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5 simple reasons why Apple Watch Series 7 stays on my wrist

It’s been over six months since I’ve owned the Apple Watch Series 7. During this time, I’ve worn it alone, with other smartwatches and fitness trackers, and even with traditional watches on the other wrist. I tracked workouts, used their health monitoring features, tried several different bands, used them to pay for things in stores, and enjoyed seamless connectivity with my phone.

However, for all its technical ability, there are some basic, simple, and useful features and design elements that make me wear it. This is what I’ve found that makes it very easy to live with the Apple Watch on a daily basis.

Rich notifications on a great screen

The primary hardware upgrade in the Series 7 over the Series 6 was the screen. I quickly got used to the 20% extra screen space, smaller bezels, and its amazing brightness too. It’s always visible in the house from almost any angle, and I’ve never had a problem seeing it in bright sunlight either.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It’s accurate and detailed, meaning anything you’ve read on the watch benefits from it. I get a lot of notifications, and the system on my Apple Watch is miles ahead of those on competing smartwatches. I can do things with notifications – reply, delete, archive, like or dismiss as a start – that I can’t do with any other smartwatch/iPhone pairing. And while this is useful, it is second only to the absolute reliability and ease of use on the Apple Watch.

I never wonder if I’ve missed a notification, because Apple Watch hasn’t yet failed to deliver any notification. It may seem like a basic function, but many other smartwatches don’t give me the same peace of mind. Brilliant haptic feedback, which is very accurate and recognizable, tells me a person has arrived, and even the smallest movements of the wrist bring up the on-screen notification every time. I don’t need to raise my wrist dramatically, check my phone, or switch windows on my computer to check what’s arrived, because the Apple Watch indicated whether or not I needed to pay attention to the notification. It currently makes up for the iPhone’s lack of an always-on screen.

WatchOS 8 plays a huge role in the success of the notification system, and another aspect of the watch and its tightly integrated software that I love is that when I switch to Work in Focus mode on my Mac Mini, the watch and my iPhone instantly do the same thing. I don’t get interrupted by those notifications when I don’t want to. On the Apple Watch, notifications not only arrive reliably, they also remain silent. Few smartwatches receive quite the right notifications, and everyone can learn from the Apple Watch Series 7.

Headphones and volume controls

This may sound basic, but I wear headphones a lot and use my iPhone for music and podcasts. Having all the controls I need on my wrist means my phone is out of the way. You can control everything on your Apple Watch, from selecting a track and adjusting the volume to interacting with Apple Music. The processing power of the Apple Watch is evident here because the interface is smooth and seamless, even when dealing with Apple Music’s cloud-based features.

While the Apple Music app and iTunes Store can be very frustrating, especially when mixing purchased music, locally downloaded podcasts, and Apple Music as I do, it all leaves on the iPhone. You don’t have to use Apple headphones to be effective either. All the features still work as normal when I’m using the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones, which means I don’t have to remember or fiddle with the touch controls to quickly turn the volume down.

When does this come in handy, you might be wondering? When I wear headphones while doing certain things—anything from cleaning the house to washing the car—I often keep my phone out of reach, and my Apple Watch means I’m still able to control what’s playing and how high it is. It’s a simple feature, but I find it very useful.

Braided Solo Loop is the best watch band

Choosing the right band for your Apple Watch is crucial to really enjoy it, but with knowledge oh Is it right for you is the hard part. Here’s how I wear my Apple Watch, and why the Braided Solo Loop fits right in. I want my Apple Watch to fit comfortably on either wrist, and I need it to make good contact when I’m tracking a workout, but then be comfortable and unconstrained at other times. I don’t often wear it “smartly”, so a belt appropriate for formal or smart wear isn’t necessary.

The back of the blue Braided Solo Loop Band on the Apple Watch Series 7.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Braided Solo Loop is just right. The amount of stretch and surrender in the bracelet means it’s never too tight and never awkward, and I can happily switch to my right wrist without feeling cranky or uncomfortable, and I only have to push it up a bit to ensure my heart rate is tracking it’s correct.

But more than that, I love the style. It’s pretty much unique across the smartwatch market, and while the Sport Loop has been emulated by others, the Braided Sport Loop is still only associated with the Apple and Apple Watch. It’s versatile, comes in different colors, and has been proven to be very durable as well. I’ve used it as my main watch strap since the beginning of the year and it still looks like new. It’s expensive, but it’s worth it.

Apple Watch Series 7 on the wrist.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

One thing to note is that if you can try one on before buying, it will help you get the right size. I initially used Apple’s online sizing system, and the length she recommended turned out to be quite large. I later asked to reduce the size from Apple’s online tool suggestion. While you can get cheaper versions, they are not as good as the original.

Closing loops is motivational

Move, exercise and stand. These are the three sections that Apple Watch prioritizes to give you an overview of how active you are on a daily basis. It’s simple yet informative, and I find it motivating. I’m not an athlete and I don’t regularly play any sports that are worth pursuing, so Apple rings are a great way for me to see how lethargic I am, which leads me to do something about it.

Daily progress is visible on the Watch itself, but to see historical data, you have to visit the Apple Health app on your phone. This makes sense because it keeps the clock focused on her and now. When I hit a goal, I like the animation and tactile vibration. When I want to track an activity, it’s very easy – I just use the recent apps menu (accessed with the button on the watch), and within a few swipes, the activity continues to be tracked.

The Apple Health activity page appears on the iPhone 13 Pro.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Again, it all sounds pretty basic, but the thing is that not every wearable or smartwatch makes starting and tracking a workout so simple. Whether pressing a button is completely inconsequential to find the right menu, lowering the volume when annoying voice assistants tell you your stats, or waiting for a GPS signal to pick up, these aren’t issues your Apple Watch has. A few clicks and you’re up and running. Or walking, or biking, or one of dozens of different exercises. It may be simple, but it definitely isn’t Basic.

You only benefit from the smartwatch’s healthy features when you wear it, and you’ll never bother using its functions unless it’s intuitive and quick. Apple Watch Series 7 advances on both fronts.

reliable battery

The overall reliability of the Apple Watch is the topic of this article, and that continues with battery performance. I don’t wear it for sleep tracking—I use the Oura ring for that—but I wear it all day from about 8am until about midnight, and without fail, when I turn it off at that time, its battery stays at least 50% even with the exercise tracking.

This means that the Apple Watch Series 7 is able to last for two business days. I wore it for the weekend away and didn’t carry the charger with me, and it didn’t go into low power mode until I got home the second day. Although it can’t match battery winners like the Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro, it’s still a good performer because without any changes to health tracking or the always-on display.

What’s so bad about the Apple Watch Series 7?

Looking at my review published in October 2021, I wanted to see the downsides you mentioned and whether Apple has fixed any of them over the past months with software updates. However, the only downside I mention is that the Apple Watch only works with the iPhone, and to no one’s surprise, this continues. Does this mean that the Apple Watch Series 7 is flawless?

No, but it’s not just an issue with the Apple Watch. You don’t need a smartwatch in the same way you probably need a smartphone. It’s still an accessory that will undoubtedly enhance your smartphone and increase comfort, but many very useful health tracking features can be found in these fitness tracker wristbands that sell for a fraction of the price. If your phone is not essential to your daily life, I will point you towards buying a really nice traditional watch instead of a smart watch.

I’ve worn the Apple Watch Series 7 since its release, and trying as hard as I can, I can’t come up with any major downside outside of it being a bit frivolous, which is true of every smartwatch. If you are looking at a file Apple Watch Series 7 After seeing how it will fit into your life, but haven’t made the leap yet, just do it. You will not be disappointed.

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