Apple Watch Series 6 vs. Apple Watch Series 7 Buyer's Guide

[progx]

Sticking with my Series 5. It's unfortunate Apple had so many issues with the Series 7, but at least they got a new one out for people who want/need an upgrade. I'll wait until the Series 8 release to update my Watch for now.

Although, typing a message on your Watch screen, that would be extremely handy.

 

[catracho504]

No new health sensor, no sale!

 

[roncron]

I'm a Series 6 owner, and the only thing that tempts me to upgrade is the bigger display.

There's a good possibility the Watch 8 will have the new design that most of us were expecting for Watch 7, with the more squared-off edges and flatter display. And a good possibility the 8 will have new sensors, a chip upgrade that provides meaningful performance improvements, or other new features that make the 8 a more significant upgrade than the 7 is compared to the 6.

If you own a 6 but can afford to upgrade every single year, get a 7. I'm sure most people will appreciate the bigger screen size and smaller bezels, even if the 7 is otherwise not meaningfully better than your 6.

If you can't, you very well might be kicking yourself next year for not waiting. That's why I'm holding off.

 

[coolkid93]

this whole launch has been weird from the start considering there is no information in the apple store

 

[progx]

Love the nuanced journalism here. The chip is exactly the same one but you’re falsely making out like it’s a new chip. Shame on you.

They said in the article the S6 and S7 chips are roughly the same. There are differences between the Series 6 and 7 Watches, but it isn't in the chipset.

S6 vs. S7 Chip

The Apple Watch Series 7 is powered by the S7 chip, which is based around the same CPU found in the S6 chip from the Apple Watch Series 6. Such is the similarity between the chips that both CPUs have the same identifier.

Apple says that both the S6 and S7 chip provide a 20 percent performance improvement over the S5 chip in the Apple Watch Series 5 and Apple Watch SE, indicating that they have equivalent performance.

The changes in the S7 chip are more likely to relate to smaller tweaks to maintain the same "all-day" battery life with a larger display. Apple has done this before with the S5 chip, which had the same CPU as the S4 chip, simply adding a gyroscope.

The S7 chip is not a good reason to upgrade to the Apple Watch Series 7, representing a small iterative improvement rather than any noticeable performance or efficiency boost.


Article Link: Apple Watch Series 6 vs. Apple Watch Series 7: Should You Upgrade?

I don't see the nuance since they're calling it out in this part. Edited after comments.

 

[roncron]

Sticking with my Series 5. It's unfortunate Apple had so many issues with the Series 7, but at least they got a new one out for people who want/need an upgrade. I'll wait until the Series 8 release to update my Watch for now.

Although, typing a message on your Watch screen, that would be extremely handy.

Maybe. But maybe the small size of the Watch keyboard would make for very slow typing with lots of mistakes. It will be interesting to see Youtube video reviews with people demo-ing the Watch keyboard.

 

[progx]

Maybe. But maybe the small size of the Watch keyboard would make for very slow typing with lots of mistakes. It will be interesting to see Youtube video reviews with people demo-ing the Watch keyboard.

I agree. That's why I'm going to wait to see if they're going for a new design with the Series 8 next year. A flatter screen would be better than the current one.

 

[ChrisMoBro]

They said in the article the S6 and S7 chips are roughly the same. There are differences between the Series 6 and 7 Watches, but it isn't in the chipset.


I don't see the nuance since they're calling it out in this part. Plus, Apple is claiming a 20% improvement, not MacRumors.

They're claiming a 20% improvement over the S5 NOT the S6. This document proves it's identical and MacRumors just sounds like state-run media when they lie like this. It's basically an advert.

 

[fwmireault]

Apple is claiming a 20% improvement, not MacRumors.

The 20% improvement is S6/S7 over the S5, not the S7 over the S6. It’s the same chip with an other name

 

[Dydegu]

Coming from the 5, I’m going to hold out for the 8.

 

[antnythr]

There's been no significant reason to upgrade since Series 4, which is precisely why Apple has kept Series 3 around. People would just buy the 4 and it would have cannibalized sales of the 5, 6, and now 7.

 

[gfurry]

Has anyone been able to find out how thick the 7 is compared to the 6? It seems like Apple has only been talking up the thickness of the glass. I like the 7 but not if it is thicker than the 6. No info on actual dimensions makes me worry it will increase in thickness over the 6. Also, give me silver! I don't want any gold or yellow either, if I did I would get a gold version

 

[jz0309]

Love the nuanced journalism here. The chip is exactly the same one but you’re falsely making out like it’s a new chip. Shame on you.

Nonsense, the “chip” also known as SIP (system in package) is much more than the CPU. MR is correct, you are wrong

 

[jz0309]

The larger display looks quite nice. I was really hoping for new health features and my S4 got replaced thru AC+ 3 months or so ago so looks absolutely pristine and has a new battery so it is really very very hard to justify an upgrade for me…

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I’m pretty sure they will sell out very fast.

 

[jacjustjac]

I was holding onto my Stainless Steel 44mm Series 3, excited to upgrade to the Series 7. My SS’s sapphire screen still looked flawless, while my wife’s aluminum Series 6 glass screen already has deep scratches, and I’m rougher with my watch than she is.

Then a few days ago I dropped my Series 3 flat face down onto the bathroom floor and it fractured and broke off the screen, disabling the touch functionality. I debated taping it together and using it just to see notifications and the time, but alas, I just ended up getting a used blue aluminum 40mm series 6, exactly as my wife has.

And you know? I’m really happy with it. I didn’t realize just how slow and outdated the Series 3 processor was, even though it was visibly in great condition because of the sapphire screen. If it’s the same money to get the cheapest Apple Watch every two years, or the premium watch every 3-4 years, I now know I’d rather do the former, because I was really wasting time (no pun intended) with all the cumulative seconds spent waiting on the Series 3 processor to “think”. And the bigger, always on screen is fantastic.

I wonder what the Series 8 will bring to make Series 5/6 owners want to upgrade?

 

[JulianL]

It’s strange that we have the weights in grams for series 7 down to one decimal point yet as far as I can find there are no complete details of dimensions. Has anyone found that info online yet? I’m particularly interested in the thicknes. I worry that this 50% thicker front glass will mean that the s7 is thicker than the s6 when for my preferences I really want Apple to be moving in the opposite direction i.e. thinner.

 

[chhhrrriiisss]

My series 5 Stainless is still giving me everything I need from a watch so I suppose I’m sitting this one out.

 

[profets]

I know not everyone reviews in this manner, but it feels like so much focus on iPhones, Watch, etc each year is based on upgrading from the previous year's device.

I think most here understand that the majority are upgrading from a device that's likely 2-4 years old, but it would be cool to see more of a breakdown to show what new features you would be getting if upgrading from a 2, 3 or 4 year old device as well.

 

[MrTemple]

Why on earth would you upgrade from 6? There is literally NOT A SINGLE substantial change.

There is literally NOT A SINGLE shred of credibility in calling 20% more screen on a smartwatch not a substantial change.

 

[jz0309]

Bu

I’m pretty sure they will sell out very fast.

But according to MR users it is a “lackluster” upgrade 🤔
I actually agree with you…

 

[UltimaKilo]

If you have a perfectly working Apple Watch 3, or newer, it really seems like it might be worth waiting another year. Disappointed that the S7 has no new health sensors, no new processor or even an extra 2-3 hours of battery life. Nonetheless, I’m perfectly happy with my S5.

 

[nutmac]

Are those screen size comparison photos to-scale? looks like the casings are the same size. I'm confused.

Apple Watch Series 7's 20% screen size increase may not look significant because watches are relatively small to begin with.

But as a comparison, 6.7" iPhones are also about 20% larger than 6.1" iPhones. And 44mm Series 6 display is roughly 23% larger than 40mm. So 41mm Series 7's display is much closer to 44mm Series 6.

 

[jz0309]

There is literally NOT A SINGLE shred of credibility in calling 20% more screen on a smartwatch not a substantial change.

Welcome to MR 🤪
The negativity here does not represent the actual Apple customer base…

 

[840quadra]

My upgrade will be a bit more significant. Watching the Keynote for the Series 4, the amount of features, faces, haptics, sensors and upgrades just that watch has over my (still loved) Series 3 watch is amazing. The advances of the Series 4 alone made me want to upgrade years ago, but my Series 3 was only a year old at the time So just couldn’t get myself to do it.

The design change, AOD, larger face, better radios, and even more sensors in the 6 / 7 mean it is finally time for me to upgrade.