Masakazu Honda is a journalist who is well-known in the technology field. In this series, Honda writes about wearable devices. This time, he will introduce the Apple Watch Series 7 in two parts. In the first part, he will explain the changes from the Series 6.
Apple Watch Series 7
Text by Masakazu Honda
Article published on December 28, 2021
As usual, Apple announced the Apple Watch Series 7. Despite only being able to be used with an iPhone, the series has captured an overwhelmingly large share of the smartwatch market and continues to grow, but this year it has undergone a complete model change. The product planning concept also suggests that the watch is aiming to evolve in a different direction than other smartwatch manufacturers.
What changes and what doesn't change with the exterior change
As mentioned earlier in this series, smartwatches are more than just watches; they are also "small personal computers." Hardware alone does not function; it is always accompanied by software (both the OS and apps) that runs on it, and network services that interact with the software.
In addition to these three elements, Apple was the only brand that provided and controlled everything in-house, including the paired smartphone hardware and OS, which is also the reason why Apple continued to dominate the smartwatch market in its early days.
Samsung also provides its own three smartwatch elements and has a strong smartphone brand, but it has not been able to provide the same integrated experience, including the smartphone, as Apple.
Setting aside the issue of rivals, Apple has carefully launched the Apple Watch market and decided on its specifications, as can be seen from the fact that it only updates the exterior design once every three years. From the original to Series 3, and from Series 4 to 6, the same exterior and display have been used, and the layout and display method of the widgets that functionally transmit the information collected on the watch face and smartphone have been fixed.
GPS + Cellular model. S7 SiP (64-bit dual-core processor). Rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Approximately 18 hours of power reserve. Aluminum case (45mm diameter). Water resistant to 50m.
If this modification is not strategic, the balance between the basic function of a wristwatch—telling time—and the convenience of a smartphone, which allows users to efficiently and quickly access information collected on the smartphone, will be lost.
With the Apple Watch Series 7, the exterior has become slightly larger and the display size has been maximized, allowing Apple to define a new Apple Watch that can be realized by combining the latest production and display technologies.
As an aside, if innovation continues at the same pace, this exterior design will likely continue until Series 9. In addition, it is highly likely that the addition of new watch faces with watchOS updates will only be available for Apple Watch Series 7 and later.
Apple has not updated its new SiP (a component that packages multiple chips into a system, equivalent to an SoC in a smartphone). Furthermore, the processor itself is a carryover from before, and for the time being, Apple Watch software will likely continue to be developed to run smoothly with the current generation. Users of existing products can rest assured, and can consider when it's time to upgrade while keeping an eye on future evolutions.
