Apple Watch 7 vs Apple Watch 6 – What Are the Differences?

One of the most important things to know is that the Apple Watch Series 7 is not more expensive than its predecessor, even though it comes with new features. And here's something else useful: you don’t need to throw away your old Apple Watch straps. They still fit the new Apple Watch 7 – handy, right? But those aren’t the only differences. Let’s dive into all the ways the Apple Watch 7 differs from the Series 6.

Differences

	Apple Watch 6	Apple Watch 7
Case Size	Available in 40mm or 44mm	Updated case design with 41mm and 45mm sizes
Weight	40mm: 30.5g, 44mm: 36.4g	41mm: 32.0g, 45mm: 38.8g
Colours	Silver, Gold, Space Grey, Blue, Red	Midnight, Starlight, Green, Blue, Red
Display	3.0mm bezels	1.7mm bezels for a larger screen; easier to read messages
Durability	x	IP6X dust resistance and improved crack-resistant display
Brightness	x	Up to 70% brighter indoors
Charging	Fully charges in ~90 minutes	Charges up to 33% faster thanks to USB-C

Design

The Apple Watch 6 introduced a brighter always-on Retina display, available in 40mm and 44mm sizes. You could choose between aluminium, stainless steel, or titanium cases in five colours – including Blue and (RED). It also came with the new Solo Loop band.

These innovations raised expectations for the Apple Watch 7. While the differences are subtle, the 7 does introduce a slightly larger case (41mm and 45mm) and slimmer bezels, resulting in a screen that’s 20% larger than the Series 6 and even 50% larger than the Series 3. That means you can read up to 50% more text on-screen!

Apple also redesigned the crystal layer to make the screen more crack-resistant. It’s brighter indoors and features IP6X dust resistance alongside the same 50m water resistance. Rumours suggest an "Explorer Edition" will launch in 2022 for outdoor enthusiasts.

The Apple Watch 7 (aluminium) is available in Midnight, Starlight, Green, Blue, and Red. The stainless steel models come in Silver, Graphite, and Gold.

Features

The Series 6 already included ECG, sleep tracking, and Fitness+ integration. It also introduced Family Setup for GPS + Cellular models, letting parents manage watches for their children.

The Apple Watch 7 doesn’t add new sensors but improves fall detection for cyclists and includes a better algorithm for e-bike route tracking. Thanks to the bigger screen, it’s easier to read, type, and swipe. It even features a machine-learning keyboard that predicts what you want to type.

Performance, Battery & Software

The Series 6 came with watchOS 7 but could be updated to watchOS 8 – the same version the Series 7 ships with. Both offer up to 18 hours of battery life with normal use.

The Series 6 runs on the S6 chip, based on the iPhone 11's A13 Bionic. It includes a W1 chip, U1 ultra-wideband chip, Bluetooth 5.0, and dual-band Wi-Fi (802.11n). Apple hasn’t shared details about the Series 7 chip, but it seems to prioritise energy efficiency over performance gains.

Battery-wise, the Series 7 still delivers 18 hours of usage but charges 33% faster via USB-C. Just 8 minutes of charging gives you enough juice for 8 hours of sleep tracking!

Price

The Apple Watch Series 6 launched at £379 (€429 / $399) for the aluminium version, with higher prices for stainless steel and titanium. The Series 7 starts at the same $399, with Cellular models priced at $499. European pricing was not yet confirmed at launch, and availability was expected in autumn. Once in stores, Apple planned to sell the Series 3, Apple Watch SE, and the new Series 7. If you want a Series 6, better act fast!

Similarities

	Apple Watch 6	Apple Watch 7
Storage	32GB	32GB
Processor	S6 CPU	S7 SiP (same performance as S6)
U1 Chip	Yes	Yes
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.0	Bluetooth 5.0
Always-On Altimeter	Yes	Yes
Blood Oxygen Sensor	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi	Supports 5GHz	Supports 5GHz
Speaker	Yes – 50% louder than Series 3	Yes – 50% louder than Series 3
Always-On Display	Yes	Yes
Price	$399	$399

Conclusion

There aren’t major changes that would convince most Series 6 owners to upgrade. However, the Apple Watch 7 still feels like an improvement – with a more refined design, bigger screen, and faster charging.

Apple is known for dramatic yearly upgrades in both iPhones and Apple Watches. While the changes in the Series 7 might not seem huge, it feels smoother, sleeker, and more pleasant to use. If you don’t already own a Series 6, we’re sure you’ll love the Apple Watch 7!

We now offer a full collection of Apple Watch 7 straps at Smartwatch-straps.co.uk – from Milanese to sport bands, leather, nylon, and stainless steel styles.