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Watch 7 so much better than the 4

R

rmw49

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 10, 2011
84
87
The Apple Watch 4 Cellular was my first watch and I loved it. However, it was starting to show its age with very erratic and non existent bad heart readings and it started crashing out on me for no apparent reason, particularly during bike rides after only about 20 km. I was as much attracted to the Watch 7 as I was when I first saw the Watch 4 and so I ordered an aluminium 45 model. It arrived two days early last week and, at first, I hardly saw any difference. But I played around with it and suddenly found that it is infinitely better than the Watch 4 and so much faster as well. One strange thing is that, on going into settings on my Mac so that I could get the watch to automatically open the Mac instead of putting in the password, it said it was an Apple Watch 6 which I suppose confirms using the same processor.
At the beginning I was sceptical about the Contour watch face but it works perfectly with the AOD and it's now my main Face. If I want more detail I just scroll to the left and my Infograph screen is there.
Today I did my first bike ride outside using the watch. I always leave my iPhone at home. For the first time for ages the heart rate monitor started working as soon as I set off and it detected all my changes of heart rate going up hills and sprinting which the Watch 4 hadn't done for a very long time. What's more I still had tons of battery left and it finally dropped down to 20% about half an hour ago at 9pm and so I put it on the fast charger next to me and it's back on my wrist at 88% after just 20 minutes.
The haptic feedback is very much more prominent, as is the sound, and I like it a lot. It also goes without saying that everything is so much faster and smoother as well and I can't wait for the day when the watch becomes completely usable without the iPhone which I use less and less.
So, what I'm saying in a roundabout way is that I think this Watch is a vast improvement on the Watch 4 and the 45mm certainly isn't too big on my wrist. Money very well spent.
 
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I agree. S7 is certainly an incremental upgrade over S6, and even S4-5. But all the little improvements like the bigger screen, the fast charging, the faster processor (over S4-5) and brighter screen makes it a better experience, a nicer watch. Nothing revolutionary this year, but sometimes it’s the little things that makes the biggest difference in the day-to-day usage
 
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fwmireault said:
I agree. S7 is certainly an incremental upgrade over S6, and even S4-5. But all the little improvements like the bigger screen, the fast charging, the faster processor (over S4-5) and brighter screen makes it a better experience, a nicer watch. Nothing revolutionary this year, but sometimes it’s the little things that makes the biggest difference in the day-to-day usage
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Yeah.. don’t listen to the others… the screen size is perfect. If you have the money to spend upgrade it and call it a day. If not, then save it for something else more important. The little bigger screen does have quite an impact to the overall feeling of the watch, also, the brighter AOD is quite significant too. Fast charging is really crazily faster. I now think that the Apple Watch is a mature product and I sometimes even forget I’m wearing a ‘smart’ watch. It’s just a nice wristwatch with some very great functions (in the positive way).

forums.macrumors.com

I love the brighter Always-on Display of the Apple Watch S7!

Above: AOD and ’activated’ mode, indoor. Band: Apple Link Bracelet The screen is really not that dimmer in the AOD mode, even at an angle it’s very clear. Coupled with the larger display I think it’s finally a mature product and I can genuinely use it as a normal Watch plus all the bells and...
forums.macrumors.com forums.macrumors.com
Here is my thread about the brighter AOD and the nice screen of my S7 SS.
 
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As a S4 owner since launch, happy to hear your upgrade experience. Couldn’t justify it myself as my S4 is still plenty fast and at 90% battery health - it still lasts 2 days at a push. The only issue I have is that it sometimes has issues recording heart rate when running (but not other sports, though it seems to be partly strap-dependent). Knowing that S7 is only one processor generation more advanced, I’ll hold off. But your experience bodes well if my S4 breaks or when S8 is released.
 
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I have upgraded from the AW 6 to the AW 7, so everyone can take anything I say with a grain of salt (after all, why would I buy it, if I wasn't convinced?) - but I am actually very impressed by the display of of the new Apple Watch. I cannot testify to a noticeable increase in brightness, since brightness has never been a point of criticism for me in my use cases. But the increase in display size is tremendous in my opinion. It looks great, it improves usability and it makes the user interface a tad more accessible to me. All of this with only a slight increase in the footprint of the watch. That alone is worth the upgrade for me.
Your mileage may vary, of course. The older AW models continue to be great devices.

I think, expectations for a redesign were blown way out of proportion by the rumor mill.
Since they got the design of the Apple Watch spot on the first time around, it has been a gradual evolution to its current state, which looks fresh and modern to my eyes.

watch_groessen_gross.jpg


I am sure, future iterations will show a more radical design change, but for now, I am pleased with my acquisition.
 
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Coltaine said:
I have upgraded from the AW 6 to the AW 7, so everyone can take anything I say with a grain of salt (after all, why would I buy it, if I wasn't convinced?) - but I am actually very impressed by the display of of the new Apple Watch. I cannot testify to a noticeable increase in brightness, since brightness has never been a point of criticism for me in my use cases. But the increase in display size is tremendous in my opinion. It looks great, it improves usability and it makes the user interface a tad more accessible to me. All of this with only a slight increase in the footprint of the watch. That alone is worth the upgrade for me.
Your mileage may vary, of course. The older AW models continue to be great devices.

I think, expectations for a redesign were blown way out of proportion by the rumor mill.
Since they got the design of the Apple Watch spot on the first time around, it has been a gradual evolution to its current state, which looks fresh and modern to my eyes.

View attachment 1909498

I am sure, future iterations will show a more radical design change, but for now, I am pleased with my acquisition.
Click to expand...
The larger screen is a good upgrade in person.
 
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I upgraded for an S5 to an S7 (Hermes edition). Told myself I wasn’t going to upgrade when the S7 was announced as my S5 was working very well. Even posted as much several times. But after having the S7 a few days now, the difference in screen size — no matter how minimal on paper — is really striking. My 52 year-old eyes are much happier.
 
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I upgraded from a Gold SS S4 to SBSS S7 Hermès & couldn’t be happier! I’m loving the extra screen real estate & battery life, since my S4 battery has deteriorated a bit over the years. I’m also enjoying the fast charging.
 
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I’m very happy today! Just received an email with my Watch 7 shipping info (arriving on Tuesday)— more than a full month earlier than i was told at purchase!
I‘m also upgrading from an SS4 44mm to the SS7 45mm, and I can’t wait to see the improvement in person. My 4’s battery life has deteriorated, though otherwise it functions very well.
 
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I just upgraded from AW4 to AW7 this week as well, and I love the 7! The screen is great, I am getting better battery life, and I am surprised at how much I love the AOD. Super happy with it.

I also had the Series 6 Watch in System Preferences when adding it to unlock my Mac. ??‍♀️
 
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Is it worth spending that bit more to get a 7 over a 6?

I’m on Series 0, believe it or not! I see S6 on Amazon for a good price, and I do want a black or silver…
 
I’ve upgraded from S4 to S8 and S8 is gorgeous, but S9 will be better and S10 also.
These reviews sounds like sells endorsement, not “S3 to S7” but “S4 (nor S5, just some S6) to S7”: ok, we understand, S4 is now the worst AW that needs to be upgraded, S3 not, ‘cause Apple unbelievably sells it in 2022. ??
 
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Rafterman said:
I would hope so. Otherwise, Apple is doing it wrong :)
Click to expand...
9512tacoma said:
I agree I did same with S4 to S7. 3 years is a good cycle for apple and me. I turned off AOD though to preserve battery life. The bigger screen is noticeable and agree speed improvements from the S4.
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If you put your primary display as Contour it only shows the hands when AOD and so can't use any battery at all.
 
erasr said:
Is it worth spending that bit more to get a 7 over a 6?

I’m on Series 0, believe it or not! I see S6 on Amazon for a good price, and I do want a black or silver…
Click to expand...
Yes, there’s nothing more tragic than getting the previous years model new. Might as well get the latest, but in the cheapest configuration. Same applies to iPhones
 
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I too picked this year to upgrade from a 4 to a 7. I always buy two watches when I upgrade because I like to have a watch to put on when I put the other watch on the charger and this year was no different. I turned off the always on display. Don't need it to always show the time.
 
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I don't hate Series 7, it's just I need more sensors and features instead of just "bigger display" compared to the S6 to justify an upgrade. A complete IP68 rating would also be welcome.

With that said, I have a Series 5 so I'm not in a hurry for a new Watch. But anyway enjoy your Series 7, glad it works well and noticeably improved from the Series 4.
 
My S4 is still chugging along nicely. I run with it. I bike with it. I swim with it. Never had one single problem with it. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! I'll upgrade someday, but for now, the S4 will stay on my wrist.
 
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