Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 in the test: Top smartwatch with accurate pulse measurement and ECG

The predecessors impressed as a strong complement to Galaxy smartphones with their proven 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 smartphones. However, these smartwatches usually lack battery life like Apple’s.

The Galaxy Watch 7 uses a new processor and the sensors are even more accurate. This test shows what this means for everyday life and whether anything has changed in terms of battery life.

The watch is IPX8 certified and waterproof up to 5 ATM (50 meters water column). Both bathing and swimming should not be a problem with the Watch 7, even though such water resistance usually only applies to fresh water, i.e. without additives such as shower gel or chlorine in swimming pools. Visually, little has changed compared to its predecessor. The Galaxy Watch 7 is again very delicate, light and attractive, with a sporty, minimalist design and a circular display. There are again two buttons on the right side, but no crown or physical bezel.

The workmanship is excellent, with the entire body now made of aluminum, meaning the watch appears to be cast in one piece. However, the casing doesn’t seem particularly resistant to scratches. Still, the watch is MIL-STD-810H certified, making it robust against vibrations and extreme temperatures.

It does not look bulky and looks good with both sporty and elegant styles of clothing. In combination with a soft bracelet, it is extremely comfortable to wear. This watch is comfortable to wear in everyday life as well as while playing sports or sleeping. The watch is again available in two sizes: 40 mm and 44 mm.

The 1.3-inch (resolution: 432 × 432 pixels) OLED display on the smaller variant and 1.5-inch (resolution: 480 × 480 pixels) on the larger variant is top notch. The scratch-resistant sapphire crystal offers protection. There is an optional Always-On display that permanently shows the time. However, this reduces the already short battery life even further.

The image quality is excellent, and the display is always bright enough to read even in bright sunlight. According to the manufacturer, the maximum brightness is 3000 nits – that’s a lot! If desired, the screen automatically adjusts to ambient light.

On board is the new Samsung Exynos W1000 processor, manufactured using a 3 nm process. This means that the watch runs extremely smoothly and without any delays or interruptions. The memory of the device is now twice as large at 32 GB with 2 GB of RAM. An internal music storage is available in case you want to use the watch without your cell phone or offline. Wireless communication takes place primarily via Bluetooth 5.3 or alternatively via WLAN (2 GHz and 5 GHz). There is also a version with LTE to use eSIM, which will make you completely independent from the smartphone.

NFC is available, so you can also use the watch to make payments via Samsung Pay. GPS, GLONASS, Beidou and Galileo are available to determine your location – so you can use the smartwatch even without your smartphone. However, as eSIM for A-GPS is not available, accuracy still has room for improvement.

The prerequisite for use is an Android smartphone with at least Android 10. iPhones are incompatible. The range of apps is wide, as the Google Play Store is available and Wear OS enables 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 on Samsung smartphones via the app. Samsung Health Monitor Are available.

The sensors are again very comprehensive. The watch monitors sleep, cycles, 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 carried out optionally and is only available to users of Samsung smartphones. To do this, you need to calibrate the watch in advance using the upper arm cuff. However, the measurement results are reassuring.

Wear OS ensures that the watch has many smart functions and is closely linked to the smartphone. The Galaxy Watch 7 automatically syncs supported apps as well as some settings from the smartphone. A QWERTY keyboard and ready replies are available to easily reply to incoming SMS and WhatsApp messages. It is also possible to make phone calls from the watch. Some Galaxy AI features are available, but not the full range yet.

The app is used to connect the watch to a smartphone Galaxy WearablesWhich is already available on Samsung cell phones. This should also be done for users of Android cell phones from other manufacturers Galaxy Watch 7 Plug-in To be installed. Sleep analysis can be found in the app Samsung HealthWhich utilizes its full potential (eg. ECG, blood pressure) only with Samsung smartphones.

The high level of ease of use of the Galaxy Watch series has been retained in the new model as well. The smartwatch can be controlled intuitively via the touchscreen and two side buttons. Swiping actions enable quick navigation through clearly structured menus. There is no physical bezel, but there is a digital version. Swiping a finger along the edge of the display scrolls through information tiles about health data and general smartwatch information. Haptic feedback confirms every input. You can also use the voice assistants Bixby or Google Assistant.

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The top button returns to the home screen. By default, double-tapping opens the most recently used app, but you can also set a specific app or other function to perform when double-tapping this key. Holding it down longer turns on Bixby, the Samsung assistant, here you can also choose Google Assistant or Menu to turn it off. The bottom button acts as a back button. In the settings you can also change the button so that it shows all open apps.

We were very pleased with the accurate measurements of the pulse sensor, which copes well even with rapidly changing loads. There are a number of profiles for different types of sports. For our taste, Samsung has gone too elaborate here, so there are profiles for every imaginable exercise in the gym, although a profile for “strength training” would be enough for us – but it doesn’t exist. Sometimes you feel almost overwhelmed by the options.

For example, the automatic training detection works flawlessly while cycling, it immediately notices that you are on a two-wheeler and it automatically stops recording when you take a break. If you are sitting at work for a long time, the watch will prompt you to go for a walk after a maximum of an hour.

During training, data such as distance, maximum speed, calorie consumption, maximum pulse and pulse history are displayed. Detailed analysis is available in the app Samsung HealthWhere joggers also benefit from a “running coach” that motivates them and supports them in achieving their goals. The watch also measures blood oxygen level and stress level. “Advanced Running Metrics” analyzes running style and provides optimization suggestions based on various parameters such as contact time and regularity.

But the watch can do more than just record sports. It analyzes sleep and shows it quite reliably by dividing it into different phases (light sleep, deep sleep, REM, awake phase). Based on the quality of sleep and all previous activities, the watch evaluates the energy level of the wearer.

What is new and particularly exciting is the measurement of the AGEs index (advanced glycation end-products), which quantifies glycation end products in the body. AGEs are formed when sugar attaches to proteins or fats, resulting in a non-enzymatic reaction. These compounds can accumulate in tissues and are linked to various age-related and chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and neurodegenerative diseases.

The AGEs index provides information about the amount of these compounds in the body and can serve as an indicator of the risk of such diseases. The healthier the diet with as little sugar as possible, the better the index. The function is still in the beta stage, but could be the initial step for blood sugar measurement later.

The biggest weakness of the Galaxy Watch 7 is its battery life. The watch lasts a maximum of two days, more likely a day. If you wear it while sleeping and do a long workout, about 24 hours is the maximum – without the always-on display.

Using the included charging pad with a USB-C port, charging takes about an hour, which is quite long, but matches the charging speed of Samsung smartphones. You can’t charge the watch using other Qi charging mats or smartphones. The power supply is missing, and you also need one with a USB-C port, which takes many older power supplies out of the game – a shame.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is one of the best smartwatches with Wear OS and remains the first choice for Galaxy smartphone users. At first glance, there are no major innovations, but the new model now works faster and measures the pulse even more accurately. A variety of smart features and good integration with Android smartphones are provided. However, the most exciting features such as blood pressure measurement and the creation of a 1-channel ECG are reserved only for Samsung cell phones. We can understand this only to a limited extent and interpret it as deliberately encouraging buyers to “preferably” buy Samsung smartphones.

This means that the Galaxy Watch 7 remains the counterpart of the Apple Watch in the Android space. Anyone who uses a Samsung smartphone and has no problem charging the watch from their cell phone every evening can hardly avoid a smartwatch. However, for users of other Android smartphones, other options may be a better choice.

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