Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: The Greatest But, Apart from One Key Subject – Uplaza

In a nutshell

Samsung raised the worth of its Galaxy Watch smartphones final 12 months. One 12 months later, with the mixing of Galaxy AI, prolonged monitoring features, and a brand new SoC, there are lastly causes to spend extra on the smartwatch.

Whereas the battery life stays too brief for consolation, and you must positively take a more in-depth take a look at the brand new Galaxy Watch Extremely (overview) earlier than shopping for, the Watch 7 continues to be one of the best smartwatch for Samsung followers. We additionally suppose it is likely one of the greatest Android smartwatches ever, so learn on to seek out out why.

Design, Show & Sturdiness

Whereas Samsung set daring accents with the Galaxy Watch Extremely, nearly every part remained the identical with the essential mannequin. Samsung retained the previous chassis and show sizes, though the 2 variants have grown barely in comparison with final 12 months. Due to AMOLED expertise, incredible shows are as soon as once more again in vogue. With 5ATM water resistance and sapphire glass, robustness can also be top-class.

Execs:

• Great construct high quality.
• Razor-sharp, shiny shows.
• Sapphire glass is just not par for the course on this value vary.

Cons:

• Few modifications in comparison with the earlier 12 months.
• No enhancements to the show.
• Digital bezel continues to be a bit fiddly.

Suggestions from Samsung’s prospects relating to the Galaxy Watch’s design appears to have been optimistic in 2023. Samsung is sticking to the design line from earlier years and solely launched a brand new coloration variant — the inexperienced mannequin. Whereas this can be a little boring for expertise journalists who additionally reviewed the Galaxy Watch 6 final 12 months, Samsung followers do not need to get used to it.

In any case, the minimalist design together with Samsung’s high-quality AMOLED panels is sweet sufficient in 2024. The Galaxy Watch 7 could be worn for a truffle kebab dinner someplace posh in addition to in a smoky pub. The colourful decorations on the usual wristband are a matter of non-public choice however as you possibly can see from my images, they’re no less than effectively made.

This assertion could be utilized to your entire case of the Galaxy Watch 7. With tiny gaps and as much as 5 ATM water safety, you possibly can take it within the bathe or for a swim. Whereas Samsung additionally makes use of the identical sapphire glass in essentially the most reasonably priced smartwatch mannequin as within the new Extremely mannequin, this mannequin has a water resistance of 10 ATM.

One other particular function of the Extremely mannequin is the rotating crown, which is already acquainted to Apple Watch followers. With the Galaxy Watch 7, Samsung is sticking to the 2 buttons on the right-hand aspect of the case and on the digital bezel. You may swipe across the exterior space of the round case to scroll by way of menus. This works effectively in on a regular basis use, however is much less handy versus an “actual” management possibility.

Total, the design, show and brightness are the identical. Slightly boring, however Samsung’s watch design stays tried and examined!

Software program & Compatibility

Our Galaxy Watch overview unit ran on One UI 6 for the Watch model as of September 2024 and featured the June 1, 2024 safety patch. Samsung is bringing the “Galaxy AI” AI engine to the smartwatch as a serious innovation. In on a regular basis use, nonetheless, the working system based mostly on Google’s WearOS proved its price primarily attributable to its excessive degree of expandability, big selection of features, and intuitive menu navigation.

Execs:

• Excessive expandability due to Put on OS.
• Galaxy AI integration is an innovation.
• Intuitive operation and clear menu navigation.

Cons:

• Extraordinarily many notifications by default.
• Some features can solely be used with Samsung telephones.
• Not suitable with Apple’s iOS.

As is the case with many producers, Samsung’s motto in 2024 is: How will we get “AI” as a buzzword on as a lot product packaging as attainable? The magic phrase is “Galaxy AI” and is likely one of the main improvements in OneUI 6.0 (overview). Within the Watch model, Samsung will primarily introduce new AI health features, which I’ll dive into in better element later.

The graphical person interface of the working system has additionally been optimized. Identical to final 12 months, OneUI Watch is likely one of the most stunning smartwatch working programs. What I significantly appreciated about it, other than the gorgeous menus and animations, is the constant working idea. Menus could be closed in the identical means 90 % of the time, swipe gestures do not out of the blue tackle completely different features while you’re wading knee-deep within the working system and it is very easy to adapt to.

To optimize my person expertise, nonetheless, I finally restricted the notifications that aggravated me, particularly throughout sports activities. I have been utilizing the Whoop 4.0 for a very long time (learn our overview), which was significantly spectacular as a immobile wristband in on a regular basis life. With out customization, the Galaxy Watch 7 despatched far an excessive amount of info to my wrist. Why do I wish to know that I’ve already been biking for 4 minutes? Nicely …

What I discovered very annoying on this overview, nonetheless, is that the Galaxy Watch 7 can also be not suitable with Apple’s iOS. Even with an Android smartphone, some features akin to distant management of the digicam stay unique to Samsung’s ecosystem. Remaining inside Samsung’s ecosystem naturally turns into extra fascinating. Nevertheless, I’ve at all times discovered the “walled garden” idea as an open door to criticism.

Expertise & Monitoring

Pulse measurement, temperature measurement, blood oxygen degree, and even blood measurement and an ECG -with its BioActive sensor, Samsung affords the widest vary of features on this planet of smartwatch sensors. Whereas there’s a new function right here with AGE measurement, Samsung can also be upgrading this timepiece from a technical perspective: the SoC used affords extra energy than within the earlier mannequin.

Execs:

• Excessive variety of monitoring features.
• Nice wealth of data within the Samsung Well being app.
• LTE assist and nice SoC efficiency.

Cons:

• Blood strain measurement and EEG assist just for Samsung telephones.
• Auto-tracking typically delivers extraordinarily fragmented exercises.
• Not suitable with exterior sensors.

Earlier than we dive into the monitoring features collectively, I would really like to check out the Galaxy Watch 7’s {hardware}. Samsung offered me with the LTE model for my overview. For a further $50, you possibly can arrange an eSIM and function the Galaxy Watch independently of your smartphone.

The seventh Galaxy Watch era makes use of Samsung’s personal Exynos W1000 SoC, which was manufactured utilizing the three nm course of. Within the fundamental mannequin, it’s supported by 2 GB of RAM. Music, images and different knowledge could be saved on 32 GB of inside reminiscence, of which solely 21.1 GB is definitely accessible. Which means the Galaxy Watch 7 is by no means inferior to the Extremely mannequin. That is nice to listen to!

Monitoring features for sports activities

The Galaxy Watch 7 affords over 100 completely different exercises that may be tracked instantly on the wrist. Due to the twin GPS module, the smartwatch can file the space lined, together with pacing and modifications in altitude. On the very least, it constantly data the center charge and classifies it in keeping with personalised coronary heart charge zones. What I discovered to be actually sensible in on a regular basis life was the auto-tracking.

The Galaxy Watch 7 mechanically acknowledges actions and data a motorcycle trip to the workplace as a exercise. This offers an excellent general impression of all of the efforts you make to reside every day actively. Nevertheless, it’s annoying the watch usually fragments of data when automated. For example, it ends one exercise and begins a brand new one when you find yourself caught on the site visitors lights. This ends in chaos within the Samsung Well being app.

Along with every day biking actions, I primarily used the Galaxy Watch 7 to trace my runs as I used to be coaching for a marathon in the course of the overview length. Right here, the inner GPS of the watch deviated barely from the GPS of my iPhone 13 mini. Throughout a 30 km run, the watch deviated by a whole kilometer. For the reason that iPhone’s GPS is definitely topic to fluctuations, I would not see this as a serious level of criticism.

The recording of the center charge labored fairly reliably. There are solely small variations right here in comparison with my Whoop 4.0, which I used as a reference level in the course of the overview till it gave up the ghost. What Samsung additionally affords are values that inform me about my working method. It’s fascinating to see my contact time with the bottom and cadence when working. For a exact evaluation, nonetheless, I might advocate exterior {hardware} that does not carry out measurements by way of the wrist.

The truth that this can’t be related to the Galaxy Watch 7 or the Samsung Well being app is one other main level of criticism for Samsung. Garmin smartwatches, for instance, do that a lot better.

Sleep monitoring and restoration monitoring

After all, the Galaxy Watch 7 doesn’t cease recording knowledge about your physique after a exercise. Right here, Samsung affords distinctive options akin to physique composition measurement, blood strain measurement and, most lately, a classification of “Advanced Glycation Endproducts”. The latter are produced when carbohydrates react with the physique’s personal proteins and will permit conclusions to be drawn a couple of wholesome way of life.

It is rather fascinating to view and analyze these values. I definitely suppose that they will inspire individuals to steer a extra energetic and wholesome way of life. Nevertheless, I might solely ever see them as pattern or guideline values. When you have pre-existing circumstances or wish to use the watch to observe your blood strain, I might advise in opposition to it. On this case, Huawei affords the Watch D (overview), a mannequin that has an built-in blood strain cuff. Even so, a correct medical system is at all times higher.

Again to the Galaxy Watch 7! Along with the builders of the “Sleep Cycle” app, it affords added worth with regards to sleep monitoring. Whereas sleep phases and blood oxygen ranges could be conveniently tracked within the morning, Samsung can even detect the presence of harmful sleep apnea. You place the smartphone on the bedside desk and it makes use of the microphone to detect whether or not you expertise respiratory interruptions at evening attributable to loud night breathing.

Samsung bundles the restoration values, to which respiratory workout routines, a stress monitor and extra are added, within the new “Energy Score”. This means your restoration and could be very useful when planning exercises for the day. As a Whoop person, I personally love utilizing these sorts of “readiness” features however there’s nonetheless a giant downside with the Galaxy Watch 7 …

Battery & Charging

… the battery life! The Galaxy Watch 7 typically solely lasted a couple of day within the overview. Nevertheless, in keeping with the producer, it ought to final 40 hours with out the All the time-On Show enabled and 30 hours with AOD. No less than the charging time is brief at round one hour utilizing the equipped charging dongle. Due to Qi charging, the Watch 7 can be charged wirelessly.

Execs:

• Charging time of round one hour is appropriate for on a regular basis use.
• Wi-fi charging is supported.

Cons:

• Must be charged every day …
• … which limits seamless monitoring.
• Vitality-saving mode is just not actually efficient.

Regardless of that includes simpler processors, Samsung is caught with a one-day battery life in its smartwatches. My person habits entails every day monitoring of exercises and a moderately low use of the sensible features, making the producer’s specs of 30 to 40 hours fairly far off a practical take a look at case. Though charging is fast and simple due to the magnetic charging puck and quick charging, this bothered me immensely in the course of the overview.

After a day of monitoring a couple of skilled bike rides and recording 10 – 15 km of working coaching within the night, the Galaxy Watch 7 is certainly empty within the night. When nightfall fell and I had a social occasion to take care of, Camila laughed at me with the Galaxy Watch Extremely on her wrist as my mannequin had run out of energy regardless of my makes an attempt to save lots of vitality. The Mobvoi TicWatch Professional 5 Enduro (overview) or the Amazfit T-Rex 3 (overview) additionally provide longer working instances. I must cost them beforehand for sleep monitoring and by doing so, I needed to wait an hour.

In different phrases, I usually charged the watch in a single day which led to lacking out on essential health info akin to sleep high quality or the brand new AGE monitoring. After all, I am used to the four-day battery lifetime of the Whoop 4.0 however I discover it actually annoying to cost a smartwatch every single day!

Technical Specs

Conclusion