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They don’t replace the battery though. They send a whole new unit.

Do you know if this is true for the life of the watch? I have a series 1 that needs a battery and I had just been going by the $199 service fee on the site which I was waiting on. I can always call to check it out, but thought you or someone here might know.
 
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I got a 45mm Series 7 GPS/WiFi Nike Watch in Midnight color to replace my Space Grey Series 4. I was nervous about the color but the color is awesome. I own some black bands that would have gone better with the black stainless steel from years past and those bands look perfect with the aluminum midnight color.

I much prefer this color over space grey now that I see it in person. The website makes it look blueish but I really can’t even see the blue hue at all. It just looks black.

And the watch is a big improvement over series 4. I felt every upgrade since series 4 has been very incremental (very S-like) — especially the series 5 and 6. The only reason I would not call series 7 an S upgrade is because Apple has never increased the display size in an iPhone S upgrade. But when you upgrade 3 versions in one shot those S-like upgrades add up:

- 20% bigger display
- virtually bezel-less display
- always-on display
- O2 sensor
- always-on altimeter
- compass for maps
- better heart rate sensor
- faster charging (S6 and S7 again)
- better battery life
- faster processor
- more durable

The new design with the bigger bezel-less display was the biggest upgrade to me, but the O2 sensor is nice to have though I own a more accurate SpO2 sensor that goes on my fingertip. It’s nice to always have it on my watch (like how we have better cameras than iPhone but having the camera always with you is the best). I almost got the Series 5 just for the always on display but I’m glad to have it now especially since they fixed the power draw issue by adding battery life in the series 6.

All-in-all I would call this a big upgrade for anybody wearing a series 4 or even a series 5. I would hold out for a few more incremental upgrades in the series 8 if you have a series 6 since that is only a year old. The display is better in series 7, but that’s a lot of money to spend for a more enjoyable display on your wrist.
 
Looking at the internals, it’s understandable why Apple has shied away from making a round Watch. It’s tough enough to get everything into the rectangular Watch as is.
I think Apple likes having a watch (rectangular) that stands out. It’s great advertising and it looks really sharp.
 
For those who have been owners of previous “large” size Apple Watches, whether this is true or not, the change becomes an issue with band compatibility.

Changing could be quite pricey if you need to replenish a collection of straps.

Sample of one but no issue swapping my APPL Nike sports & woven braided loops from my 44 AW4 to my 45 AW7.
 
I got a 45mm Series 7 GPS/WiFi Nike Watch in Midnight color to replace my Space Grey Series 4. I was nervous about the color but the color is awesome. I own some black bands that would have gone better with the black stainless steel from years past and those bands look perfect with the aluminum midnight color.

I much prefer this color over space grey now that I see it in person. The website makes it look blueish but I really can’t even see the blue hue at all. It just looks black.

And the watch is a big improvement over series 4. I felt every upgrade since series 4 has been very incremental (very S-like) — especially the series 5 and 6. The only reason I would not call series 7 an S upgrade is because Apple has never increased the display size in an iPhone S upgrade. But when you upgrade 3 versions in one shot those S-like upgrades add up:

- 20% bigger display
- virtually bezel-less display
- always-on display
- O2 sensor
- always-on altimeter
- compass for maps
- better heart rate sensor
- faster charging (S6 and S7 again)
- better battery life
- faster processor
- more durable

The new design with the bigger bezel-less display was the biggest upgrade to me, but the O2 sensor is nice to have though I own a more accurate SpO2 sensor that goes on my fingertip. It’s nice to always have it on my watch (like how we have better cameras than iPhone but having the camera always with you is the best). I almost got the Series 5 just for the always on display but I’m glad to have it now especially since they fixed the power draw issue by adding battery life in the series 6.

All-in-all I would call this a big upgrade for anybody wearing a series 4 or even a series 5. I would hold out for a few more incremental upgrades in the series 8 if you have a series 6 since that is only a year old. The display is better in series 7, but that’s a lot of money to spend for a more enjoyable display on your wrist.
That’s good to know. I also have the S4 and I’ve patiently waited each year a new one is released. I ordered the S7 Titanium within a minute of launch but it has an estimated delivery of Nov 2nd - 9th.
 
Do you know if this is true for the life of the watch? I have a series 1 that needs a battery and I had just been going by the $199 service fee on the site which I was waiting on. I can always call to check it out, but thought you or someone here might know.
i dont know. ive never had a watch that long.
 
Sample of one but no issue swapping my APPL Nike sports & woven braided loops from my 44 AW4 to my 45 AW7.
You stayed with the large size. The post you responded to was talking about moving from the 42/44/45mm size (all larger size for their respective generations with compatible bands) to the 41mm size (compatible with bands from the smaller 38/40/41mm size).
 
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I love iFixit's teardowns - it is always interesting to see what makes our devices tick.
I love that the headlines end up being “here’s what the inside of the device looks like” (why yes, I am curious to see what’s inside), rather the old clickbait ones that were “iFixit says <device> only worth $37”. (yeah right, setting R&D aside, you try getting those parts and putting them together into that device - those were always needlessly antagonistic, people shouting, “see? <device> should only cost $39!”).
 
They don’t replace the battery though. They send a whole new unit.
Is this only if you have Applecare? I don’t have AppleCare on my watch, so would they replace my battery (watch) for only $79? The battery status indicates 87% capacity, but the battery life falls short of 18 hours. I think I’m down to 14 hours; though when I exercise, I seem to burn through 30% in 2 hours.

Also, can someone tell me: with the series 6 and 7, if you disable the ‘always on’ option, will you see a nice increase in battery life? I’m on a series 4 stainless steel, I actually came across my receipt today while I was cleaning up old files. Since I’m not used to the always-on display, I wouldn’t notice it being off, but I would notice an extended battery life!
 
Works both ways. That stupid, horrible red ring on the crown makes cellular versions unthinkable to buy for me.
I always find it funny when people fixate on the red ring on the crown. I’m not laughing at you—but if you were to wear one I think you’d no longer notice it.
I can’t remember the last time I even remarked it! Seriously. I also thought it was silly and unnecessary, at first. But, I quickly forgot all about it once I was wearing the watch. Also, I really like having a cellular connection. I have seen appliqués of some sort that people have placed on their crowns to change the color—not sure how well that works.
 
For those who have been owners of previous “large” size Apple Watches, whether this is true or not, the change becomes an issue with band compatibility.

Changing could be quite pricey if you need to replenish a collection of straps.
Can’t follow you on this. All bands are backwards compatible. What are you trying to say?

I rarely pay attention to the small red ring on the crown. It used to be an eye sore on the Series 3.
I currently have a 3 and never notice the crown, and I’m about as picky as it gets. People that complain about the now much smaller red ring just want attention. Ignore them and they will go away.

Do you know if this is true for the life of the watch? I have a series 1 that needs a battery and I had just been going by the $199 service fee on the site which I was waiting on. I can always call to check it out, but thought you or someone here might know.
Series 1? Seriously, let it go. It’s time to move on.
 
Had a close look today and compared the Series 7 to the Series 5 on my wrist. Result: Absolutely no need to spend >500€ for something that looks exactly the same, despite a little bit bigger display. Furthermore I like the space grey of my watch and this color seems to be no longer available for Aluminium watches.
It’s an incredible upgrade for S1-3 and a solid upgrade for S4. S5-6 wearers can honestly wait for a year or two. Always-on display and cellular connection are great improvements. I think Apple Watch is maturing quickly and we can easily wear the S7 for 4-5 years solid.
 
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Disappointed in the increase of 1% for the battery on the 45mm. Perhaps the new display is more efficient than the previous display and battery life increases slightly. I think that was what I was looking forward to the most in the leaks for Series 7. Oh well!
 
You stayed with the large size. The post you responded to was talking about moving from the 42/44/45mm size (all larger size for their respective generations with compatible bands) to the 41mm size (compatible with bands from the smaller 38/40/41mm size).

Can’t follow you on this. All bands are backwards compatible. What are you trying to say?


I currently have a 3 and never notice the crown, and I’m about as picky as it gets. People that complain about the now much smaller red ring just want attention. Ignore them and they will go away.


Series 1? Seriously, let it go. It’s time to move on.
I think the point they were making is that with the S7 having the larger screen, the smaller 41mm S7 has almost the same screen real estate as the larger 44mm S6 and below watch. So some are considering dropping to the smaller size this gen to get a smaller watch but with the same (ish) screen size they previously had on their larger watch. However, doing so would mean your bands for the previous size are incompatible.
 
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