The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 got unveiled at Unpacked 2024 on Wednesday, alongside the more premium Galaxy Watch Ultra set to compete with the Apple Watch Ultra.
The Galaxy Watch 7's update is quite iterative, but to be fair, it still has a handful of features that make it a worthy competitor to the likes of the Watch Series 9 (and perhaps the fast-approaching Apple Watch X that's expected to debut in September).
For example, the Watch Series 9 does not have a blood-pressure sensor nor a blood-oxygen monitor (at least not anymore); two features the Galaxy Watch 7 does have. (There are humors, however, that the Watch X will have sensors for blood pressure, sleep apnea, and diabetes.)
As hinted at the outset, the Samsung Galaxy Watch hasn't changed too much over the Galaxy Watch 6. It sports a familiar design, but this time around, it's got more AI-powered enhancements with Galaxy AI.
For example, it now supports a new Galaxy AI-powered feature called Energy Score, also featured on the new Samsung Galaxy Ring and Galaxy Watch Ultra devices, which delivers a score from 1 to 100 based on your recorded data, including sleep and physical activity measurements.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 has a starting price of $299.99; it's available for preorder on July 10.
The Galaxy Watch 7 comes in two sizes: small (40mm) and large (44mm).
It also comes in three color options: Green, Silver, and Cream. Green can be found in both sizes, but Silver is reserved for the large model while Cream can only be found on the small variant. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 comes in three band styles: Sport, Fabric, and Athleisure. Sport has a quick-drying material for sweat-prone active users. Fabric and Athleisure offer a more stylish look.
This may be the biggest selling point on the Galaxy Watch 7 (and the Galaxy Watch Ultra). You read correctly; the Galaxy Watch 7 can determine whether you may potentially have moderate-to-severe sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is a condition in which one repeatedly stops breathing during sleep. It can potentially be serious, too, according to Mayo Clinic, adding that it can lead to high-blood pressure and "cardiovascular problems."
Galaxy Watch 7's new Race feature compares your current figures with your past progress, allowing you to keep tabs on how your workouts have evolved over time.
Plus, it's good for motivation. As the old saying goes, "Your only competition is who you were yesterday."
The Galaxy Watch 7 delivers readings and alerts for abnormally high or low heart rates in real time. If you're suffering from atrial fibrillation (AFib), you'll get an alert about your irregular heart rates, too. Thanks to the electrocardiogram (ECG) data, you can track your heart's rhythm on the Galaxy Watch 7.
Samsung claims that the Galaxy Watch 7 is more accurate than its predecessor due to the enhanced BioActive Sensor.
The BioActive Sensor, according to Samsung, uses a "single unique chip" to combine three data points — electrical heart signal, optical heart rate, and bioelectrical impedance analysis — to deliver extensive readings that include heart rate, blood oxygen level, and even stress level.
With Galaxy Watch 7, you can now track AGEs (advanced glycation end products). According to a study from the American Heart Association Journals, AGEs are proteins or fats that have bonded with sugar molecules.
The Galaxy Watch 7 uses light sensors to monitor your AGEs, which have been linked to diabetes, heart failure, and inflammation, and more, according to Healthline.
The Galaxy Watch 7's new dual-frequency GPS system helps to track your location more precisely and accurately — even while you're working out in a dense, urban environment.
All of these features, from the Galaxy AI utilities to the health sensors, are facilitated by Galaxy Watch 7's new three-nanometer processor that reportedly has improved power efficiency and a zippy CPU.
