At Unpacked today, Samsung unveiled two new watches: the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and the Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra. Both emphasize Samsung’s ongoing commitment to health and fitness, promising enhanced accuracy for better health and sleep metrics.
The Watch 7 represents a mostly iterative update from last year’s Galaxy Watch 6, with a significant upgrade. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra aims to be the go-to WearOS watch (and notably, the first WearOS 5 watch), perfect for your most adventurous moments. It may sound reminiscent of a certain Cupertino-based company, but Samsung has compelling reasons to introduce a robust watch like this. Having spent time with both watches ahead of today’s Unpacked event, here are my initial impressions.
Having additional sensors is beneficial
The major upgrade both watches have over the Watch 6 is the increased number of heart sensors—four times more LED sensors in the new generation. This expansion doesn’t just capture more health data; it significantly enhances its accuracy. Accurate health data is crucial because unreliable data isn’t very useful. Samsung believes these additional sensors will provide a clearer understanding of your health, aiming for a comprehensive overview that’s as precise as possible.
Furthermore, a notable addition to the Watch 7 Ultra is its FDA-authorized sleep apnea detection feature. We’ve reached out to Samsung for clarification on the distinction between FDA approval and FDA authorization.
The brand new Watch 7 Ultra
The all-new Watch 7 Ultra boasts an impressive 48-hour battery life, surpassing the Galaxy Watch 6 by fifteen hours in our testing. This extended endurance could prove essential during extended off-grid adventures. We look forward to thoroughly testing the watch to gauge its longevity off the charger.
Unlike previous Samsung smartwatches, the Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra does not feature a rotating crown controller (the sample Samsung provided us with turned but had no actual functionality, and our review unit’s bezel is fixed). It would be beneficial if this feature could be used to navigate menus or notifications. Additionally, the Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra utilizes a proprietary lug system, potentially limiting the availability of third-party watch bands initially.
Monitoring your activities
Both watches will support up to 100 different workout activities and allow you to create workout routines that combine various exercises into a single session. Samsung is also introducing a new Race feature that lets you compete against your past times to track your progress or setbacks.
Additionally, you can perform all the activities available on previous watch generations, such as heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, ECG, and body composition analysis. The watches also feature onboard AI, which, along with the Samsung Health app, generates a new Energy Score similar to Garmin’s body battery score. This score assesses your sleep quality and stress levels to indicate how prepared you are for the day ahead. It’s a useful metric that provides insights into your overall well-being and suggests areas where you can adjust or improve your routines.
Pricing and availability of the Watch 7
Overall, there aren’t many new features here: If you already own the Galaxy Watch 6, the Watch 7 may not feel like a necessary upgrade. The addition of sleep tracking and sleep apnea features is interesting in general, especially for those affected by the disorder, making it a good reason to consider upgrading. On the other hand, the Watch 7 Ultra presents an intriguing option primarily due to its extended battery life of an additional 15 hours, although real-world testing will provide a more accurate assessment.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is available in two sizes — 40mm and 44mm, offered in Green and Cream or Green and Silver respectively, starting at $299.99. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra comes in Titanium Gray, Titanium White, and Titanium Silver, starting at $649.99.
Both watches will be sold on Samsung.com, Amazon, Best Buy, and Samsung experience stores. Preorders begin today with shipments starting on July 24. For a limited time, preordering a Galaxy Watch will include an additional watch band.
