Samsung’s smartwatches have long been the benchmark for Android smartphone accessories. The new Galaxy Watch7 was expected to surpass its predecessor and raise the bar for the competition. However, things didn’t go quite as planned. Discover the details in this Hi-Tech Mail review.
Release Date of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7:
The new generation of Samsung smartwatches was unveiled on July 10, 2024, at the large Galaxy Unpacked 2024 conference. Alongside the “regular” Galaxy Watch7, the top-tier Galaxy Watch Ultra was also introduced.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 Price:
The 40mm Samsung Galaxy Watch7 starts at $300. While the larger 44mm model starts at $329. However, it is already possible to find options on marketplaces that are slightly cheaper.
Technical Specifications of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7:
We have compiled the specifications of the basic version of the watch in a table, which will be discussed in the review.
| Display | 1.3 inches, Super AMOLED, 432 x 432, touch |
| Processor | Exynos W1000 |
| Memory | 2 GB of RAM 32 GB of ROM |
| Sensors | BioActive sensor, accelerometer, barometer, bioimpedance analysis sensor, drop detection sensor, illumination sensor, temperature sensor, ECG sensor, geomagnetic sensor, gyroscope, heart rate optical sensor, pulse meter, pedometer |
| Communication | eSIM (3G / 4G / LTE), Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, navigation — Beidou / Galileo / GLONASS / GPS |
| Battery | 300 mAh |
| OS | Wear OS with Samsung One UI shell |
| Corps | 40.4 x 40.4 x 9.7 mm, weight 28.8 g |
Samsung Galaxy Watch7 Review:
I bought this watch for personal use and tested it in various scenarios. I checked the battery life, explored health monitoring features, evaluated the ergonomics of the gadget, and compared it with the previous generation, the Galaxy Watch6
Design and ergonomics:
Externally, the new model doesn’t stand out much, especially when compared to competitors from popular Chinese brands. The Galaxy Watch7 has a neat round case without any flashy elements like dials, notches, patterns, or other frills. And that’s great.
The watch looks good on any wrist and is unlikely to ruin your outfit. It suits everyone, from a university student to an athlete or a successful entrepreneur driving a Mercedes.
The strap is thick but flexible, of good quality, with a slightly velvety surface. It’s immediately clear that the watch isn’t cheap. The attachment is standard, and the width is also 20 millimeters, so your collection of colorful straps from AliExpress will still be in demand for a long time.
Replacing the standard strap is a breeze; there’s no need to pull on a tiny clasp like with most smartwatches. Just press the elongated button on the back. But all the excitement fades when you compare the Galaxy Watch 7 to the previous Watch 6. Surprisingly, the old watch seems more interesting to me. The first reason is the case. In the Samsung Galaxy Watch6, the screen blends seamlessly with the case, as both elements are black. Therefore, the previous generation seems lighter and sportier.
In the new watch, the case is completely colored silver, dark green, or pale gold. This makes it obvious that the screen isn’t recessed but rises a whole millimeter above the metal. In my opinion, it’s unattractive and impractical. In the previous generation, this was camouflaged… And in the new model, they could have placed the screen flush with the case. Why skimp on aluminum, Samsung?
The second feature relates to the strap. In the previous generation, it was smooth and practical. In the Galaxy Watch7, it’s textured with some inserts, presumably made of fabric. Such a strap rubs a bit more against the sleeve of a shirt or sweater. There are also concerns about the durability of the colored “threads.” Will they retain their presentable appearance after five months? No one knows. Fortunately, the straps of the Watch 6 and Watch 7 are interchangeable.
Screen:
The display of the Galaxy Watch7 is superb—it’s a Super AMOLED touchscreen panel with a resolution of 432×432 pixels, high brightness up to 2000 nits, rich colors, and a quality oleophobic coating. The screen surface is protected by sapphire glass. The same display was used in the Galaxy Watch6, and since I bought it, there hasn’t been a single scratch on it—the paint on the case may have chipped, but the display remained unscathed. The screen settings include many useful options. For example, you can change the font style, set activation by tap or wrist raise, enable Always On Display, activate features for people with visual impairments, and increase touchscreen sensitivity. This option is especially relevant in winter—you can operate the Samsung Galaxy Watch7 without taking off your gloves. The accuracy of the response suffers, but it’s better than having frostbitten fingers.
The cool feature that sets Samsung watches apart from competitors hasn’t gone anywhere—the touch-sensitive bezel. The rim around the screen is touch-sensitive. The same option was in the Galaxy Watch6—it’s great that the new generation hasn’t abandoned it. The touch bezel is convenient for switching between widget cards with information on weather, alarms, and physical activity metrics. The haptic feedback quality is excellent—pleasant “taps” on the fingertip remind me of the haptic motor in the iPhone and other flagship smartphones.
However, it’s disappointing that the Classic version is missing from the current generation of smartwatches. It featured not a touch bezel but a mechanical one, which additionally protected the display from bumps and scratches. Many users preferred the “physical” navigation method over the touch-sensitive one. Should we expect the announcement of the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic next year?
Software, activity tracking, and connectivity:
You can connect the watch to any Android smartphone; you don’t have to own a Galaxy S24. However, to work with the Galaxy Watch7, you’ll need two apps: Health and Wearable. Wearable allows you to connect the watch and customize its interface. Health stores the gadget’s usage statistics: data on workouts, steps taken, water intake, sleep, stress levels, and more. It’s unusual to see two apps instead of one, but there’s a plus—they’re not overloaded. Each performs a specific set of functions, so you won’t get lost in their menus.
The watch operates on Wear OS with the Samsung One UI skin. It’s the software that makes the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 a true smartwatch, not just a fitness tracker with inflated features. The Google Play Store is integrated directly into the firmware, and it offers a wide range of apps: email clients, task planners, voice recorders, and sports services. For example, you can install WhatsApp, Spotify, Shazam, or Spotify. The workout options are solid, and some are even automatically detected—for example, every 10 minutes, the watch recognizes the wearer’s walking and records it as exercise. I also liked how the gadget tracks swimming sessions: I didn’t notice any discrepancies between the real distance, pulse, and other metrics during the workout. By the way, you don’t have to worry about the watch’s safety in water: the Galaxy Watch 7 is IP68 certified.
Health monitoring goes beyond basic functions like counting calories, steps, or blood oxygen levels. Sleep quality monitoring is impressively implemented. There’s even sleep apnea detection, and the watch regularly offers a program to improve nighttime rest. You can also set a special watch face with a clear graph of recent sleep, along with an animal whose sleep type matches yours. I have a lion—which is good, as this archetype is assigned to people with healthy sleep habits. But the “Nervous Penguin” rating is a sign to pay attention to sleep deprivation, high stress, and tension throughout the day.
The connectivity is top-notch, as expected from advanced watches. There’s literally everything—Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, as well as location tracking using modern navigation systems like Galileo, GLONASS, GPS, and Beidou. There’s also SIM support—the watch can function as a standalone communication device and receive calls. Additionally, it’s worth noting that the Galaxy Watch 7 now has 32 GB of internal memory instead of the predecessor’s 16 GB. You can download many more watch faces and both useful and not-so-useful apps.
Battery:
The battery capacity for the model with a 1.3-inch screen is 300 mAh, the same as in the previous generation. However, the Galaxy Watch 7 lasts longer than its predecessor. Not by much, but still. This is likely due to the more energy-efficient processor.
For example, with Always On Display turned off but notifications, alarms, heart rate monitoring, automatic workout detection, sleep assessment, and weather forecasting enabled, the Galaxy Watch7 lasts about 32 to 34 hours. The actual time depends on how often I interacted with the watch, unlocked the screen, and viewed notifications outdoors—meaning with increased brightness. In my experience, the Samsung gadget almost always lasts 1.5 days, and with economical use, you might not need to charge the Watch 7 for two days.
However, there is a significant drawback to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, which the company itself attributes to the new biometric sensor design. The previous Watch6 could be placed on the back of a Samsung smartphone with reverse wireless charging enabled, allowing you to recharge the gadget if needed. Now, reverse wireless charging is almost useless: the Watch7 isn’t compatible even with Samsung smartphones, let alone devices from other brands. And this isn’t a mistake by an inattentive reviewer; it’s the company’s official stance.
This decision greatly reduces the appeal of the new watch. You’ll have to carry the original charging cradle with you. Moreover, it disrupts the seamless image of a unified ecosystem that the brand has built. I bet this annoying flaw will be corrected in the next generation—otherwise, fans simply won’t understand.
Conclusion:
Is It Worth Buying the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7?
These are excellent smartwatches, but they’re overpriced at launch. After all, you can buy the previous generation, which isn’t far behind the new model. And in some aspects, it even surpasses it: charging the Galaxy Watch6 is easier, it looks more elegant, and it also has a version with a mechanical bezel. So why not save a few thousand rubles? On the other hand, the Galaxy Watch7 boasts increased memory, slightly better battery life, and additional features in the firmware, for some, that will be enough. Plus, we shouldn’t forget the “newness effect,” which will attract potential buyers.
Apart from the obvious wirewash, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is good—fast, and comfortable, with quality materials, an excellent screen, well-designed software, and support for applications from Google Play.
If you have the sixth generation in your hands, I would not advise updating right now. One has to either wait for the price of a novelty to drop… Or be patient before the release of the eighth version of Galaxy Watch. But here you can go to Watch 7 from the fifth or fourth generation—it will be a good upgrade.