Apple Watch 7 review

I Ditched My Apple Watch for a Luxury Hybrid Watch

What's happening I normally wear an Apple Watch. But I spent a couple of weeks trying out a hybrid watch called the Withings ScanWatch Horizon. Why it matters Smartwatches aren't cheap. You should know what you're getting for your money, and whether alternatives might be worth investing in.

A great smartwatch should do three things well: prevent you from reaching for your phone as often, track health metrics and look great on your wrist. But not all smartwatches are created equal. Some are better at replacing your phone, while others are designed to look like a regular wristwatch. That sums up the biggest difference between traditional smartwatches (like the Apple Watch) and hybrid smartwatches such as the Withings ScanWatch Horizon, which I recently reviewed.

Conventional smartwatches do a little bit of everything. They're relatively stylish, have plenty of health and activity tracking functionality and are packed with phonelike features such NFC for mobile payments and a speaker and microphone for taking calls. The Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, Fitbit Sense and upcoming Pixel Watch fall into this category.

But hybrid watches usually combine the qualities of analog timepieces and smartwatches, just as the name implies. They tend to look more like regular watches, with traditional faces that have physical hands for the hour and minutes instead of digital numbers. Hybrid watches don't have as many "smart" features, but they typically last longer on a single charge and still pack plenty of health-tracking options.

I prefer traditional smartwatches and usually wear an Apple Watch. But spending a couple of weeks with the $500 Withings ScanWatch Horizon reminded me why hybrid smartwatches can be appealing -- and also how they fall short compared with general-purpose smartwatches.

Read more: Google Pixel Watch: What We Know (and Don't) So Far

Tethered to my phone

I felt more reliant on my phone when switching from the Apple Watch to the ScanWatch Horizon. Withings' hybrid watch can show notifications (like calls, texts and app alerts), and you can also use the watch to set timers and alarms.

But even these basic tasks are easier to accomplish on traditional watches. Since the ScanWatch Horizon only has a small circular screen that occupies a fraction of the watch's face, it's not ideal for reading full notifications. As I wrote in my review, the ScanWatch Horizon's lack of a touch screen and voice controls also made it less convenient to set times and alarms from my wrist.

Lisa Eadicicco/CNET

If you want a smartwatch that can take some of the burden off your phone when it comes to everyday tasks, the ScanWatch probably isn't it. Think of the ScanWatch Horizon as a watch first and a smartwatch second. Even though I don't have my Apple Watch connected to my data plan, it's still a useful surrogate for my phone. I don't have to take my phone out of my pocket for tasks like replying to text messages, browsing news headlines while I'm waiting for the elevator or checking out at the cash register at my local Rite Aid.

That's not the case with the ScanWatch Horizon. I grabbed my phone almost immediately whenever I felt the buzz of a notification. The ScanWatch Horizon feels more like a fashion accessory with built-in health tracking. I loved the way it looked on my wrist, but didn't find myself using the screen for much other than to check the time or start a workout. Most of my engagement happens within the Withings HealthMate app, which provides a breakdown of bodily metrics and activity.

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Read more: How the Apple Watch Can Become an Even Better Fitness Tracker

The ScanWatch Horizon is more limited than the Apple Watch when it comes to mimicking your phone's functionality, but it has a different advantage. With its stainless-steel casing, rotating laser-engraved bezel and analog watch face, the ScanWatch Horizon is one of the most elegant smartwatches you'll find. Not to mention, it's also cheaper than the stainless-steel version of the Apple Watch Series 7, which starts at $700.

Amazing battery life

The Apple Watch may have more smarts, but it can't come close to the ScanWatch Horizon's battery life. Withings claims the ScanWatch Horizon can last for 30 days on a single charge, far outlasting standard smartwatches. In my experience, the ScanWatch Horizon's battery depleted to 35% after a little more than a week. I haven't spent long enough with it to see if it lives up to Withings' 30-day claim, but that's impressive nonetheless.

Lisa Eadicicco/CNET

The Apple Watch Series 7, on the other hand, usually lasts for one to two days on a single charge. But that's also because the Apple Watch has a lot more technology built into it. The OLED color touchscreen alone has a huge impact on the battery compared with the ScanWatch Horizon's tiny display. Some other wearables like the Garmin Venu 2 Plus that also use OLED displays can last up to nine days. It is possible to get more battery life out of today's smartwatches without sacrificing a bright color display.

Both watches go deep on health, but they have different strengths

Screenshot by Lisa Eadicicco/CNET

If there's one area where neither watch compromises, it's health tracking. The ScanWatch Horizon and Apple Watch Series 7 can both measure all of the hallmark health metrics found on high-end smartwatches. That includes electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) measurements -- both watches have FDA clearance for this feature -- and general heart rate data, activity and exercise, sleep and blood oxygen saturation levels. Withings' blood oxygen feature also has FDA clearance, unlike Apple's.

Even though they share many similarities when it comes to health tracking, the smartwatches have their own strengths. Withings, for example, has much more sleep data to offer. You can see a breakdown of how much time you spent in light or deep sleep, average sleeping heart rate and breathing disturbances. It also issues a sleep score that assesses the quality of your sleep, similar to products from Fitbit, Oura and Amazon.

The Apple Watch only shows sleep duration, time spent in bed and sleeping respiratory rate. That information is useful too, but having access to data about my sleep quality helps me understand why I might be feeling tired or energetic in the morning. It also motivates me to hit the sack earlier than usual if my sleep score hasn't been very high lately.

Read more: Galaxy Watch 5 Rumors: Samsung Might Fix Our Battery Complaints

The Apple Watch's design gives it an advantage over the Withings ScanWatch Horizon in a few other areas. It's smaller and lighter, which makes the Apple Watch much more comfortable to wear during workouts and to sleep (although I usually charge my Apple Watch overnight instead). Plus, the Apple Watch has built-in GPS for tracking outdoor runs, while the ScanWatch Horizon must rely on your phone's GPS. The Apple Watch is also more effective at encouraging me to stay active throughout the day since I can customize the display to show my Activity Rings.

The bottom line

Lisa Eadicicco/CNET

The Withings ScanWatch Horizon inherits some of the biggest advantages of analog watches: a classy design and a battery that doesn't need to be charged nightly. It's also a top-notch fitness tracker that doesn't require a subscription to unlock deeper insights like devices from Fitbit and Oura do.

That said, it hasn't convinced me to stray from more traditional smartwatches like the Apple Watch. I value the convenience of being able to verbally ask my watch to start a workout, or respond to texts from my wrist, more than having the best-looking watch. I might have appreciated the ScanWatch Horizon's distinguished design more back in 2013 when smartwatches still looked like this. Now that smartwatches have gotten smaller and lighter and they're more common, they don't seem out of place on your wrist at weddings and dinner parties.

The ScanWatch Horizon is ideal for those who want both a classic watch and a fitness tracker in one device. I could see why some might prefer the ScanWatch Horizon's simplicity, since it means the watch itself is less distracting. But the Apple Watch does a better job of freeing you from your phone, and that matters more to me.

Apple Watch SE vs 7: Differences between the affordable and flagship wearables

The two most recent Apple Watches in the current lineup share a lot of features in common but there are at least eight differences that account for the more expensive Apple Watch Series 7 price. Whether you’re looking for yourself or someone else, read on for Apple Watch SE vs 7 to help you figure out which one to pick.

Below we’ll focus specifically on Apple Watch SE vs 7 but in case you want to see a detailed comparison for Series 7, 6, and SE through Series 3, we’ve got that covered too:

While Apple Watch Series 8 is in the works, it likely won’t arrive until late 2022 alongside the iPhone 14.

Apple Watch SE vs 7

Case and display

Two of the first differences between Apple Watch SE and 7 you’ll notice is that Series 7 has a slightly larger case at 45 and 41mm paired with a noticeably larger display.

The Series 7 display is 17% bigger than the SE and over 50% larger than the Series 3 display.

SE Series 7 Case size 44/40mm 45/41mm Display resolution 368 x 448 (977 sq mm total) 396 x 484 (1143 sq mm total) Display size Over 30% larger than Series 3 Over 50% larger than Series 3 (17% bigger than SE/Series 6) Display type Retina LTPO OLED Retina LTPO OLED Bezel width 3 mm 1.7 mm Brightness Up to 1000 nits Up to 1000 nits Always-on display ❌ ✅

Another difference, Apple Watch SE doesn’t have an always-on display while the Series 7 does (first arrived with Series 5).

All Apple Watch bands fit both the Apple Watch SE and Series 7.

Processor and storage

Interestingly, Apple uses the same 64-bit dual-core processor in the Series 7 that launched in the Series 6. It’s called the “S7” but the processor is the same as the S6.

That means Apple Watch SE only has a processor one year older than Series 7. While the SE will be plenty fast and responsive for most users, Apple says the Series 7 is “up to 20% faster” with the newest processor.

Both the Apple Watch SE and 7 feature 32GB of built-in storage.

SE Series 7 SiP/Processor S5 SiP 64-bit dual-core processor S7 SiP 64-bit dual-core processor U1 (ultra wideband) ❌ ✅ Storage 32GB 32GB

Battery and charging

Battery life is rated the same for Apple Watch SE and 7 at 18 hours.

However, one small detail is that Apple Watch 7 has up to 33% faster charging. Practically speaking, that’s powering up 0-80% in 45 minutes instead of around 60 for the other models.

When using Apple Watch Series 7 for sleep tracking, you also get 8 hours worth of use from an 8-minute charge.

SE Series 7 Battery life Up to 18 hours Up to 18 hours Charging 0-80% in ~60 minutes 0-80% in 45 minutes + 8 min charge = 8 hours sleep tracking

Key features

Here’s a look at the core features you’re getting with Apple Watch SE vs 7. The two main capabilities you’re not getting are the ECG and Blood Oxygen apps.

SE Series 7 ECG app ❌ ✅ Blood Oxygen app ❌ ✅ High/low heart rate notifications ✅ ✅ Water resistant to 50m ✅ ✅ Sleep tracking ✅ ✅ Fall detection ✅ ✅ Emergency SOS ✅ ✅ Compass ✅ ✅ Always-on altimeter ✅ ✅ GPS and Cellular + GPS models ✅ ✅ Family Setup support (for cellular) ✅ ✅

Finishes

Apple Watch SE is only available in aluminum space gray, silver, and gold finishes. Apple Watch Series 7 comes in those plus stainless steel (graphite, silver, gold) and titanium (space black and silver).

That also means Apple Watch SE only comes with Ion-X glass for the display but for Series 7 with stainless steel or titanium models, you get sapphire crystal displays that are somewhat more scratch resistant.

Apple Watch SE vs 7 price

Apple Watch Series 7 comes with a starting price of $399 (often goes for less). Meanwhile, Apple Watch SE starts from $279 but is usually available for less.

Apple Watch SE vs 7 conclusion

Apple Watch SE offers most of the great features of Apple Watch Series 7 at around $120 less.

If you’re okay without the larger always-on display plus the ECG and Blood Pressure apps, and fine sticking with an aluminum finish, Apple Watch SE is probably the best choice.

However, if you want the biggest screen, all of the health features, faster charging, plus options for steel or titanium finishes, you’ll need to go for the Series 7.

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Apple Watch 7 review

The Apple Watch 7's bigger display makes it the most practical version of this smartwatch yet. And we're not just saying that because we love the QWERTY keyboard.

An entirely iPhone-free Apple Watch experience is not a question of if, but when. With its slimmer bezels and bigger displays, the Apple Watch 7 is the most usable standalone smartwatch yet.

Apple’s latest smartwatch is mostly an incremental upgrade from the Apple Watch 6, maintaining an 18-hour battery life, the same CPU and adding no new health features. But the enlarged display is game-changer, and makes it difficult to return to previous-generation models. The Series 7's big screen adapts wearable computing for more everyday applications, making it practical to be productive from your wrist.

Apple Watch 7 specs Starting price: $399

Sizes: 41mm, 45mm

Chipset: S7

Storage: 32 GB

Connectivity: Cellular (optional,) Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, U1

Durability: IPX6

Waterproof: Up to 50 meters

Sensors: Heart rate, ECG, SpO2

From a full QWERTY keyboard and larger calculator buttons to a brighter always-on mode and exclusive watch faces, the Apple Watch 7 offers a tailored version of watchOS 8 you won’t get on the Apple Watch SE or Apple Watch 3, which both remain on sale. Faster charging, greater durability and contemporary case colors are almost afterthoughts, but nonetheless welcome.

This Apple Watch 7 review covers all the changes, from minor to major, that make it best smartwatch you can buy. Be sure to check out our Apple Watch 7 tips and guide on how to use the Apple Watch for more ways to enjoy Apple's smartwatch. We can also tell you the Apple Watch settings to enable right away.

In a few short months, however, we're expecting Apple to launch the Apple Watch 8, which could have new sensors and possibly a newer, flatter design. The upcoming WWDC 2022 on June 6 could give us our first look at WatchOS 9, which could give us a bit more insight into Apple's newest wearable, as well as improvements to the Apple Watch 7.

Apple Watch 7 price and availability

The Apple Watch 7 is available now and starts at $399 for the 41mm model. The larger 45mm model starts at $429. For cellular support, which lets your Apple Watch optionally work untethered from your iPhone, you'll spend $499 for the 41mm size or $529 for the 45mm size.

Stainless steel cases start at $699, while titanium cases start at $799.

Apple Watch 7 review: Design

The Apple Watch 7 features the product's first real redesign since the Apple Watch 4. Given, it's not a major change — the iconic curved squircle holds strong — but it's clear Apple wanted a softer overall aesthetic for its smartwatch.

First, the corners are ever-so-slightly rounder, while the display meshes into the chassis more seamlessly than it does on the Series 6. I probably wouldn't notice these adjustments if I hadn't compared the Apple Watch 7 vs. Apple Watch 6 side-by-side, though. And even with the larger Apple Watch 7 sizes (41mm and 45mm) the smartwatch doesn't actually look bigger to the naked eye. Anyone have a micrometer?

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You can better tell the Series 7 and Series 6 apart by the Apple Watch 7 colors, which are all new. I'm testing the Green model. Midnight is kind of black, with a subtle hint of blue. Starlight is a stunning blend of silver and gold. While Apple offered Blue and Red last year, they're slightly brighter now. If you want more of a neutral metal, you'll need to shop stainless steel or titanium versions. That doesn't bother me, but you're entitled to be particular about how something you wear every day looks.

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The Apple Watch 7 has the same swim-proof rating (up to 50 meters) as previous models, but for the first time is also earned an IP6X certification for dust resistance. I'm hoping this pays off in the kitchen, since I've taken to pasta-making lately and flour simply gets everywhere. Altered geometrics should make the latest Apple Watch more crack-resistant, too, making it a little safer to wear while playing sports.

(Image credit: Future)

Apple Watch 7 review: Display

The display is bigger, and bigger is better. With more screen, the smartwatch is morphing more and more into a mini iPhone for your wrist, and it's awesome. The Apple Watch 7 display is nearly 20% larger than the the Series 6 display, and more than 50% larger than the Series 3 display. The display borders are 40% thinner than before, too.

Check out the display size differences between the Apple Watch 3 (left) vs. Apple Watch SE (center) vs. Apple Watch 7 (right). (Image credit: Apple)

The screen is curved in a way that makes the watch easier to read off-angle and makes edges of UI visible from side. The pour-over effect isn't as evident as the promo videos suggest, but it's noticeable with the new Contour watch face. More on that in the following watchOS 8 section.

Apple Watch Series 7 (left) display in always-on mode compared to the Apple Watch Series 6 (right) in always-on mode. (Image credit: Future)

In addition to smaller bezels and a larger screen, the Apple Watch 7 is 70% brighter in always-on mode. This means you won't see a difference with the face awake direct sunlight, like we did with the Apple Watch 6 vs. Apple Watch 5. Instead, you should be able to see your screen more easily when your wrist isn't raised. I saw a major difference side-by-side with the Series 6.

Apple Watch 7 review: watchOS 8

In the past, Apple's watchOS looked similar across all its smartwatches, minus select apps exclusive to the new hardware inside a given model. Apple Watch 7 doesn't have new sensors, though, so instead the company altered watchOS 8 for a bigger screen. In addition to established features like sleep tracking, cycle tracking (which is why it's one of the best smartwatches for women,) calendar alerts, weather notifications and a Find My app for Apple Watch, watchOS 8 has a few special tricks on the Series 7.

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It's mostly the same UI I've been using for months, with some tweaks. From the control center to the calculator app, buttons are larger all around. Some apps flex clever animations, too, like HomeKit. I especially appreciate the larger Apple Maps UI, which lets you see nearby landmarks more easily.

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And then there's the QWERTY keyboard. I've had an Apple Watch keyboard on my wishlist for literal years. It's even the one thing I said Apple Watch 7 should steal from the Galaxy Watch 4, so I'm thrilled it materialized. It's also something that will prevent me from returning to an older Apple Watch model.

I've been texting away from my wrist practically since I've taken the Apple Watch 7 out of the box. I prefer swiping my words instead of tapping out individual characters, but either method works well. My mom, who has a hard enough time texting without typos on her iPhone (sorry if you see this), could even manage coherent messages using the Apple Watch 7's keyboard.

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I mentioned the dedicated Contour face in the display section. It's sharp-looking, but not that easy to read. I much prefer the new Modular Duo watch face, which lets you stack two large complications on your wrist. The Apple Watch 7-specific Portrait and World Clock faces compliment the large display, too. After seeing the Galaxy Watch 4 come out with combinable faces, I wish the Apple Watch 7 offered a similar degree of customization, but I'm still satisfied with my watch face library.

Apple Watch 7 review: Health and fitness features

Do I think it's odd that the Apple Watch 7 doesn't introduce new wellness features in an age when most people are obsessed with health? Absolutely. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 pushed the boundaries with body composition analysis, and the best Fitbit watches remain rather holistic wellness tools. By skipping out on a health upgrade this year, the Apple Watch risks falling behind the competition.

That said, the Apple Watch is still a reliable fitness tracker and one of the best running watches. It monitors your heart rate, counts your steps and tracks your mileage with GPS, plus offers support for dozens of workout types. It added Tai Chi and automatic outdoor cycling tracking this year, meaning it can detect when you've hopped on your bike and enable a workout. The cycling algorithm has also been adjusted to accommodate metrics for the best electric bikes, which are less strenuous to ride than regular bikes.

(Image credit: Future)

The Apple Watch is my go-to for fitness tracking, though sometimes I’ll also wear one of the best fitness trackers to compare metrics or get access to some activity tools the Apple Watch lacks. A native tabata timer and guided exercises are features found on some of the best Garmin watches and Fitbit watches, for example. Also check out our showdown of the Apple Watch 7 vs. Garmin Instinct 2.

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But when I wore the Apple Watch on a number of outdoor walks and indoor workouts for my Apple Watch 7 workout test, the large display made it a breeze to see my mid-exercise metrics at a glance. I do a lot of heart rate-based training, so the ability to view heart rate zones at all times is key.

The biggest missing feature from the Apple watch is recovery tools. We'd like to see the Apple Watch introduce a rest mode or gives you an earned way to justify taking a day off.

Apple Watch 7 review: Battery life

The Apple Watch Series 7 battery life can last up to two days, but that’s if you pass on popular features. Instead, the 18-hour battery life checked out with daily activity tracking, and always on display and a couple of phone calls answered from my wrist.

Now, the Apple Watch 7 claims to charge 33% faster than the Apple Watch 6, as long as it's charged with the new Magnetic to USB-C charger that comes in the box. (It doesn't come with a wall adapter, though.) But when I charged the Apple Watch 6 with the USB-C cord, it charged nearly as fast. I’ve been documenting charging tests on the Tom’s Guide TikTok account (opens in new tab), which you should go follow if you haven’t already.

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As someone who charges their Apple Watch for small periods of time throughout the day, I do spend less energy worrying whether I have enough juice to go for an outdoor walk or make it through the night. Eight minutes of charging before bed is supposed to get me eight hours of Apple Watch sleep tracking . Guess I don’t really need this $10 Apple Watch accessory to extend battery life anymore.

Apple Watch 7 review: Verdict

We saw it happen with smartphones. Bezels shrank and displays grew until we wound up with the giant phones and phablets we have now. With its bigger screen I can't help but believe the Apple Watch is destined to take a similar path to independence. The smartwatch is already an extension of your iPhone on your wrist, but it's clearly capable of becoming more than an accessory.

It's the top smartwatch choice for anyone with an iPhone, and easily the best Apple Watch ever. The keyboard makes a difference, and if there was finally a time to fully recommend adding Cellular support to your smartwatch, its now.

You should check out how the Apple Watch 7 vs. Apple Watch SE compare if you're torn between Apple's $279 midrange model and the latest-gen smartwatch. And if you're in search of a smartwatch for less, we've devised a list of the best cheap smartwatches overall.