With even better sensors and health features, the Galaxy Watch 7 from Samsung is once again impressive. The test shows what weaknesses remain.
With the Galaxy Watch 7, Samsung shows how the Koreans imagine a perfect smartwatch for Android phones. At first glance, the new model seems to differ little from its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 (test report) . A variant with a real bezel like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (test report) is not available this year.
The predecessors were convincing as a strong addition to the Galaxy smartphone with its tried-and-tested round design and as a counterpart to the square Apple Watch (test report) in the Android world. One of the strengths of watches with Wear OS is the deep integration with Google services and the smartphone. However, these smartwatches are usually weak in terms of battery life, similar to Apple.
The Galaxy Watch 7 uses a new processor, and the sensors are even more precise. This test shows what this means for everyday use and whether there has been any improvement in battery life.
Design & comfort: Is the Galaxy Watch 7 waterproof?
The watch is IPX8 certified and waterproof up to 5 ATM (50 meters water column). Showering and swimming should not be a problem with the Watch 7, even if such water resistance usually only refers to fresh water, i.e. without additives such as shower gel or chlorine in the swimming pool. Visually, little has changed compared to its predecessor. With a sporty, minimalist design and circular display, the Galaxy Watch 7 is once again very delicate, light and chic. There are again two buttons on the right side, but no crown or physical bezel.
The workmanship is excellent, the entire body is now made of aluminum, which makes the watch appear as if it were cast in one piece. However, the case does not seem particularly resistant to scratches. Nevertheless, the watch is MIL-STD-810H certified, which makes it robust against vibrations and extreme temperatures.
It is not bulky and goes well with both sporty and elegant clothing styles. In combination with the soft strap, it is extremely comfortable to wear. The watch is comfortable to wear in everyday life, while exercising or while sleeping. The watch is again available in two sizes: 40 mm and 44 mm.
Display: How bright is the screen?
The OLED display with 1.3 inches (resolution: 432 × 432 pixels) on the small version and 1.5 inches (resolution: 480 × 480 pixels) on the larger version is top notch. Scratch-resistant sapphire glass provides protection. There is an optional always-on display that permanently shows the time. However, this shortens the already short battery life even further.
The image quality is excellent, and the display is always bright enough to be read even in strong sunlight. According to the manufacturer, the maximum brightness is 3000 nits – that’s a lot! If desired, the screen automatically adjusts to the ambient light.
Features: What functions does the Galaxy Watch 7 have?
On board is the new Samsung Exynos W1000 processor, which is manufactured using the 3 nm process. This means that the watch runs extremely smoothly and without delays or stuttering. The device memory is now twice as large at 32 GB with 2 GB RAM. An internal music storage is therefore available if you want to use the watch without the cell phone or offline. Wireless communication is primarily via Bluetooth 5.3 or optionally via WLAN (2 GHz and 5 GHz). There is also a variant with LTE for the use of an eSIM, which would make you completely independent of the smartphone.
NFC is available, so you can also use the watch to pay via Samsung Pay. GPS, Glonass, Beidou and Galileo are available for determining your location – so you can use the smartwatch for running without your smartphone. However, there is still room for improvement in terms of accuracy as long as there is no eSIM available for A-GPS.
To use it, you need an Android smartphone with at least Android 10. iPhones are incompatible. The range of apps is extensive, as the Google Play Store is available and Wear OS allows the use of Google applications such as Bixby, Smartthings, Samsung Pay and Google Maps as well as Spotify or Komoot and many other apps. However, only Samsung smartphones can fully use the smartwatch, as functions such as ECG, blood pressure measurement and heart rhythm analysis are only available exclusively on Samsung smartphones via the Samsung Health Monitor app .
The sensors are again very extensive. The watch monitors sleep, cycle, heart rate, blood oxygen, blood pressure, calorie consumption and skin temperature and counts steps and swimming strokes. An altimeter and air pressure sensor are also integrated. Blood pressure measurement is only optical and is only available to users of a Samsung smartphone. To do this, the watch must be calibrated in advance with an upper arm cuff. However, the measurement results are then convincing.
Wear OS ensures that the watch has numerous smart functions and is closely integrated with the smartphone. The Galaxy Watch 7 automatically synchronizes supported apps from the smartphone as well as some settings. A QWERTZ keyboard and ready-made answers are available for conveniently answering incoming SMS and WhatsApp messages. It is also possible to make phone calls with the watch. Some Galaxy AI features are available, but not the full range yet.
Operation: Which app for Galaxy Watch 7?
The Galaxy Wearable app , which is already available on Samsung phones, is used to pair the watch with the smartphone . Users of Android phones from other manufacturers also need to install the Galaxy Watch 7 plug-in . Sleep analyses can be found in the Samsung Health app , which only reaches its full potential (such as ECG, blood pressure) on Samsung smartphones.
The high level of user-friendliness of the Galaxy Watch series is also retained in the new model. The smartwatch can be controlled intuitively via the touchscreen and two side buttons. Swiping movements enable quick navigation through the clearly structured menus. There is no physical bezel, but there is a digital version. Swiping your finger along the edge of the display scrolls through information tiles for health data and general smartwatch information. Haptic feedback confirms every input. You can also use the voice assistants Bixby or Google Assistant.
The top button takes you back to the home screen. By default, double-tapping opens the last app you used, but you can also set a specific application or other function for double-pressing this button. Holding it down for a longer time starts the Samsung assistant Bixby, here you can also choose the Google Assistant or the menu to switch off. The bottom button serves as a back button. In the settings you can also change the button so that it shows all open apps.
Sports & Fitness: Can the Galaxy Watch 7 measure blood pressure?
We were very pleased with the precise measurement of the pulse sensor, which keeps up well even with strongly changing loads. There are numerous profiles for a wide variety of sports. For our taste, Samsung is even too detailed here, there are profiles for every imaginable exercise in the gym, but we would have been happy with a profile for “strength training” – but that doesn’t exist. Sometimes you almost feel overwhelmed by the selection options.
The automatic training recognition works perfectly. It quickly notices that you are on a two-wheeler when you are cycling, for example, and automatically stops recording when you take a break. If you sit at your desk for a long time, the watch will prompt you to move after an hour at the latest.
During training, data such as distance, maximum speed, calorie consumption, maximum heart rate and heart rate history are displayed. A detailed analysis is available in the Samsung Health app , where joggers also benefit from the “running coach” that motivates them and helps them achieve their goals. The watch also measures blood oxygen levels and stress levels. The “advanced running metrics” analyze the running style and offer optimization suggestions based on various parameters such as contact time and regularity.
But the watch can do more than just track exercise. It analyzes sleep and displays it quite reliably, divided into different phases (light sleep, deep sleep, REM, waking phases). Based on the quality of sleep and all previous activities, the watch evaluates the wearer’s energy level.
New and particularly exciting is the measurement of the AGEs index (Advanced Glycation End-products), which determines the amount of glycation end-products in the body. AGEs are formed when sugar binds to proteins or fats, resulting in a non-enzymatic reaction. These compounds can accumulate in tissue and are associated with various age-related and chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative diseases.
The AGEs index provides information about the extent of these compounds in the body and can serve as an indicator of the risk of such diseases. The healthier the diet, which contains as little sugar as possible, the better the index. The function is still in the beta stage, but could be a precursor to the later measurement of blood sugar.
Battery: How long does the Galaxy Watch 7 last?
The biggest weakness of the Galaxy Watch 7 remains the battery life. The watch lasts for two days at most, or more likely one day. If you wear it while you sleep and do a longer workout, around 24 hours is the maximum – without an always-on display.
With the included charging pad with USB-C connection, charging takes around an hour, which is quite long, but matches the charging speed of a Samsung smartphone. You cannot charge the watch using other Qi charging mats or smartphones. There is no power adapter, and you also need one with a USB-C connection, which puts many older power adapters out of the question – a shame.
Price
The RRP for the Galaxy Watch 7 with 40 mm is an impressive 319 euros. The large model with 44 mm costs 349 euros. For LTE there is an additional 50 euros. The current best price with Bluetooth for the 40 mm model is 258 euros , with 44 mm it is 293 euros . The LTE model with 40 mm costs 330 euros , with 44 mm around 372 euros . The small model is available in green or beige, the large model is silver with a light gray strap or green. As always, there are various straps as accessories (price comparison) .
The now cheaper predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 (test report), also offers similar features . If you don’t use a Samsung smartphone, you might want to take a look at the Pixel Watch 2 (test report) . If you can do without some smart features and want a long battery life, the Huawei Watch GT 4 (test report) and Amazfit Balance (test report) are interesting options.
