Among Samsung’s 2024 wearable lineup, the $299.99 Galaxy Watch 7 may not steal the spotlight. It’s not a revolutionary new category like the Galaxy Ring, nor does it introduce a new form factor like the Galaxy Watch Ultra. Even in briefings, Samsung’s approach was rather nonchalant: “Oh, the Galaxy Watch 7 is here, too — and, uh, it’s really great!”
If you’ve owned a Galaxy Watch 4, 5, or 6, you’ll find the Galaxy Watch 7 familiar. In a year where Samsung has shaken up its wearable lineup, the Galaxy Watch 7 remains a steadfast constant. And after spending the last three weeks with the Galaxy Ring and Ultra, I’ve come to appreciate its reliability.
The Allure of the Familiar
It’s not that I disliked the Ring or the Ultra. On the contrary, they were exciting and innovative. But sometimes, after experiencing the new and flashy, you crave the simplicity and comfort of the classics. It’s like trying a series of new viral cafes with their Instagram-worthy latte flavors, only to find yourself longing for the iced latte from your local bodega. Both are good, but only one offers comfort and familiarity.
Comfort and Wearability
Speaking of comfort, the Galaxy Watch 7 excels in wearability. The Ultra felt bulky on my wrist, and I struggled to get a good fit for the new FDA-cleared sleep apnea detection feature, which requires a snug fit. That wasn’t an issue with the Galaxy Watch 7. The 40mm version fit perfectly, and I had no problems getting the sleep apnea feature to work as intended. Personally, I also preferred the simpler circular display on my wrist compared to the Ultra. The slimmer profile is a significant advantage, and even though it’s summer, I know this watch won’t get caught on jacket sleeves or other clothing.
However, my experience with the Ultra also highlighted the Galaxy Watch 7’s biggest weakness: battery life.
Battery Life: A Persistent Issue
Even after Samsung’s battery calibration period, I still only managed around 24 hours on a single charge. This hasn’t changed much from the Galaxy Watches 4, 5, and 6. The main difference with the 7 is that it reliably gets through an entire day, whereas its predecessors sometimes struggled to do even that. (The 44mm version offers increased battery life due to its larger battery.) Fast charging alleviates some of the inconvenience, but as a heavy GPS user who keeps the always-on display enabled, I found the battery life wanting. Those who stick to the gym or turn off the AOD will get better mileage.
Hardware and Performance
Unsurprisingly, the Watch 7 hasn’t seen significant hardware changes. It features the new 3nm Exynos W1000 chip and an upgraded 3-in-1 BioActive Sensor. It runs Wear OS 5 and One UI 6 Watch out of the box, but these updates will eventually come to older Galaxy Watches as well (you can already download betas). Overall performance is snappy, although I haven’t noticed any meaningful increase in accuracy from the new BioActive Sensor.
Health Features and AI Insights
Most of the new features revolve around health: AI-powered wellness insights, an Energy Score for gauging recovery, sleep apnea detection, and a somewhat confusing AGEs metric that supposedly measures metabolic health through the interaction of sugar with fats and proteins. I’ve delved into these features in more detail in my Ring and Ultra reviews, but the gist is that they’re hit or miss. The double pinch gesture, which lets you dismiss alerts, take calls, or control your camera, is another “new” feature. While Samsung has had it for a while, it’s more in the spotlight this year. I found it quite handy, but it’s not exclusive to the Galaxy Watch 7.
Conclusion: Tried and True
In the end, Samsung was right: the Galaxy Watch 7 is here, too, and it’s great. It’s an ideal choice for those upgrading from an older Galaxy Watch who want to futureproof with the latest model instead of getting a discounted 6. It’s perfect for people who find the Ultra too much watch for their needs (or their wrist). It might not be the most exciting option, but you know exactly what you’re getting: a reliable, good smartwatch. And there’s undeniable value in that.
