Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review: Disappointing autonomy
merit
- Accurate heart rate measurement
- In-depth sleep monitoring
- Artificial intelligence health analytics
- Responsive touch and gesture controls
shortcoming
- One day of battery life
- Running distance and sleep duration measurements are slightly off
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review: Disappointing autonomy
三星 Galaxy Watch 7 参数
- Compatible mobile operating system: Android
- Watch operating system: Wear OS
- Processor: Samsung Exynos W1000
If you're looking for a smartwatch to work with your Samsung phone, then the Galaxy Watch 7 should be your first choice. It costs $299.99 like the previous generation, joins the overall health analytics provided by Galaxy AI, and benefits from improved gesture control, dual-band GPS, more storage, and a faster processor. The short autonomy is puzzling, and a slight deviation in running distance and sleep time readings was also noted in the tests, but neither of these drawbacks is enough to seriously limit its appeal. Overall, the Galaxy Watch 7's slight improvements and AI health analytics keep it ahead of Wear OS rivals, though if battery life is particularly important, the OnePlus Watch 2 is still worth a look, and the price is the same.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review: Disappointing autonomy
devise
At first glance, the Galaxy Watch 7 is very similar to the Galaxy Watch 6. Both watches are available in 40mm and 44mm dial sizes, with a starting price of $299.99 each. Both are available in LTE versions, although all models support Bluetooth connectivity, Wi-Fi, and mobile payments via NFC. Also released at the same time was the $649.99 Galaxy Watch Ultra, which has a very different look from the other two. Samsung typically releases two smartwatches a year, and this year they've launched a brand new line that competes directly with Apple's flagship, the Apple Watch 2 Ultra. The Galaxy Watch Ultra is positioned similarly to the two-year-old Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, though users who prefer a rotating bezel will need to opt for the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, which retains this design.
The base Watch 7 and Watch 6 also have the same screen. The 44mm model features a 1.5-inch, 480 x 480-pixel Super AMOLED display, while the 40mm model features a 1.3-inch, 432 x 432-pixel display.
In terms of design, these watches are available in different color options. The 40mm version of the Watch 7 is available in green or cream, while the 44mm version is available in green or silver. The 40mm Watch 6 is available in graphite black or gold, while the 44mm version is available in graphite black or silver.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review: Disappointing autonomy
The Galaxy Watch 7 has an aluminum watch body, an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, and a 5ATM water resistance rating: it protects against dust ingress and can be soaked in calm fresh or salt water for up to 10 minutes and up to 164 feet deep. It's also MIL-STD-810H certified, which means it can withstand extreme temperature changes, wind and sand, and other environmental stresses such as vibration and shock. Samsung says the device can work in environments ranging from -20 to 50 degrees Celsius.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review: Disappointing autonomy
These specifications are the same as the Galaxy Watch 6 and can generally give you peace of mind about the durability of the Watch 7 in everyday use scenarios. But be warned, it's not enough to withstand extreme sports. Samsung left these upgrades to the Galaxy Watch Ultra; It has a titanium case, can be used at various altitudes, and is water-resistant to 10ATM. It's Samsung's most durable watch released to date, but it's not as good for diving as the Apple Watch Ultra 2. For the most part, though, it's comparable to Apple's competitors.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review: Disappointing autonomy
Internal Specifications
The Galaxy Watch 7 has some upgrades over the Watch 6 in terms of internal specs. Both have 2GB of RAM, but the Watch 7 has double the storage space (32GB, compared to 16GB for the Watch 6). The latest watches also feature dual-frequency GPS, which allows for better tracking of your location during workouts without any interference from tall buildings or trees.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review: Disappointing autonomy
The Watch 7 has also been upgraded with software: Google's Wear OS 5 and Samsung's One UI 6 interface. Both are one version lower than the Watch 6. Wear OS 5 brings performance and efficiency improvements over previous versions, while One UI 6 adds features like photo editing, translation, widgets, and more.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review: Disappointing autonomy
The Galaxy Watch 7 also further differentiates itself from other watches in terms of health and sleep tracking. For example, it's FDA-cleared to detect sleep apnea and adds advanced glycation end products (AGEs) index tracking to provide a more detailed overview of your metabolism. It utilizes Galaxy AI to condense all the fitness and sleep metrics it tracks into an overall energy score of 0 to 100. Galaxy AI also offers health advice on how to improve your score and feel better.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review: Disappointing autonomy
In addition to the new features, the Watch 7 offers a variety of health and sleep tracking sensors from the previous generation: accelerometer, barometer, blood oxygen monitor, gyroscope, heart rate monitor, pedometer, and temperature sensor.
It can also track many different workouts automatically or manually, and you can customize your target heart rate threshold to get extra guidance during your workout. It can monitor sleep, including sleep volume, blood oxygen levels, heart rate, breathing rate, skin temperature, sleep stages, and even snoring. To detect snoring, you need to keep your Samsung phone nearby. In addition, you can use the watch for an ECG, and it can even measure body composition metrics such as body fat percentage and body mass index (BMI), similar to a smart scale.
Like the Galaxy Watch 6, the Watch 7 can work with any modern Android phone (specifically, phones running Android 11 or later), but some more advanced features (such as snoring detection and AI sleep analysis) require a Samsung phone.
The upgraded processor of the Watch 7, the Samsung Exynos W1000, promises faster performance and 30% higher power efficiency than the Watch 6, which uses the Samsung Exynos W930 chip.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review: Disappointing autonomy
Endurance: Disappointing with no improvements
Given the improved power efficiency of the processor and Wear OS 5 software, the Galaxy Watch 7 was expected to deliver better battery life despite having the same battery capacity as the Watch 6. The 44mm model has a 425mAh battery, while the 40mm model has a 300mAh battery.
However, the Galaxy Watch 7 doesn't have any improvement on this point. The lackluster battery life is one of the biggest problems with the Galaxy Watch 6, and I wonder why Samsung hasn't fixed it on this generation of watches. The Watch 7 only lasted 22 hours in my first test when the always-on display was on, then the battery level dropped to 1% and it went into time-only mode. Although I did a 30-minute run with a power-hungry GPS during this time, it also put the watch in sleep mode during my 7 hours of sleep. The Watch 6 also lasted 22 hours in a similar test. In the second test without GPS, the Watch 7 lasted 28 hours. With the always-on display turned off and GPS used at moderate intensity, the Watch 7 lasted 27 hours. The Watch 6 lasted for 28 hours in this condition.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review: Disappointing autonomy
Whichever mode you choose, you'll need to charge your Watch 7 every day, and you may even need to charge it more often if you use GPS a lot. The watch charges from 1% to 100% fairly quickly, taking only 88 minutes.
When the Watch 6 was released, the Pixel Watch also had its own battery life issues, and there weren't many competitors for Android-running smartwatches at the time. However, since last year, the Pixel Watch 2 has been launched, and the battery life has been improved compared to the original generation (about 33 hours). OnePlus also fixed issues with the company's first smartwatch; The OnePlus Watch 2 has up to 69 hours of battery life per charge with the always-on display on. The Galaxy Watch 7's autonomy is particularly disappointing, as it means you may not even be able to take full advantage of its overall health features for the 24 hours without interruption.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review: Disappointing autonomy
Setup & Control: Seamless operation
When the battery is sufficient, the Galaxy Watch 7 is very fun and easy to use. The setup process is also quick and easy. In addition to the watch itself, the box contains a charging cable that attaches magnetically to the bottom and a booklet of terms and conditions.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review: Disappointing autonomy
To turn on the watch, simply press and hold the right button at the top. If you pair your watch with your Samsung phone, you should see a prompt pop up on your phone to set up your watch. If you're using a different brand of phone or don't see the pop-up, you can find and pair your watch in the regular Bluetooth menu.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review: Disappointing autonomy
If you don't already have the Galaxy Wearable app installed, you'll need to download it to continue. Once the app asks you to enter the number displayed on your watch to confirm the connection, it walks you through various terms and agreements and prompts you to sign in to your Google account.
Next, you can select the app you want to download and turn on an optional feature to back up your watch data to the cloud. You can then indicate on which wrist you want to wear the watch on and the direction of the buttons.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review: Disappointing autonomy
The watch walks you through some of the features, such as exercise routines and sleep apnea detection. It will ask you for location permissions and permission to process your health data. You can then choose the focus of your watch health coaching: overall health, sleep, exercise, or healthy weight.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review: Disappointing autonomy
Next, the watch will introduce the sleep function and ask if you want to turn on blood oxygen, snoring, and skin temperature detection during sleep. I enabled all three features.
Finally, the Galaxy Watch 7 introduces improved gesture control. For example, if you pair your watch with your Samsung phone, you can double-tap your finger to answer a call, turn off an alarm, play or pause music, or take a photo with the camera app open. This particular gesture is the same as the recent Double-Tap gesture on Apple Watch. Galaxy Watch 7 also allows you to shake your hand or rotate your wrist twice to turn off incoming calls or alarms. You can also launch the app by clenching your fist and bending your wrist twice to simulate a tapping motion. I use this percussion gesture to quickly start the movement activity section, but sometimes my unexpected movements trigger it. The double-tap gesture, however, is always reliable and fast.
After you set up the gesture, your Watch 7 will take you through the emergency setup process. You can enable fall detection, and your watch will tell you to press and hold the top button for five seconds to call emergency services. In addition, you can turn on Find My Watch.
Overall, the setup process is quick and mostly illustrative. When you're up and running, the watch will also provide additional hints.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review: Disappointing autonomy
Watch and app navigation: smooth and reliable
Controlling the Galaxy Watch 7 is intuitive and responsive, and the top button is the home button. Tap it on which interface you are on to return to the home screen, and double-tap it to open the most recently used app. Long press this button to access Samsung's digital assistant, Bixby, and the bottom button to take a step back when navigating apps.
Long press the watch face to edit it and change the look of the watch, swipe down from the top of the watch face to bring up the quick settings panel, and swipe up from the bottom of the watch face to browse the watch's apps. Reorder apps by dragging and dropping icons, and scroll your finger along the side of the watch to scroll through the list or any open page. Swipe right to see notifications, and swipe left to browse a list of customizable boards. Tile options include Activity Rings, Body Composition, Energy Score, Workout Tracking, Weather, and more.
You can add tiles and options directly to the quick settings panel on your watch, but you'll need to use the Galaxy Wearable app to remove or reorder options. It also allows access to additional watch faces and customization options, as well as the use of the Find My Watch feature.
In order to get the most out of your Watch 7, you'll also need to have two other apps installed on your phone. The Samsung Health app lets you see extra details about tracking metrics such as heart rate, sleep, and steps, while the Samsung Health Monitoring app provides details of ECG and sleep apnea features.
I don't like the need for three different apps to get the most out of the watch, but Apple needs a similar number of apps, and the Pixel Watch 2 hides some of the advanced metrics behind a $9.99 monthly membership fee. The Watch 7, OnePlus Watch 2, and Pixel Watch 2 all run a version of Wear OS, so they have access to the same app library. Apple's watchOS still offers a wider variety of apps, but you can find popular third-party options you want on any platform.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review: Disappointing autonomy
Activity tracking: Metrics are richer than most
Like most Android-based smartwatches, the Galaxy Watch 7 stands out with its detailed sleep and fitness tracking features. OnePlus Watch 2 doesn't support ECG, skin temperature readings, fall detection, or period tracking. Pixel Watch 2 doesn't allow on-demand oxygen saturation (SpO2) measurements. Neither can measure your body composition metrics, track snoring, detect sleep apnea, or track AGEs.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review: Disappointing autonomy
The latter two features far surpass the capabilities of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, which also can't detect snoring.
In our review of the Galaxy Watch 6, we noticed some minor issues with heart rate accuracy. Samsung's latest BioActive sensor improves on this. In testing, the Galaxy Watch 7's heart rate readings proved to be very accurate. During daytime exercise and nightly sleep, it's consistent with the precise Apple Watch Ultra 2 with less than one or two beats per minute (bpm).
While running, I did interval sprints to test my heart rate readings. Sometimes, the Galaxy Watch 7 is more responsive than the Apple Watch Ultra 2, and when I increase or decrease the speed, it rises and falls faster. In this regard, there is slightly greater variability between the two, but even at high heart rate levels, the two remain close to the same values.
The Galaxy Watch 7 tracks a number of different metrics during a run. In addition to cadence, duration, heart rate, and heart rate zones, you can also get detailed formal metrics such as asymmetry, contact time, flight time, regularity, stiffness, and verticality. It also tracks VO2 Max (maximum oxygen uptake) to gauge your general fitness status.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review: Disappointing autonomy
Dual-frequency GPS tracks your running route and distance. Oddly enough, some of the lines wobble slightly, showing me moving forward in a slightly jagged pattern when running in a straight line. These extra zigzag routes cause it to slightly overestimate how far I can move. I appreciate the boost, but it can be a problem for serious runners who race it.
In addition to running, the Watch 7 can track a wide variety of activities. I'm excited to find rowing machines, ellipticals, and stair crawl workout options to complement my gym workout program. Samsung tracks only basic metrics (duration and heart rate) with these options, such as stroke rate without a rowing machine.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review: Disappointing autonomy
When I used these machines, the Watch 7 didn't automatically detect the workout, while the Apple Watch Ultra 2 was always able to correctly identify the machine I was using within three minutes. The Watch 7 starts the walking workout timer more often in my daily routine than the Apple Watch Ultra 2, and I'm excited to work out while I go to the grocery store and find snacks.
I also measured my body composition with the Galaxy Watch 7. To do this, you need to put on your watch, place the middle and ring fingers of your other hand on both buttons, and raise your arm. It is also necessary to enter your weight so that it can get an accurate reading. Compared to the proven HumeHealth Body Pod Smart Body Fat Scale, the Watch 7 has a slightly higher fat percentage, but the BMI (Body Mass Index, the ratio of weight to height) is exactly the same as the readings of the HumeHealth Body Fat Scale.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review: Disappointing autonomy
Sleep tracking and artificial intelligence: Sleep duration is slightly off
Due to the comfortable and light fit, the Galaxy Watch 7 didn't bother me at all while I slept. You can activate sleep mode in the settings, which turns off the display and gesture controls, but I wish it could be enabled via the quick panel.
For four days, I slept with both my Galaxy Watch 7 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 and monitored my sleep using the nearby Nest Hub. All in all, the Galaxy Watch 7 gives the least amount of sleep among the three devices. For the first two nights, its sleep stage graph showed strange gaps in the data, causing it to underestimate the amount of time I spent in bed. Even in the absence of a gap, the total sleep time will be low. For example, on one night without a notch, the Nest Hub showed that I slept for 6 hours and 42 minutes, the Apple Watch recorded 6 hours and 39 minutes, and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 recorded only 6 hours and 3 minutes.
Sleep stage charts and respiration rates are generally consistent across the three devices. Apple and Samsung devices show similar heart rate data.
Samsung didn't detect any of my snoring or sleep apnea, and I love its extra skin temperature graph, sleep score, and sleep score factor, which give me an overall view of my sleep quality. The watch usually deducts points for the amount of time I slept, but gave me positive reviews in other areas such as physical recovery, deep sleep, and mental recovery.
This sleep score number counts towards Samsung's overall energy score along with the previous day's activity, sleep heart rate, and heart rate variability. Based on the above factors and Galaxy AI's calculations, my score on the night I slept less was over 70. But when I had slept well and exercised a little bit more the day before, my score reliably rose to more than 80.
Samsung's AI-generated daily health tips focus more on my workout time than my sleep time. While "I need more exercise" may sound like an overly simplistic suggestion, the details of the tips adjust to my average data and provide reasonable goals.
Samsung's energy score remains static for the rest of the day. It's similar to Garmin's body charge metrics on devices like the Vivoactive 5, but body charge levels rise and fall throughout the day based on your activity. I prefer the Garmin way because the ever-changing numbers feel more informative. Still, Samsung is ahead of Google and OnePlus in this regard.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review: Disappointing autonomy
Galaxy Watch 7 评测：优缺点总结
Overall, the Galaxy Watch 7 is currently the best Wear OS smartwatch for fitness and sleep tracking. Thanks to Samsung's artificial intelligence, Galaxy AI, it reinforces its strengths in this area by providing deeper analytics from sleep apnea to overall health. It's a better smartwatch compared to the Galaxy Watch 6 for the same price, but it's disappointing that the autonomy hasn't solved the problem we're experiencing. The Galaxy Watch 7 is still an option worth considering for most people looking for an Android smartwatch, especially Samsung users, though the OnePlus Watch 2 is also a strong alternative if you want the watch to last for days without having to recharge.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review: Disappointing autonomy
merit
- Fitness and sleep tracking is powerful to detect metrics like sleep apnea and skin temperature
- Accurate heart rate monitoring with fast responses
- Various workout modes and metrics tracking
- Improved BioActive sensor compared to the previous generation
- Rich selection of watch faces and apps
shortcoming
- The battery life is disappointing, and it is charged once a day
- Sleep tracking occasionally has the issue of missing time slots
- Three different apps are needed to get the most out of all the features
- Compared to the previous generation, the upgrade is not too large
summary
If you're looking for a powerful fitness tracker that can last on a single charge a day, then the Galaxy Watch 7 is a very good choice. However, if you're more concerned about battery life, the OnePlus Watch 2 is worth considering.