I recently acquired the latest iteration of the Apple Watch: the series 7. As an avid smart-tech user, this is something I was quite excited about due to the multitude of new functions and slight upgrades that I knew would affect the way in which I personally used my previous watch: the ancient series 3. As the series 3, SE, and the series 7 are the only options available on the apple website I found it quite easy to strike a comparison: the screen size has increased by 3mm, which I have found to be very substantial, while maintaining the same footprint, utilising smaller bezels to provide a larger screen, 50% more screen area than the series 3. The impressive display now remains on always and this is a feature I am increasingly finding more and more useful, as it has rendered the awkward jerking motion to turn the screen on useless.
There are various other new functions that aren’t as prevalent in day-to-day usage: blood oxygen app, ECG app, international emergency calling, fall detection, compass, always on altimeter and a few others. The battery life has been excellent as expected from Apple, who claim up to 18 hours with one charge, but I personally have not had to test this yet, due to the insane charging speeds. This is probably the biggest game-changer in this newest version due to it changing the way in which one can utilise this device entirely. They claim the charging is up to 33% faster, with a new USB-C adapter, which is a gargantuan upgrade to something which was already so quick. Now you can use the sleep-tracking through the night and charge it in the morning, in the time you are getting ready, and for a few minutes after arriving home and this keeps it tracking throughout the day. Insane functionality!
The most surprising new function that is growing on me is the new swipe-to-type keyboard. Initially, I was under the impression the real estate on the watch was too small to utilise a keyboard, but I must admit I have been taken aback with how useable this keyboard actually is. With Apple’s machine learning, it is already aware of the common phrases or abbreviations you use when typing and shows a clear preference to these when you are typing. This speaks volumes to the ever-growing apple eco-system of which I proudly am part of, becoming more and more convenient with the devices constantly communicating to each other. I have been a user of Fitbit before, and although I was a huge fan of their products, it is undeniable that the functionality and compatibility for an iPhone user are simply unparalleled in the industry for convenience.
Overall, I would recommend this watch to any iPhone owner, as the user experience, the beautiful new screen, and the never-before-seen battery life make this a worthy addition to your wardrobe.
