After using the Galaxy Watch 6 for a year, I was curious whether the new Galaxy Watch 7 was a worthy upgrade or just more of the same. Spoiler: It’s better—but not perfect.
I wore it daily for 30 days—through workouts, sleep, meetings, and travel. Here’s my real user review: everything that impressed me, what annoyed me, and who this smartwatch is truly for.
1. Design & Comfort: Familiar, But More Refined
Samsung stuck with its rounded design, and honestly, I’m glad. It looks sleek, premium, and fits nicely even on slimmer wrists. I opted for the 44mm Graphite finish—it’s lightweight and comfortable all day.
💡 New This Year:
Thinner bezels = larger visible display
Sapphire crystal standard on all models
New “bio-resin” strap feels less sweaty during workouts
👍 Pros:
Always-on display is bright and easy to read outdoors
You can still use custom watch faces and third-party bands
Lightweight yet premium feel
👎 Cons:
Only minor visual changes from the Watch 6
No rotating bezel option this year (boo!)
2. Performance: Finally Feels Snappy
The new Exynos W1000 chip makes a real difference. Everything feels more responsive—from switching apps to syncing notifications. No lag, no freezes, even during GPS tracking or music playback.
🧠 Memory boost: Now with 2GB RAM and 32GB storage
📲 Seamless pairing with my Galaxy S24 Ultra
3. Health & Fitness Features: Stronger Than Ever
Samsung continues to improve its fitness tracking. Heart rate monitoring, SpO2, ECG, and now skin temperature tracking—it’s all here. I tested it during workouts and sleep tracking, and results were consistent and reliable.
🏃 Fitness Modes Tested:
Treadmill: Accurate distance and pace
Outdoor run: GPS locks in 2–3 seconds
Sleep tracking: Auto-starts, detailed insights with snore detection
🆕 New in Galaxy Watch 7:
Stress recovery analysis
Fall detection improvements
Menstrual cycle prediction (finally better than before)
👎 Still Missing:
No native recovery score like Garmin or WHOOP
Battery drains quickly in continuous workout mode
4. Battery Life: Better, But Still Room for Growth
Samsung claims up to 40 hours on a single charge, and I got around 36 hours with Always-On Display off. With AOD on and GPS workouts, I needed to top up daily.
⚡ Fast charging helps: ~45% in 30 minutes
🔌 Charges via USB-C puck (finally no proprietary cable!)
5. Apps & One UI Watch: Smarter, More Intuitive
The One UI Watch 6 based on Wear OS 5 is slick and snappy. Navigation is smoother, and installing apps from the Play Store is seamless. I even used Spotify offline while on a run—no phone needed.
Notable App Features:
Google Maps with turn-by-turn on watch
Samsung Wallet with tap-to-pay
WhatsApp and Gmail native app support
👎 Downside: Still a bit limited compared to Apple Watch’s app ecosystem
6. Verdict: The Best Android Smartwatch Yet?
The Galaxy Watch 7 builds meaningfully on what the Watch 6 started. It’s not revolutionary, but it’s faster, smarter, and more accurate—and finally feels like a true Apple Watch rival on Android.
If you own a Watch 5 or earlier, upgrade without hesitation. If you already have a Watch 6, it depends—if fitness and battery life matter to you, you’ll feel the difference.
TL;DR – Galaxy Watch 7 Review
| Feature | Score (1–5) |
|---|---|
| Design & Comfort | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
| Performance | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Health Tracking | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
| Battery Life | ⭐⭐⭐☆ |
| App Ecosystem | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
| Overall Value | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
FAQs
Q: Can I use the Galaxy Watch 7 with a Pixel phone?
A: Yes, but some Samsung-exclusive features (like Samsung Health ECG) may be limited.
Q: Is the Galaxy Watch 7 waterproof?
A: Yes, rated IP68 + 5ATM—safe for swimming and showers.
Q: Can I make calls from the Watch 7?
A: Yes, with the LTE version or when paired with your phone via Bluetooth.
