The Apple Watch 7 is official. The new Apple watch ushers in a subtle redesign headlined by a larger and brighter display and faster charging. And it’s officially available starting October 15, according to a new Apple Newsroom announcement.
Aspiring to make the best smartwatch even better, the Apple Watch 7 looks a bit different than its predecessors. Adopting smoother chassis curves and thinner display borders, a sharp eye could see the latest Apple Watch gives users far more screen real estate on their wrist than before.
Another highlight is 33% faster charging than the Apple Watch 6. Overall, the Apple Watch 7 promises to be the best Apple Watch yet. Even with the same “all-day” battery life estimate that’s stuck around since the Apple Watch 3.
Speaking of the Series 3, it remains on sale for $199, as does the $279 Apple Watch SE. To see how the new Watch 7 compares to these and other older models, check out our should you buy the Apple Watch 7 guide.
Either way, the Apple Watch 7, starting at $399 and shipping with watchOS 8, is sure to be the smartwatch many iPhone users wants this year. It’s coming next week, so here’s what you’ll need to know.
Apple Watch 7 top new features
- Thinner display borders: Apple hasn’t changed the Apple Watch’s display borders in several years. But now, the Apple Watch 7’s display is up to 20% bigger than the Apple Watch 6’s. With a narrow 1.7mm bezel, the Apple Watch looks larger this year.
- Brighter screen: The Apple Watch 7’s display is 70% brighter than before. That’s a big claim we’ll need to see ourselves, but last year’s 50% brighter display did make a difference compared to the Apple Watch 5, so we’re optimistic.
- Faster charging: Although the Apple Watch 7 has the same “all-day” battery life, it charges faster, at least. According to Apple, the Series 7 charges 33% faster thanks to a new USB-C cord.
Apple Watch 7 release date, price and pre-orders
The Apple Watch 7 starts at $399. Although Apple hasn’t announced official pricing for every model, we expect a larger model to start at $429. For Cellular support, which lets your Apple Watch optionally work untethered from your iPhone, we’re guessing you’ll spend $499 for the smaller size or $529 for the larger size.
Pre-orders for Apple Watch 7 will start on October 8, with the smartwatch hitting shelves on October 15.
Apple Watch 7 design
Apple’s smartwatch design hasn’t changed in several years. While the curved squircle is pretty iconic, we were definitely excited about redesign rumors. A number of renowned leakers said we’d see a flat-edged form factor, but it didn’t happen.
Instead, the Apple Watch 7 is actually curvier compared to previous Apple Watch models. It’s difficult to tell just how smooth the chassis shape is without going hands-on with the new smartwatch, but it’s clear Apple is going for a softer overall aesthetic.
The only images of the Apple Watch 7 we’ve seen that aren’t directly from Apple are some recent leaks. These were apparently taken by an employee of a mobile carrier who said they were testing the watch prior to launch. The photos make the new curved edges of the watch more obvious, and also show the new keyboard available for typing directly into the watch.
There are quite a few case options this year. The most popular aluminum makes come in silver and a dark grey, as well as green, blue and product red. For a premium, Apple is offering the Apple Watch 7 in stainless steel and titanium materials, too.
While the Apple Watch 7 has the same swim-proof rating (up to 50 meters) it’s more dust-resistant this year. If you’ve taken to outdoor sports, you might be excited to know the Series 7 has an IP6X certification. Altered geometrics should make the latest Apple Watch more durable overall, too.
And since the Apple Watch isn’t larger this year as previously believed, all the best Apple Watch bands will be compatible with the Series 7. Last year Apple notably updated its basic silicone band with the Solo Loop option — this year you’ll be able to shop from more Nike and designer options.
Apple Watch 7 display
The Apple Watch 7 display is probably the biggest upgrade of what’s seeming to be a rather incremental refresh. Apple hasn’t changed the Apple Watch’s display borders in several years. But now, the Apple Watch 7’s display is up to 20% bigger than the Apple Watch 6’s. With a tiny 1.7mm bezel, the Apple Watch looks larger, even though the chassis size hasn’t changed.
The Apple Watch 7’s display is also 70% brighter than before. That’s a big claim we’ll need to see ourselves, but last year’s 50% brighter display did make a difference compared to the Apple Watch 5, so we’re optimistic. Not only would this let the Apple Watch 7’s screen hold up better in sunlight — it’ll let you check the time or your latest notification with a more subtle glance than ever.
Apple Watch 7 features
The Apple Watch 7 doesn’t introduce as many new features as we might’ve hoped, but luckily watchOS 8 is on the way with several software upgrades. watchOS 8 introduces support for multiple timers, digital keys, a new Mindfulness app and tracking for Tai Chi and Pilates workout types. See our guide to the 5 underrated features coming to your Apple Watch in watchOS 8 for more examples.
Want to try watchOS 8 now? See how to download the watchOS 8 public beta.
One feature that seems exclusive to the Apple Watch 7, though, is one we’ve had on our wishlist for a while now. Taking advantage of the expanded screen, the Series 7 gets a full keyboard for typing out messages. It’s the one thing we said Apple Watch 7 should steal from the Galaxy Watch 4, so we’re glad it materialized.
Apple Watch 7 battery life
The Apple Watch 7 has the same 18-hour battery life as the Apple Watch Series 6 and Series 5 before it. We would have liked to see some improvement in this area, but we’ll have to hope a better performance and display quality justify the daily charge.
On the bright side, the Apple Watch 7 can charged to full up to 33% faster before with the new USB-C cord that comes in the box. Note that this new charging cord will help other Apple Watch models charge faster, too — it’s not an exclusive benefit of the Apple Watch 7.
Apple Watch 7 outlook
With the Apple Watch 7 not yet out, it’s still too early to make any concrete judgements about the watch. We’re a bit let down by the actual announcement compared to leaks up to now, but that just proves you should always take tech rumors with a grain of salt.
The competition is more convincing than ever: the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and Fitbit Charge 5 are among compelling new Apple Watch alternatives. The display improvements could come as a revelation to existing Apple Watch users, but the lack of true health upgrades and same ‘ole battery life will make us consider this new smartwatch carefully. In the meantime, you might want to check out our Apple Watch 7 vs. Apple Watch SE face-off for buying advice right now.
Bookmark this page for the latest Apple Watch 7 updates. We’ll be tracking availability updates and speculating on the new features until we can test out Apple’s newest smartwatch ourselves.