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When the Apple Watch came out in 2015, I was worried about its lifespan.

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Technology can be quite disposable with devices getting out of date in two years or so,

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and applying that sort of life cycle to a watch seems wrong,

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especially when a cheap Casio will literally say 10-year battery on it.

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But nowadays, Apple Watches have proved that they have a multi-year shelf life.

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So if you're planning on buying a new watch or upgrading from an older model,

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is the flagship Series 7 the one to get?

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The Apple Watch Series 7 is the latest update

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in Apple's top-tier watch. Starting at $399, the most expensive Apple Watch

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has been getting regular updates to its sensors and screens for a few years now.

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And this one is no different. The screen is bigger and more durable.

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The charging is faster. And the colors are different.

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But is it all different enough? The big headline for this Apple Watch is the bigger screen.

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The case is a millimeter taller than before,

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and the screen stretches farther to the edge, shrinking the bezels down to 1.7 millimeters.

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It means that many buttons and controls are bigger and easier to tap.

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And it means that there's now an on-screen keyboard. It's pretty nice having an on-screen keyboard

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for quickly replying to texts. But the keys are still very small,

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so you're usually better off using the swipe function. Here's something interesting.

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The Series 7 is available in two sizes, and they both get the new keyboard.

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But last year's watches don't get the new keyboard, even though the bigger Series 6 is larger

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than the small Series 7. What's up with that?

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So it's not just about size. And in fact, in most apps,

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the largest screen of the new Series 7 nets you very little.

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Like in this weather warning, I get two and a half more words,

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or in this messages thread, I get like a sliver more of a speech bubble.

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I'm sure it was a lot of work for Apple to fit in this larger screen,

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but the benefit it offers is really for those who need bigger text on their screen,

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aging eyes, but still want their watch to be usable.

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The screen stretch also moved the pixels below the curve, creating a refractive effect.

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It's neat when you see it, which isn't very often, especially because there's only one

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strange-looking watch face that showcases it. There's also this modular duo face

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exclusive to the 7 with bigger complications.

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There are those doodads that give you more information for moon phases

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or Starbucks rewards progress. Am I the only one who agonizes

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over which watch complications to choose?

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Actually, I already have trouble choosing a watch face.

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There, yes, there.

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The front crystal, another confusing watch term

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considering the expensive models are covered in sapphire crystal instead of glass,

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is thicker now, which should make it more crack resistant.

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This is good because I bang my watch on walls, desks, and door frames all the time.

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The Ion X glass on this aluminum model is just a scratch prone though,

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so the extra strength should help reduce the weakness scratches create.

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Battery life is unimproved, but what is improved is charging.

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This fancy metal clad charging cable can speed up your charging by a third

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if you've connected it to a fast enough charger. That's great if you're a quick shower chargerer

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who needs the battery to keep lasting the day. However, Apple did also claim

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that one could get eight hours of sleep tracking after only eight minutes of charging.

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But in my experience, that eight minutes was only enough to get the watch to boot,

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usually at around eight to 10%. The thing died long before I woke up.

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Colors are another big change with the Series 7. Aluminum models have shifted in Apple's new direction.

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I especially like this green one. It's nice and matches this leather band well.

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But my concern with these new colors is how they'll match the other bands

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you may already have or soon will. Grain and starlight are not neutral,

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so you're gonna have to keep that in mind. And that's about it.

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The S7 chip is really just an S6 with a new name it doesn't deserve.

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There are no new sensors or industrial design, though that does mean that any and all watch bands

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you currently have will fit this. Cases maybe not, this is a little bit bigger.

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But to me, it means mercifully that the Apple Watch,

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if you get the expensive models, has some longevity to it.

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Processor updates happen every few years, and the year-over-year changes are very minimal.

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If you're running an Apple Watch Series 5 or newer, there's really no reason to get this.

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And even from a Series 4, it's a harder sell, safe for the always-on screen.

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A feature that stubbornly remains on the more expensive models.

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And yes, the price remains starting at $400.

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That's not bad considering the evolution the watch gets at this price point,

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but it's not a rush out and upgrade sort of situation. And it shows how unfair the cheaper models prices are.

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The SE remains at $279 this year, completely unchanged,

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and the Series 3 is in its third year at $199,

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containing technology from 2017.

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It means that if you can afford it, you're better off getting this over an SE.

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But if you still got a working Apple Watch, you should still use that.

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In fact, if you want to spruce up your Apple Watch and really make it feel new,

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you can do so for a lot cheaper, by venturing into Amazon

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and looking at the endless selection of cases and bands that are available.

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And these bands will even fit your Apple Watch Series 0.

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God, it's fun in here. I want that.

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And that. Yes.

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The Apple Watch is really just a very small computer.

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It's the bands that make it an expressive accessory,

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and the bands are easily interchangeable. This Series 7 is nice,

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but I've been using and banging up a Series 6

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for the past 10 months, and there's really no reason to upgrade,

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even if the screen is so cool. Instead, I'm going to look for a cool band,

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because that's much more exciting and personal. And frankly, it's the better upgrade.

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Thanks for strapping on this Mac Address. If you want an Apple Watch Series 7,

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why not give this video a like? And if you're perfectly fine with the Apple Watch you have,

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point out subscribe. Now, I'm curious. At $400, that's a lot for a watch.

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What can you get that's not a smartwatch at that price? Probably options in the comments below.

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I'm curious what you'll put in there.