Incredible feature on new Apple Watch

Apple’s redesigned Apple Watch Series 7, with new features such as a larger display and enhanced durability, is now available to the public for purchase. Are its latest enhancements worth the upgrade?

Series 7 sizes

Firstly, Apple Watch Series 7 is available in two different sizes – 41mm and 45mm – each in five new aluminium finishes – Midnight, Starlight, Green, Blue, and (PRODUCT) RED.

Midnight is a black finish at a glance with deep blue tones up close, Starlight is a blend of gold and silver, Green is somewhat subtle from afar though up close it’s a pleasant dark green, the Blue is more vibrant than last year and the Red is a little brighter.

All of the colours are pleasant, showcasing a lot of personality, and as usual Apple has also updated many of their coloured watch bands to match the new watch colours.

Display and specs

One of the most notable features of the Apple Watch Series 7 is its larger display, which was increased without changing the size of the watch itself. There’s now almost 20 per cent more screen area than Apple Watch Series 6 and over 50 per cent more screen area than Series 3.

These changes are quite noticeable when in use, especially due to Apple making text, menus (such as control centre) and select applications bigger and bolder, along with adding three additional larger font sizes.

This gives certain buttons and functions bigger tap targets so on-screen functions are easier to interact with. Side by side with its predecessor, the Series 7 doesn’t look majorly enlarged, however, it really does feel like it has significantly more screen real-estate to interact with which improved my overall user experience.

Additionally, the Always On display has been enhanced and is 70 per cent brighter when your wrist is down, enabling you to see the time and complications (widgets) more easily at a glance. This is complimented by the new subtle wraparound edges of the crystal watch face, allowing the screen to be seen more easily when it’s off-axis.

The corners of the watch case have also been refined and are now slightly softer and more rounded, which was less noticeable to me but a welcome design improvement from Series 6.

Features

With Apple bringing a QWERTY keyboard to Apple Watch for the first time ever, I’m inclined to argue that this feature alone makes Apple Watch Series 7 hard to pass up. Yes, this means you can now fully type out message or email replies on a tiny QWERTY keyboard rather than using voice dictation, pre-programmed generic suggested reply messages or emojis.

Visually, the QWERTY keyboard seems as though it would be impossible to use with such small on-screen keys, however, you can use Apple’s handy QuickPath function where you swipe your finger from one letter to another to form words. Using machine learning, the Series 7 almost always accurately inputs the words I’m trying to type and is getting better and better with increased use.

You’re also able to edit and insert individual letters or symbols as you would on a full size keyboard. Apple has also increased the amount of text that can be shown on screen in text messages or emails, giving you more information at a glance, so that you’re scrolling less.

Durability and fitness

Personally, I don’t just wear an Apple Watch to see the time or to have app notifications on my wrist. I largely wear an Apple Watch to track my level of activity, to avoid being too sedentary, and so I can access an Apple Fitness+ membership.

The Series 7, to mention the very least, can track your steps, calorie burn, heart rate, Blood Oxygen Level and even has a built in ECG, which I use in tandem with Fitness+. Through lockdown, besides walking, Fitness+ was truly what helped me to maintain some level of fitness.

Through Fitness+ I learned to actually enjoy and regularly participate in Yoga for the first time ever along with getting back into HIIT workouts. Now, Fitness+ has added pilates and meditation sessions, which I’m actually excited to try.

Apple Watch Series 7 is able to track all your progress during these exercise sessions, including your other favourite activities, which includes enhanced tracking for cyclists and the addition of e-bike tracking.

And because the watch is IP6X dust resistant and swim proof you can wear it in the pool, shower and even the ocean. In my opinion, the Apple Watch looks and feels incredibly premium – I feel so fancy when I wear one. And so I’m always impressed and appreciative that the durability lives up to the price of the product.

I’m pretty clumsy and hate to admit I have once or thrice smacked my watch against a railing or wall and walked away with, thankfully, no damage! So to hear that Series 7 has improved crack resistance on the front crystal (50 per cent thicker at its thickest point) it’s very comforting for a watch that’s a bit of an investment.

Battery Life

Battery life has been unchanged on Series 7, however, even with the slightly larger screen the watch has still given me the same great full day of battery life (that previously the Series 6 offered).

There is at least an addition of a new fast charger to USB-C cable in the box which charges the Series 7 faster (and works with all previous models charging at standard speeds). The Series 7, in fact, charges 33 per cent faster than the Series 6 and takes about 45 minutes to charge from 0-80 per cent.

Should you buy it?

If you’re wondering whether the Series 7 is worth the price for its improvements, I have to say, it really is the best display I’ve seen on an Apple Watch yet. Its increased screen size makes the overall user experience even more enjoyable than before. Personally, I can’t go back to the regular GPS edition.

I love wearing the cellular model as it often acts in place of my phone when I’m out and about, especially when exercising, as you’re able to take and make calls or send and receive text messages even without your phone on you.

The Apple Watch Series 7 starts at $599 for the 41mm size GPS model and $649 for 45mm GPS model and Cellular models start at $749 for the 41mm edition and $799 for the 45mm.

Elly Awesome is an Aussie tech and lifestyle vlogger | @ellyawwesome | YouTube