Apple Watch Series 7 Australian review: There’s one big reason to upgrade your smart watch this year

A minor makeover has added features that make Apple’s Watch 7 highly desirable technology.

Apple’s seventh generation smart watch will arrive in Australian stores on October 15.

There’s one major change to Apple’s new smart watch that could make the difference between holding on to your old device and buying a new one, but it’s not obvious until you see one in person.

The screen boost to Apple’s seventh generation watch doesn’t sound significant but it’s likely to change the way you see and read alerts all day.

It’s also the kind of improvement that, after witnessing it, you can’t help but think about ditching a trusty old Series 3 Watch. But other new additions are more modest this year.

So do you need to upgrade your wearable tech or can you keep it ticking until 2022? We’ve been trying the Apple Watch 7 before its October 15 launch to find out.

THE BIG SMALL SCREEN

It’s easy to underestimate the impact of the Apple Watch 7’s screen update on paper but it’s much harder to deny in person. The new display has taken a bigger leap forward than specifications indicate alone.

Apple has boosted the size of its smart watch screen this year, making the seventh generation Watch screen much larger than the third.

Its form may be just 1mm larger but the screen has spread closer to the edge of the watch, creating a bigger canvas for watch faces, notifications and messages.

Even if you choose to see bigger, bolder text – and there are several new font options – it will all fit on the screen.

The extra display real estate is incredibly handy when exercising. There is less squinting involved in checking your distance, pulse rate, and the calories you’ve burnt at a glance, even when sweat is running down your face.

Apple has made its buttons bigger and you’ll find this calculator watch easier to use. The new screen makes it seem like this watch is much bigger.

Apple unveiled its Apple Watch Series 7 will land in Australian stores on October 15.

While this addition could be tempting even last year’s buyers, it’s likely to impact watch owners still hanging on to their Series 3 models the most.

The new smart watch display is 50 per cent larger than the screen on that model, and blows it away in side-by-side comparisons.

WATCHING ITS WEIGHT

The newest Apple Watch, like many of us in 2021, has bulked up. Each model has added 1mm to the size of its case, making the watch available in 41 and 45mm sizes, and has put on as much as 2.3g more weight. This isn’t noticeable on your wrist, however.

The shape of Apple’s timepiece has also changed but it’s subtle with its corners featuring a gentler curve.

Apple Watch Series 7 features a slightly larger, heavier body.

SMALL BUT MIGHTY EXTRAS

This Apple Watch adds a host of low-profile improvements. If you try to send a message, you’ll find a Qwerty keyboard you can use to tap or swipe out some text.

Apple’s new World Time watch face for the Apple Watch 7.

The Watch 7 is now dustproof to IP6X, a jump on its predecessor, and there are three new watch faces.

It also powers up faster – Apple promises a 33 per cent boost – and aluminium models are available in five colours including green and blue.

WHAT’S MISSING?

The battery life will still only last a day, and you might need a second top-up if you track your sleep. The harder-to-scratch crystal sapphire finish is also still only available on pricier models, and there’s no 5G option or extra health addition.

APPLE WATCH 7 VERDICT

Its makeover is minor in some respects but this year’s Apple Watch is better and more useful than the last. The seventh generation screen should be enough to justify a purchase for buyers with older Apple Watches, and the addition of a full-sized keyboard and faster charging could seal the deal.

Apple Watch upgrades could be on the cards for some.