or 1.5-inch (480 x 480) AMOLED |
| Processor | Exynos W1000 | Exynos W930 |
| RAM | 2GB | 2GB |
| Storage | 32GB | 16GB |
| Measurement | 40.4 x 40.4 x 9.7mm or 44.4 x 44.4 x 9.7mm | 38.8 x 40.4 x 9.0mm or 42.8 x 44.4 x 9.0mm |
| Weight | 28.8g or 33.8g | 28.7g or 33.3g |
| Colours | Inexperienced (40/44mm), Cream (40mm), Silver (44mm) | Graphite (40/44mm), Gold (40mm), Silver (44mm) |
| Battery | 300mAh / 425mAh | 300mAh / 425mAh |
| Charging | Quick charging (WPC-based wi-fi) | Quick charging (WPC-based wi-fi) |
| Software program | One UI Watch 6 (Put on OS 5) | One UI Watch 6 (Put on OS 5) |
| Communications | NFC, Bluetooth 5.3, 5G, Wi-Fi 2.4GHz and 5GHz | NFC, Bluetooth 5.3, 5G, Wi-Fi 2.4GHz and 5GHz |
| Monitoring | GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo | GPS (L1 + L5), Glonass, Beidou, Galileo |
| Sensors | Samsung BioActive Sensor (Optical Bio-signal sensor+ Electrical Coronary heart Sign + Bioelectrical Impedance Evaluation), Temperature Sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Mild Sensor | Samsung BioActive Sensor (Optical Bio-signal sensor+ Electrical Coronary heart Sign + Bioelectrical Impedance Evaluation), Temperature Sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Mild Sensor |
| Safety | 5ATM + IP68, MIL-STD-810H, Sapphire Glass | 5ATM + IP68, MIL-STD-810H, Sapphire Glass |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 vs. Galaxy Watch 6: All the things that is unchanged
If you happen to personal the Galaxy Watch 6, these elements of your present watch will stay unchanged with the Galaxy Watch 7:
Shows: Each watches ship in 40mm and 44mm case sizes, with matching 1.3-inch and 1.5-inch shows. They’ve the identical decision (432×432 or 480×480, based mostly on the scale) and the identical 2,000 nits of brightness, which is pretty normal for flagship watches and is just overwhelmed by the three,000-nit Galaxy Watch Extremely.
Plus, each depend on a digital contact bezel, letting you scroll your finger alongside the show edge to slip down menus or throughout Tiles. We’re ignoring the Watch 6 Traditional and its bodily bezel for this comparability.
Reminiscence: Each watches have 2GB of RAM, the present max we have seen in smartwatches.
Weight: Technically, the Watch 7 40mm and 44mm weigh 0.1g and 0.5g greater than their Watch 6 counterparts, however your wrist may by no means inform the distinction. It is the identical bodily profile.
Safety: Each watches have the most ingress safety for mud and water resistance, particularly lasting for as much as half-hour in 1.5 meters of water or 10 minutes in 50 meters of depth.
In addition they have equal sapphire show scratch safety. Samsung claims they each handed MIL-STD-810H exams for top/low temperature, altitude, humidity, immersion, salt, fog, mud, vibration, and drops.
Battery capability: Whereas the Galaxy Watch 7 would possibly last more than the Watch 6 (extra on that under), the precise capability stays unchanged for each sizes. The 44mm Watch 7 and 6 have 125mAh additional capability, however the bigger show principally cancels this out.
Connectivity: Both watch supplies the identical environment friendly Bluetooth 5.3 normal, NFC funds by way of Google Pockets or Samsung Pockets, WiFi 2.4 and 5 GHz, and LTE connectivity. For the latter, it’s a must to pay for the mobile Watch 6 or 7 upfront for $50 additional, then add it to your mobile plan.
Software program: As of early August, the Galaxy Watch 6 hasn’t up to date to Put on OS 5, however that ought to change quickly after the Pixel Watch 3 launch, in accordance with rumors. From that time onwards, the Watch 7 and 6 may have the identical software program and safety updates till mid-2027, when the Watch 6 runs out of assist. Meaning one other three years of comparable software program perks, should you do not improve.
Sensors: Whereas the Watch 7 did get an necessary sensor improve, what it tracks is usually unchanged from previous generations: resting and present coronary heart price, coronary heart price variability (HRV), passive atrial fibrillation (AFib) detection, lively AFib detection (ECG), pores and skin temperature, blood oxygen (SpO2), nighttime respiratory price, and menstrual cycles.
You additionally get the identical accelerometer and gyroscope for exercise monitoring, barometer for elevation knowledge, geomagnetic sensor for navigation, and ambient mild sensor to auto-adjust the show to your environment.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 vs. Galaxy Watch 6: 9 key variations
Why improve from the Galaxy Watch 6 to the Galaxy Watch 7? Listed here are the primary variations, based mostly on variations between our Galaxy Watch 7 overview check and our Galaxy Watch 6 overview (and my subsequent months utilizing the last-gen watch):
Higher coronary heart price accuracy: The Galaxy Watch 7 has 13 coronary heart price sensor LEDs to the Watch 6’s 4 LEDs. The place the Watch 6 had inexperienced, purple, and IR sensors, the Watch 7 provides new colours — Blue, Yellow, Violet and Ultraviolet — whereas needing fewer photodiodes to energy all of them.
Samsung claims that the Watch 7’s “optimum allocation” of inexperienced, purple, and IR LEDs “extra precisely measures well being metrics akin to coronary heart price, sleep high quality, blood stress, blood oxygen ranges, and stress ranges” than the Watch 6. Specifically, it is imagined to be 30% extra correct throughout high-intensity exercises.
I carried out a Galaxy Watch Extremely health check — the Extremely and Watch 7 share sensors — and it did very effectively for coronary heart price accuracy, although it nonetheless struggled a bit to trace coronary heart charges within the 170+ bpm vary. Nonetheless, my Galaxy Watch 6 health check gave me much less correct outcomes, so athletes will likely be proud of this alteration.
Extra correct dual-band GPS: The Galaxy Watch 7 is the primary Samsung watch to have dual-band GPS, which tracks you from a number of satellite tv for pc varieties (older L1s and newer L5s) to bypass sign blockage or reflections off of buildings, mountains, tree cowl, and so forth.
Once more, the Watch Extremely did extraordinarily effectively in comparison with a dual-band Garmin watch in our exams, solely 0.01 miles off after practically 10 miles. This accuracy ought to apply to the Watch 7, as effectively.
AGEs index (and future well being knowledge): With these additional LED colours, Samsung tracks your physique’s superior glycation finish merchandise (AGEs) index, or the merchandise that kind in your bloodstream in response to extra sugar; a excessive AGEs index is usually a warning signal for critical well being situations like diabetes or coronary heart illness.
Samsung’s announcement claims that this new metric is “one of many many new superior options deliberate for the following Galaxy Watch” enabled by the brand new LED colours. In different phrases, any new well being metrics Samsung works on will come to the Watch 7, however not the Watch 6 due to its restricted LED colours.
We will not say whether or not this well being knowledge will likely be definitely worth the replace, and the Watch 6 already catches a number of well being warning indicators. The Galaxy Watch 7 is future-proofed for well being knowledge, however you could possibly in all probability wait one other 12 months for the Watch 8, when Samsung has carried out extra of those mysterious well being options.
A thicker Galaxy Watch 7: Samsung says that the Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch 6 are 9.7mm and 9.0mm thick, respectively. Neither is that skinny; Samsung does not embody its BioSensor when measuring its watches, which is sort of deceptive. In fact, the Watch 6 is about 12mm thick, whereas the Watch 7 is at the very least 13mm thick.
Our Watch 7 reviewer famous that “The dome of the array curves larger, making the watch sit larger on lanky wrists like mine, however for thicker wrists, you should not discover a lot of a distinction.” In different phrases, the brand new and improved well being knowledge has a visible affect on the way it seems to be in actual life, even when it is similar from the top-down.
Colours and watch band choices: The Watch 6 shipped in Graphite, Gold, and Silver, whereas the Watch 7 is available in Inexperienced, Cream, and Silver.
Aesthetics apart, the Watch 6 had extra band choices at launch: Sport, Excessive Sport, Hybrid Leather-based D or Leather-based T, and Material. The Galaxy Watch 7 has three core choices: Material, Sport, and Athleisure. As at all times, there are many third-party Galaxy Watch 7 band choices, however followers of leather-based or extra breathable sport bands may be dissatisfied.
Efficiency: The Galaxy Watch 7 makes use of one ARM Cortex-A78 1.6GHz core and 4 Cortex-A55 1.5GHz cores; the Watch 6 makes use of twin Cortex-A55 1.4GHz cores. As you would possibly anticipate, this provides the Watch 7 far more capability for high-end processing and sooner app loading occasions.
In apply, our Watch 7 reviewer famous that it is “the zippiest smartwatch I’ve ever used, however it’s not magnitudes sooner” than the Watch 6, “at the very least throughout on a regular basis actions.” That is just like my expertise with the Watch Extremely, which shares the Watch 7 chip; it hundreds apps in a short time, however the Watch 6 was additionally fairly quick due to the comparable RAM.
A few of its additional efficiency capability goes straight into operating the additional LED sensors, which require extra energy to run. In any other case, the Exynos W1000 is extra future-proofed for future Put on OS updates, which could take extra benefit of the additional energy.
Storage: The Galaxy Watch 6 has 16GB of storage, or lower than 6GB when you account for default Put on OS software program. That does not depart a lot wiggle room should you wish to obtain music, podcasts, or audiobooks for streaming on the go whereas leaving your telephone behind. Fortunately, the Watch 7 has boosted cupboard space as much as 32GB, supplying you with extra wiggle room for media and apps.
(Slight) battery life increase: Samsung by no means gave us an official battery life estimate for the Galaxy Watch 7. Our reviewer discovered that it lasted two days (48 hours) with normal use and sleep monitoring, whereas it lasted nearer to 33–36 hours with extra out of doors use (which makes use of extra nits of brightness) and one dual-band GPS exercise.
The Galaxy Watch 6 was rated to final 40 hours at launch, and yours has in all probability misplaced a bit of of its capability since then. Our Watch 7 reviewer credit the Exynos W1000’s “improved effectivity” as with the ability to deal with sure duties with out as a lot battery burn, and it is honest to say that the Watch 6 will likely be much less able to dealing with demanding app duties shifting ahead.
As a facet notice, some early Galaxy Watch 7 customers have reported the alternative, with their watch barely lasting a day per cost. We’re hoping this stems from early Put on OS 5 bugs that’ll be resolved quickly, since they might presumably have an effect on the Watch 6, too.
If you happen to’re not a lot of an lively Put on OS consumer and primarily use your Galaxy Watch 6 to verify notifications and the climate, you are in all probability superb. Energy customers will profit from a bit of additional capability, however you may want the Extremely for a real increase.
No extra Wi-fi PowerSharing: An unintended facet impact of the Galaxy Watch 7’s well being sensor redesign is that it prevented Samsung from making it appropriate with its Wi-fi PowerSharing normal.
You’ll be able to not cost the Watch 7 (or Extremely) by putting it atop your flagship Samsung telephone, whilst you nonetheless can accomplish that with the Galaxy Watch 6. It is a helpful trick in case your Watch 6 dies and you do not have a charging puck readily available, although fairly finicky in case your telephone has a protecting case.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 vs. Galaxy Watch 6: Must you improve?
Samsung is providing a trade-in deal of a $99 Watch 7 and a free second band in change on your Watch 6. So long as that deal’s accessible, you’ve got loads of causes to improve. If you happen to’re paying full worth or personal the Watch 6 Traditional, it is more durable to justify the change.
The Galaxy Watch 7 is considerably higher than the Watch 6 in key areas, with solely a few minor drawbacks with its thickness and disabled PowerSharing in change for higher well being and health knowledge. It is not that a lot sooner than the Watch 6, and Samsung has to determine the present battery drain difficulty, however it’s greater than we anticipated, given many Android watches maintain the identical CPU throughout generations.
When you’ve got the Watch 6 Traditional, you may lose your fashionable metal design and higher bezel controls in change for all the above perks and a lighter match. That is in all probability a tricky capsule to swallow until you do not like your Traditional.
As for normal Galaxy Watch 6 homeowners, it’s possible you’ll need to wait one other era for the variations to be extra important. This might rely, nevertheless, on whether or not you consider the rumors that Samsung needs to modify to a squircle design with future watches. If the Galaxy Watch 8 finally ends up with a squircle show — which Apple customers love and loads of Put on OS watch homeowners hate — then perhaps there is not any motive to attend.
Higher efficiency, well being, and health
Select the Galaxy Watch 7 should you actually care about its improved well being and GPS accuracy, or should you’re an influence consumer that desires the quickest potential efficiency yearly. Skip it should you like your Traditional design or should you’re not impressed sufficient with the adjustments; the Watch 8 will arrive earlier than you recognize it.
Solely a step behind
Stick along with your Galaxy Watch 6 should you’re not impressed sufficient with the adjustments in efficiency, should you do not pay shut consideration to your Samsung Well being knowledge, or should you’re pleased along with your Watch 6 Traditional. Improve to the Watch 7 should you discover a good trade-in deal and need all the newest perks.
