Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: The Finest But, Apart from One Key Difficulty – Uplaza

In a nutshell

Samsung raised the worth of its Galaxy Watch smartphones final yr. One yr later, with the mixing of Galaxy AI, prolonged monitoring capabilities, 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 undoubtedly take a more in-depth have a look at the brand new Galaxy Watch Extremely (assessment) earlier than shopping for, the Watch 7 remains to be one of the best smartwatch for Samsung followers. We additionally assume it is likely one of the finest Android smartwatches ever, so learn on to search out out why.

Design, Show & Sturdiness

Whereas Samsung set daring accents with the Galaxy Watch Extremely, virtually every little thing remained the identical with the fundamental mannequin. Samsung retained the outdated chassis and show sizes, though the 2 variants have grown barely in comparison with final yr. Because of AMOLED expertise, implausible shows are as soon as once more again in vogue. With 5ATM water resistance and sapphire glass, robustness can be top-class.

Execs:

• Fantastic construct high quality.
• Razor-sharp, vivid shows.
• Sapphire glass is just not par for the course on this worth vary.

Cons:

• Few adjustments in comparison with the earlier yr.
• No enhancements to the show.
• Digital bezel remains to be just a little fiddly.

Suggestions from Samsung’s prospects concerning 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 shade variant — the inexperienced mannequin. Whereas this can be a little boring for expertise journalists who additionally reviewed the Galaxy Watch 6 final yr, Samsung followers do not should get used to it.

In any case, the minimalist design together with Samsung’s high-quality AMOLED panels is nice sufficient in 2024. The Galaxy Watch 7 will 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 may see from my pictures, they’re at the very least effectively made.

This assertion will be utilized to the whole case of the Galaxy Watch 7. With tiny gaps and as much as 5 ATM water safety, you may take it within the bathe or for a swim. Whereas Samsung additionally makes use of the identical sapphire glass in essentially the most inexpensive 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 possibly can swipe across the outdoors space of the round case to scroll by menus. This works effectively in on a regular basis use, however is much less handy versus an “actual” management choice.

General, the design, show and brightness are the identical. A bit boring, however Samsung’s watch design stays tried and examined!

Software program & Compatibility

Our Galaxy Watch assessment 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 significant innovation. In on a regular basis use, nonetheless, the working system based mostly on Google’s WearOS proved its value primarily because of its excessive degree of expandability, wide selection of capabilities, 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 capabilities can solely be used with Samsung telephones.
• Not appropriate 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 doable? The magic phrase is “Galaxy AI” and is likely one of the main improvements in OneUI 6.0 (assessment). Within the Watch model, Samsung will primarily introduce new AI health capabilities, which I’ll dive into in better element later.

The graphical person interface of the working system has additionally been optimized. Identical to final yr, OneUI Watch is likely one of the most lovely smartwatch working methods. What I notably preferred about it, other than the beautiful menus and animations, is the constant working idea. Menus will be closed in the identical method 90 % of the time, swipe gestures do not immediately tackle totally different capabilities 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 irritated me, particularly throughout sports activities. I have been utilizing the Whoop 4.0 for a very long time (learn our assessment), which was notably 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 need to know that I’ve already been biking for 4 minutes? Nicely …

What I discovered very annoying on this assessment, nonetheless, is that the Galaxy Watch 7 can be not appropriate with Apple’s iOS. Even with an Android smartphone, some capabilities equivalent to distant management of the digital camera stay unique to Samsung’s ecosystem. Remaining inside Samsung’s ecosystem naturally turns into extra fascinating. Nonetheless, I’ve all the time discovered the “walled garden” idea as an open door to criticism.

Know-how & 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 capabilities on the planet of smartwatch sensors. Whereas there’s a new function right here with AGE measurement, Samsung can be upgrading this timepiece from a technical perspective: the SoC used affords extra energy than within the earlier mannequin.

Execs:

• Excessive variety of monitoring capabilities.
• Nice wealth of knowledge within the Samsung Well being app.
• LTE help and nice SoC efficiency.

Cons:

• Blood stress measurement and EEG help just for Samsung telephones.
• Auto-tracking typically delivers extraordinarily fragmented exercises.
• Not appropriate with exterior sensors.

Earlier than we dive into the monitoring capabilities collectively, I would love to check out the Galaxy Watch 7’s {hardware}. Samsung supplied me with the LTE model for my assessment. For an extra $50, you may arrange an eSIM and function the Galaxy Watch independently of your smartphone.

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

Monitoring capabilities for sports activities

The Galaxy Watch 7 affords over 100 totally different exercises that may be tracked straight on the wrist. Because of the twin GPS module, the smartwatch can report the gap lined, together with pacing and adjustments in altitude. On the very least, it constantly data the center fee and classifies it in accordance with customized coronary heart fee 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 journey to the workplace as a exercise. This supplies general impression of all of the efforts you make to reside every day actively. Nonetheless, it’s annoying the watch typically fragments of data when automated. As an example, it ends one exercise and begins a brand new one if you end up caught on the visitors lights. This leads to 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 throughout the assessment period. Right here, the interior GPS of the watch deviated barely from the GPS of my iPhone 13 mini. Throughout a 30 km run, the watch deviated by a complete kilometer. Because the iPhone’s GPS is definitely topic to fluctuations, I would not see this as a significant level of criticism.

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

The truth that this can’t be linked 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 information about your physique after a exercise. Right here, Samsung affords distinctive options equivalent to physique composition measurement, blood stress 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 enable conclusions to be drawn a couple of wholesome way of life.

It is extremely fascinating to view and analyze these values. I definitely assume that they will encourage folks to steer a extra energetic and wholesome way of life. Nonetheless, I’d solely ever see them as pattern or guideline values. You probably have pre-existing situations or need to use the watch to watch your blood stress, I’d advise towards it. On this case, Huawei affords the Watch D (assessment), a mannequin that has an built-in blood stress cuff. Even so, a correct medical machine is all the time 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 will be conveniently tracked within the morning, Samsung may also 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 night time because of loud night breathing.

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

Battery & Charging

… the battery life! The Galaxy Watch 7 usually solely lasted a couple of day within the assessment. Nonetheless, in accordance with the producer, it ought to final 40 hours with out the At all times-On Show enabled and 30 hours with AOD. A minimum of the charging time is brief at round one hour utilizing the provided charging dongle. Because of Qi charging, the Watch 7 will also 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.
• Power-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 fairly low use of the sensible capabilities, making the producer’s specs of 30 to 40 hours fairly far off a sensible take a look at case. Though charging is fast and simple due to the magnetic charging puck and quick charging, this bothered me immensely throughout the assessment.

After a day of monitoring just a few skilled bike rides and recording 10 – 15 km of operating coaching within the night, the Galaxy Watch 7 is unquestionably 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 avoid wasting power. The Mobvoi TicWatch Professional 5 Enduro (assessment) or the Amazfit T-Rex 3 (assessment) additionally supply longer operating occasions. I must cost them beforehand for sleep monitoring and by doing so, I needed to wait an hour.

In different phrases, I typically charged the watch in a single day which led to lacking out on essential health info equivalent 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 on daily basis!

Technical Specs

Conclusion