The new look catches the eye only to a limited extent.The differences are in the detail: Apple has let the display grow, made its edges considerably narrower, the effect increases due to the even more rounded corners of the housing.I forget after just a few hours that the case actually has a millimeter in both models - from 40 to 41 mm and 44 to 45 mm.Only when I put on my old Series 5 for a comparison does it affect me as if out of nowhere: the edges of my old watch suddenly look huge.Despite almost the same large housing, I have the feeling of switching from a little one to a large model.But only in direct comparison.
Neue Produkt-KategorienApple macht sich bereit für die Zeit nach dem iPhone New and in color
The fact that the watch is still suitable as an immediate eye -catcher is due to the new colors.After Apple rely on classic watch tones such as gold and black for years, they were presented with red and blue for the first time last year with red and blue.And seems to have found taste on it.Not only is there a new, very chic green tone, with the exception of the red model, all other colors were also changed significantly than was the case with the predecessors.
So the blue now shines brighter, instead of a clear silver or gold, there is the new tone star light in the aluminum model, a silver with a light gold gloss.My test device in midnight, on the other hand, is the blackest Apple Watch that ever existed.The new color is significantly darker than the previous space gray.Only when I look closely, I recognize in the right lighting that the supposed black is actually a very, very dark blue tone.A very chic effect.
This makes the choice of the corresponding volume surprisingly difficult.Despite the new housing, all older bracelets of the predecessors continue to fit for the corresponding housing size.With the midnight-colored test model, however, I suddenly have to consider the very dark case when choosing a color and on the other hand, when I choose another band.Of course, this also applies to the other colors.Anyone who has many ligaments from the predecessors should consider the choice of colors when buying.
A real ray of hope
The display itself also makes me look more.There are two reasons for this: The new design has brought Appleknapp 20 percent more scenes out of the housing, and the screen is now considerably lighter than in the previous model.Both in normal operation and when the clock changes to Always-on mode.The latter in particular is extremely useful: you can now read the clock even better without lifting your arm and "waking up" the display.Especially with classic watch watch faces, the Apple Watch 7 can read itself well even when it is almost completely turned away from the eyes.
The grown image surface of the watch itself also brings advantages, as large as with the first display enlargement in the Apple Watch Series 4, they are not canceled.The new Watchface "Modular Duo" allows for the first time to accommodate two full complications in the infograph, but you lose space for four smaller complications.It is also nice that text content such as SMS now shows a few more lines, but it is not a revolution.And watching photos - unlike Apple advertised - still not really fun on the grown display.After all, the iPhone is rarely far away with its larger screen.
Unfortunately, one of the most useful innovations in Germany can only be used very limited: Apple was the first Apple Watch to donate a full keyboard.Once activated, it can be used in all text input fields as an option next to the insert or the dictation function.Instead of tapping everything, Siri tries to make suitable suggestions based on the context and the input, which also worked well in the test.Unfortunately there is a big catch: Because of the suggestions, the keyboard is only available for a few languages, including English and simplified Chinese.Everyone else can cumbersome the keyboard via the language settings because it wants to correct all entries in the set language, but it still makes very little sense.The good news: Because it is a pure software feature, Apple can submit the German keyboard at any time.When that happens is unfortunately still open.
Rapid loader with short breath
While the real advantages of the new display are limited, it has a very clear disadvantage: the battery life is noticeable.As with the predecessors, Apple promises a whole day of use.But while this has always been exceeded generously in the past, unfortunately it is not the case with Series 7.Once the Always-on display is switched on, it is not even possible to think about a full second day, even without sport, the clock can no longer show half the load in the evening.Interestingly, this does not seem to be on the lighter Always-on mode: While my Series 5 with dark display almost always creates a second day with a dark display, the Series 7 is usually in this mode in the early evening of the second dayPust out.
The rather sunken term can be overturned by another innovation: the first Apple Watch can be charged Series 7 faster.And that really noticeable: If I hang the watch on the cable for a quarter of an hour, the battery display is always sneaked up by 30 to 40 percent - so at least half a day of use.This is impressive.
Modern cable layer
But this does not work with each power supply: the quick -color function only works with the new charging cable that is included in the watch.And even then unfortunately only with the new watch: my older clock on the new cable continues to load at the normal pace, here only 15 to 20 percent are in a quarter of an hour.
Unfortunately, the cable has another trunk: Instead of the USB-2 connector usual at the Watch, it now relies on the modern standard USB-C.Apple does not attach a corresponding power supply.So if you don't have such, you have to buy it.Or do it elsewhere: For me, the cable could also be used on the USB C socket of a notebook and nevertheless invited at turbo speed.In the future, the waiver of USB-2 will become an advantage anyway: more and more devices are on USB-C, in the next few years the USB 2 power supplies should rather become rarity.However, the changeover should still be conscious.
New outside, known inside
Little has happened inside the watch.The new S7 chip largely resembles that of the predecessor model, the innovations are primarily used to fire the larger display.That's okay: Even the Series 5 did not feel slow at any moment, processor -intensive apps such as games or image calculation will hardly play a role in the iPhone.With the exception of possible battery improvements, the watch would not bring a speed of speed.Unlike the latest iPhones, the Apple Watch still does not support the modern 5G mobile radio standard.This is forgivable because the fast internet connection on the watch still has little advantage.
It's a shame that nothing has changed in the sensors compared to the Apple Watch Series 6.The new model naturally offers all health functions introduced so far, such as the measurement of the blood oxygen saturation introduced last year, including older functions such as warnings with irregularities in the heart rhythm or creation.Newly added improvements such as the automatic detection of cycling work extremely reliably and are very welcome, but like the tracking of Pilates and Tai-Chi, they also come to the older models via software update.They are not good as a reason for the purchase.
Only athletes who sometimes require their watch get more: Thanks to the new design and the materials used, the Apple Watch Series 7 is more robust than ever, Apple promises.The glass is more frivolous, the housing is better protected from scratches.In fact, even after two weeks of wearing in the forest, on the playground and sporting sports, the watch looks like new.In addition, the Series 7 is the first watch according to IP6X.
Conclusion: Apple in competition with itself
The new Series 7 is undoubtedly the best Apple Watch so far.The larger display is extremely bright, the new design looks chic and the quick charging function makes it easier to only briefly refuel the watch.This even weighs the disadvantage that she really has to go to the electricity every day.As far as the combination of sports tracking, usability and smartwatch functions are concerned, Apple's watch has so far remained without real competitors.
And that is actually your biggest problem - if you want to call it that: The old Apple Watches are too good to pronounce an unrestricted purchase recommendation.The differences in Series 7 to the predecessors are available, but actually not so big that they justify a changeover.For everyone who has an Apple Watch 5 or younger, there is very little incentive to use the new model.Even the Apple Watch 4 should still be enough for most, but there are enough innovations to justify the upgrade with the now larger Always-on display, the revised pulse knife with blood saturation measurement and the improved altimeter over the years to justify the upgrade.
If you buy your first smartwatch or have an older Apple Watch, you don't have to think long: The Apple Watch Series 7 is clearly the best smartwatch on the market.There are alternatives for athletes, such as the Polar Grit X Pro or the Garmin Fenix 6.However, both are inferior to Apple in the smartwatch functions.The best smartwatch for Android users is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4.
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