In the rapidly growing and evolving world of smartwatches, no one can match Apple. The California-based tech giant’s Apple Watch series has come to define the public’s expectations of a smartwatch, both in terms of design and functionality. The brand is focused on continually improving the series as it aims to maintain its market share among an ever-expanding field of competitors. The latest in the series, the Apple Watch Series 7, offers a striking overhaul of the series’ iconic rectangular design, with a focus on durability, ease of use, watch face sizes, and a wider range of finishes than ever before.
Like Rolex, Apple Watch case designs tend to evolve with small refinements rather than complete rethinks, but by the brand’s standards, the Apple Watch Series 7 case is a big departure from its predecessor. While retaining the same rounded rectangular silhouette, the aluminum or stainless steel case has been enlarged from 40mm and 44mm long options to 41mm and 45mm long, which should give it a slightly firmer stance on the wrist. The sides of the case have also been subtly redesigned, with smooth, pebble-like, continuous curves that flow seamlessly into the newly reshaped sapphire crystal all the way to the caseback. This new, thicker crystal is one of the biggest advancements for the Apple Watch Series 7, not only making it more impact-resistant than the Series 6, but also allowing the Series 7 to be IP6X certified for dust resistance. Apple claims the Series 7 is “swim-proof” with a water resistance of 50 meters, but one should be careful with this claim. But where the new crystal really looks to excel is in combination with the new enlarged Always-On Retina dial. Thanks to the reduced size of the inner bezel, the dial and crystal create a Ressence-esque wraparound effect, with elements of the dial bleeding into the side of the case for a dramatic, futuristic look. Apple is offering the Apple Watch Series 7 in both stainless steel and fully recycled aluminum case options. The stainless steel model continues the clean, polished look of the previous generation with exposed stainless steel, graphite gray-tone and deep, muted gold-tone options. Meanwhile, the recycled aluminum model will be offered in five new matte-blasted colors. These colors range from exposed aluminum to black, a deep, desaturated hunter green, a vibrant anodized sea blue and the brand’s deep ruby-hued (PRODUCT)RED color.
The Always-On Retina watch face also receives a significant update on the Apple Watch Series 7, with a 70 percent brighter display for discreet viewing of the time when indoors with the wrist down. Apple is also taking full advantage of the new watch faces, which have 20 percent more surface area than the Series 6, to offer a variety of new watch face options. This includes simpler, more user-friendly updates, such as two larger font sizes for text, larger touchscreen buttons for easier navigation, and a new QWERTY keyboard with Apple’s QuickPath system for sliding, one-finger typing. Apple is also adding several entirely new watch faces, including new watch faces for the Apple Watch Nike and Apple Watch Hermès, a new world time face, and a new Modular Duo design that adds two new center complications. But most impressive of all are the new Contour watch face options. With dynamic Arabic numerals that extend to the edges of the dial, highlighting the new crystal wraparound effect and bold to highlight the current time, this new display concept takes advantage of the new features of Series 7.
Apple’s updates to the smartwatch module within the Apple Watch Series 7 are relatively minor compared to the cosmetic updates. That said, the brand is strengthening its environmental commitment by using 100% recycled rare earth elements for all magnets throughout the watch, including the intricate Taptic Engine. Charging speeds are also 33% faster than the Series 6, with the Apple Watch Series 7 offering 18 hours of rechargeable battery life on a full charge. While the hardware improvements may be small, the software on the Apple Watch Series 7 has undergone a major change with the debut of Apple’s watchOS 8 operating system. The watchOS 8 system brings enhancements to Apple’s native apps across the board, but the biggest update is for the Apple Watch Series 7’s suite of workout features. The Apple Watch Series 7 introduces a new Mindfulness app for guided meditations, as well as new Tai Chi and Pilates workout tracking options. Cyclists, however, will get the most workout updates, with a full suite of GPS, heart rate, accelerometer, and gyroscope data automatically notifying wearers when they’ve started riding and prompting them to begin a tracked workout. The cycling workout tracking feature on Apple Watch Series 7 is also newly optimized for e-bike riders, and a new fall detection algorithm can determine when a cyclist has suffered a hard fall and automatically call emergency services if the wearer remains motionless for one minute after impact.
Apple Watch Series 7 also offers a variety of new strap options while maintaining compatibility with all existing Apple Watch straps. For example, the Apple Watch Nike’s Sport Loop woven strap gets a major refresh in three new color ways, with the Nike Swoosh logo integrated directly into the weave. Apple Watch Hermès also gets two new strap options, including the Circuit H strap with the brand’s printed anchor chain pattern and the luxurious Gourmette Double Tour double-wrap leather strap with a dramatic chain link design inspired by 1930s Hermès colors.
With a significant redesigned look, new workout features and more robust construction, Apple Watch Series 7 is a bold step forward for the world’s most popular smartwatch. Apple Watch Series 7 will be available from authorized resellers in late fall 2021, starting at $399 MSRP. For more information, visit the brand’s website.
