The annual turnaround for most devices is relentless and merciless. Even if a device still feels new to you, there’s probably a new version just around the corner that’s teasing you with a new design, improved specs, or improved features. How much this bothers you comes down to how strongly you feel FOMO (fear of missing out), but it’ll probably hit you even harder when you’re looking to buy a new device.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is an excellent device and one of our favorite Android smartwatches. But it looks like it’s getting even less time in the sun than usual, with its successor, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, set to launch on July 10. Knowing that a newer version of the device you want is on the way will always make you think twice – but should you? Although we only have whispers and leaks about the Galaxy Watch 7’s capabilities, it’s not hard to imagine that it will be more powerful than the Galaxy Watch 6 and loaded with additional features.
But should these improvements be enough to keep you waiting for the latest device? We’ve gone through the latest rumors, rumors and leaks about the Galaxy Watch 7 and compared them to the Galaxy Watch 6 so you can make the best choice.
Galaxy Watch 7 vs. Galaxy Watch 6: Design
It’s a tough category to judge because we don’t have a clear idea of what the Galaxy Watch 7 will look like. Samsung hasn’t changed the styling of the standard Galaxy Watch since the Galaxy Watch 4, so it’s an understatement to say that the lineup is due for a major overhaul. While the variants have seen some big changes, going from Classic to Pro, back to Classic and possibly now to Ultra, the regular Galaxy Watch has remained largely the same.
Samsung is rumored to have a big new launch lined up for the Galaxy Watch Ultra with a new design, so it’s a bit debatable whether the Galaxy Watch 7 will continue the trend set by the last few years and be largely untouched, or whether there will be dramatic new look. Early reports said Samsung was considering a return to a square or rectangular face for the Galaxy Watch 7, but those reports have since been dismissed, so chances are pretty good we’ll see a similar look again.
Of course, maintaining the same style is not bad something in itself. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is a great-looking smartwatch, and it’s also comfortable. If Samsung had to stick with one design for years, we’re glad it’s as good as this one. As nice as it is to see it mixed with the next watch, it wouldn’t hurt if the same design was recycled again.
Galaxy Watch 7 vs. Galaxy Watch 6: Performance and Battery Life
The Galaxy Watch has been running on Samsung’s Exynos platform for some time, and this is unlikely to change with the Galaxy Watch 7. According to reports, we can expect the Galaxy Watch 7 to have a 3nm chip, which is likely to be the Exynos W1000. This processor is around 20% faster than the previous Exynos W930 and can be expected to offer better power efficiency than before.
But the proof of the pudding will be in the eating, and we won’t know how this translates into actual performance until we get some hands-on time. The Galaxy Watch 6 was a solid performer, but it wasn’t as fast as the Apple Watch, its main competitor. If the W1000 can close that gap then it will be a big win, but we can’t say one way or the other right now.
A big part of whether the Galaxy Watch 7 is a better buy than the Galaxy Watch 6 will come down to battery life. A more efficient processor could mean the Galaxy Watch 7 has longer battery life than the Galaxy Watch 6, and given that the older smartwatch can last one and a half to two days on a single charge, any improvement in that would be most welcome. However, charging will apparently get a boost on the Galaxy Watch 7, with all new models rumored to support 15W charging – making them 50% faster to charge than the older ones.
So what is the verdict on this? As you can tell, this is the literary equivalent of a shrug. Yes, the Galaxy Watch 7 will be the more powerful of the two, but the extent to which that will make a difference is not yet known, and there are no other Exynos W1000 watches to make an educated guess. The same goes for battery life. But since a huge jump in battery life seems unlikely and the performance increase probably won’t be dramatic either, don’t let this category be the crux of your decision.
Galaxy Watch 7 vs. Galaxy Watch 6: Fitness and Tracking
It’s a big category to explore because it basically encompasses the entire ability of the Galaxy Watch to track fitness, mental health, health, and all those little sensors that add GPS functionality and things like that. In short, it’s a lot. Fortunately, this is a comparison piece, so it’s safe to say that anything the Galaxy Watch 6 can do, the Galaxy Watch 7 will be able to do as well. This means there will be a huge range of exercise tracking options and sensors providing in-depth information about your stress levels and heart rate. There’s also a Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) sensor that can take a deep reading of your body fat, water levels and even your skeletal muscle levels. It’s an impressive set of tools, and the Galaxy Watch 7 is likely to continue to impress.
But will it offer something more? It’s hard to say right now. There haven’t been many rumors about Samsung working on anything particularly new for fitness and wellness capabilities. One game-changing inclusion will be a glucose monitor, but it’s also possible that this will come to the Ultra model if it arrives at all.
Overall, it’s probably fair to say that you’re likely to get a very similar experience on both watches when it comes to fitness, wellness and health tracking.
Galaxy Watch 7 vs Galaxy Watch 6: Software
It’s easy: you’ll get the same software on both devices. Samsung has created a unique combination of Wear OS with Google and it fits the watches very well. If you’re familiar with Wear OS from other devices, then you’ll find a familiar interface here, while newcomers will find a simple interface that doesn’t take much getting used to. In the Android space, it’s pretty much the gold standard for software design, even if there have been a number of annoying bugs over the years.
In terms of software updates, you expect four years of support for each range. The more recent release obviously means the Galaxy Watch 7 will get another year’s worth of software releases, but given that you’re likely to replace your smartwatch before that date anyway, that’s somewhat of a moot point. However, if you want to go the distance and get the most out of your smartwatch, a newer device will be the way to go.
Galaxy Watch 7 vs. Galaxy Watch 6: Price
So far, there’s no indication that Samsung intends to raise the asking price for the Galaxy Watch 7, so we’re guessing it will start at $300 – the same price the Galaxy Watch 6 currently starts at.
Keep in mind, though, that a new version of a device usually means bigger discounts on older tech, and it’s entirely fair to expect the Galaxy Watch 6 to get big price drops once the Galaxy Watch 7 is available. That in itself is a very strong reason to wait and see what the Galaxy Watch 7 has to offer. Even if one big new headline feature isn’t enough to sway you, you can probably find the Galaxy Watch 6 for less price. It’s a win-win situation.
How about the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra?
Samsung may add a new member to its stable this year, and rumors of it are swirling heavily around the launch of the Galaxy Watch 7. But this is no ordinary addition to the Galaxy Watch. Instead, it looks more like an Apple Watch Ultra-style release. Leaks suggest the Galaxy Watch Ultra could start at $700, well above the $300 expected for the Galaxy Watch 7, but undercutting the Apple Watch Ultra 2’s $799 price tag.
A high price must mean high-end specs, right? You will be right. The latest rumors say that the Galaxy Watch Ultra will come in a single 47mm size with a titanium build and a square bezel. The design also looks a lot sturdier, and it’s clear from just one glance that this isn’t a standard Galaxy Watch by anyone’s standards.
There has been a lot of speculation about what this device will offer. With Samsung clearly positioned to take on the Apple Watch Ultra 2, we can see it being marketed as an ultra-rugged smartwatch for adventurers. Expect a presentation full of people, diving, surfing, mountaineering and all kinds of “extreme” activities.
But there’s also a chance Samsung could use the high price tag to pack in some cutting-edge technology as well. A glucose monitor is right at the top of the wish list, and if Samsung isn’t able to implement such technology in the standard Galaxy Watch 7, it could do so in the Ultra instead. Adding the ability to monitor blood sugar levels without the need for blood samples would be a game changer for millions of people and could be a strong selling point for the Galaxy Watch Ultra.
But at $700, that’s not really a factor in this particular battle between two $300 devices. The Galaxy Watch Ultra is a completely different beast and only worth looking at if you’re in a very specific audience.
Should you buy the Galaxy Watch 6 or wait for the Galaxy Watch 7?
It can be very tempting to pick up a device right before a new one is released. After all, companies like to use the period right before a new product launch to try to push as many sales as possible for the old technology. That means discounts, and discounts to tech executives are like sugar to a toddler. But remember, these price cuts are likely to reappear and may drop even lower once the new device is out. So if you think the Galaxy Watch 6 is a safe bet for you, it might still be worth waiting to see if prices can drop lower.
But there’s nothing that takes the shine off a device quite like a successor, and if you’re anything like us, you love buying the latest devices because newer equals better, right? It’s a natural impulse, and we get it, but based on recent rumors and rumors, it seems an awful lot like the Galaxy Watch 7 won’t be a massive upgrade over the Galaxy Watch 6. As such, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 still looks like a solid buy.
But remember, this is all based on speculation, leaks and hearsay. We won’t know for sure what Samsung has planned for us until July 10th. So our final recommendation is this: wait and see what Samsung has planned. We don’t have long to wait, and once we have all the facts, we can make an even better choice.
