Details: 7 key Apple Watch discoveries
Why Apple is so secretive about the Apple Watch Series 7 is a mystery. One of the suggestions is that there has been a last minute step back, making the upcoming model a lot less ambitious than Apple previously intended. It may also explain why we didn't get a radical new design, although this could also be misinformation spread deliberately by Apple to thwart rumored rumours. Fortunately, an internal document has now been leaked, in which much more details can be found. Most of these little discoveries you really didn't know – because Apple hasn't revealed them anywhere before!
#1 Weight: slightly heavier
The Apple Watch Series 7 gains a few grams. Below you can see the weight of the smaller 40/41mm version and the larger 44/45mm version side by side. Apple itself has not yet released the weight.
Weight Series 7 Series 6 Aluminum 32.0g/38.8g 30.5g/36.4g Stainless steel 42.3g/51.5g 39.7g/47, 1g Titanium 37.0g/45.1g 34.6g/41.3g
#2 New S7 SiP, but same CPU
Earlier we wrote that the Apple Watch Series 7 keeps the same CPU as its predecessor. However, something has changed: the complete package of internal components (the System-in-Package, or SiP) has been renewed and now bears the imprint S7. The CPU is still the S6 we saw in the Series 6. The speed also remains the same. Probably only a few smaller components were exchanged to drive the larger screen.
The S7 gives 20% more performance compared to the S5 chip that you find in the Series 5 and the Apple Watch SE. But the Series 6 also has that better performance. Apple has often kept the CPU the same. On the Apple Watch Series 5, the S5 chip was identical to its predecessor, but with an extra gyroscope.
#3 Same loud speaker
Not much has changed as far as the speaker is concerned either. The speaker used is the same as the Series 6. It is 50% louder than the Series 3.
#5 Fast charging
The Apple Watch Series 7 supports fast charge: it is charged to 80% in just 45 minutes. If you don't have much time, 8 minutes of charging is enough to measure your sleep for another 8 hours. To support the fast charging, Apple has a new 1 meter long fast charging cable with USB-C, which costs 35 euros. Apple also includes this fast charging cable in the box. You can still use the old USB-a cable, but you will charge at normal speed.
#7 Same U1 and Bluetooth chips
In terms of Ultra Wideband, there are no changes: Apple has applied the same U1 chip that you also found in the Series 6 and in the iPhone 12 from last year. The same components for Bluetooth 5.0 are also present. Other than that, features such as international SOS calls, fall detection and the like have remained the same.
Most of the details are from the leaked internal document, which pits the specs against each other. Since the announcement, it has become clear that there are still many uncertainties (also for Apple) surrounding the new Apple Watch. The document also states that all specifications are subject to change (“subject to change without notice”). You can download it in a larger format here.