Galaxy Watch 6 vs Galaxy Watch 7: Should you upgrade?

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 has arrived, setting a new benchmark for one of the best smartwatch series. It packs a new chipset, new fitness features, and updated software, but you wouldn’t necessarily know this is a new watch on first viewing. The similarity to its predecessors makes the Galaxy Watch 7 appear as yet another iterative update, but is this the case? It also begs the question: Should you upgrade if you own a Galaxy Watch 6? Find out in our Galaxy Watch 7 vs 6 comparison below.

Galaxy Watch 7 vs Galaxy Watch 6: Specs

The Galaxy Watch 7 introduces several hardware upgrades. It trades the dual-core W930 on the Galaxy Watch 6 for the five-core W1000 chipset, which claims to be much faster than the outgoing silicon. It’s also paired with double the storage and 33% more RAM than its predecessor.

Find the detailed specs list for the Galaxy Watch 7 vs 6 below.

Don’t worry; You don’t need to get your eyes tested. There are so few aesthetic differences between the Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch 6 that telling them apart is a skill itself. Both watches are available in 40mm and 44mm sizes, with a prominent touch-sensitive bezel surrounding their screens and watch strap pylons that jut out from the main watch body.

The new watch is slightly wider and deeper than the Galaxy Watch 6, but these differences aren’t really noticeable to the naked eye. We’re also seeing a minor increase in the Galaxy Watch 7’s weight, but we’re talking tenths of a gram. There is no Galaxy Watch 7 Classic for rotating bezel fans this time. However, Samsung will continue to sell the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic ($429 at Amazon). That’s a tick for the older generation.

The Galaxy Watch 7 includes three new strap designs: Sport, Fabric, and Athleisure. Each offers different designs, use cases, and comfort levels. You’ll likely find third-party bands for both Galaxy Watch models, but it’s a positive that Samsung offers some variety when purchasing the new device.

Nevertheless, for those hoping for a stark shake-up of the Galaxy Watch formula, you won’t find it with the Galaxy Watch 7. That said, the pricier and much larger Galaxy Watch Ultra ($649.99 at Amazon) looks nothing like the Samsung smartwatches of recent years.

The Galaxy Watch 7 has several changes beneath its skin, the chief of which is Wear OS 5. It’s one of the first wearables to run the new OS with One UI 6 Watch on top. The new watch also includes new smarts, from a new Double Pinch gesture to control various items on paired Galaxy smartphones to a Galaxy AI-powered message suggestions feature for WhatsApp and Google Messages.

Samsung’s new watch also introduces several fitness metrics and tools, some powered by Galaxy AI. The Galaxy Watch 7 offers wellness recommendations based on data gathered from the wearer, while a new Energy Score metric will provide an overview of a user’s perceived energy levels. Other features, like a self-competition feature for outdoor trainers, a Functional Threshold Power measurement for cyclists, and an enhanced sleep score system, all debut. In addition, the FDA-approved sleep apnea feature also lands with the Galaxy Watch 7, allowing wearers to monitor for moderate or severe spells.

While the Galaxy Watch 6 currently lacks Galaxy AI features, Samsung has mentioned that these updates will arrive on older Samsung watches in the future. There’s no concrete timeline, though, so you’ll have to upgrade if you want the new kit immediately.

Beyond the new additions, the Galaxy Watch 7 and 6 share base fitness tracking smarts, including heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen tracking, body composition analysis, and the ECG. The latter, as well as Galaxy AI-reliant features, remains exclusive to those with a Galaxy smartphone.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 debuted on July 10, 2024, at an Unpacked event in Paris, France. It’s available in two sizes, each with Bluetooth-only and LTE variants. Prices start at $299.99 for the 40mm Bluetooth model. The watch is available to preorder, with general availability kicking off on July 24.

Samsung is offering the new watch in three colors. Green is available on both 40mm and 44mm models. Cream is the secondary option on the smaller watch, while Silver offers something different on the larger model.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is nearly a year old, launching on July 26, 2023, but it only went on sale on August 11, 2023. Like its successor, the 40mm Bluetooth model launched at $299.99, but you can now find it on sale fairly often. It launched at $399.99 and is available in a 47mm dial size. Samsung will continue to sell the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic.

The standard model’s colorways include Graphite, Silver, and Gold, with Black and Silver options for the Classic.

The Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch 6 appear acutely similar, but their differences go deeper than just appearances. On paper, the Galaxy Watch 7 offers an upgraded chipset, a host of new software and fitness features, more day-one band choices, and more storage and RAM than its predecessor.

It also helps that Samsung hasn’t increased its base price, making it a much better buy for those who don’t yet own a Galaxy Watch model. But what if you do? What if the Galaxy Watch 6 is currently around your arm? Should you upgrade?

That answer is particularly tricky to answer. Beyond the hardware differences, the Galaxy Watch 6 won’t differ from the newer model much once it receives its Wear OS 5 software update. There are particular fitness metrics it won’t be able to track, but time will tell if these are genuinely useful. It’s best to hang on to your Galaxy Watch 6, at least for now. However, if you own an older model, especially one no longer supported by Samsung, now is the time to take the leap.