Do I need to wait for Apple Watch7 or buy Apple Watch6 now?

Do I need to wait for Apple Watch7 or buy Apple Watch6 now?

The debut of the Apple Watch 7 is just days away.

Whether it's a separate launch event like last year or a return to an all-in-one device extravaganza, Apple will likely announce the new wearable this month. But what if you want to buy an Apple Watch before then?

Right now, as the best overall smartwatch, the Apple Watch 6 is still on display in Apple stores and other tech retailers. However, once the Apple Watch 7 hits store shelves, the nearly year-old model will likely be pulled up. As such, one might be concerned that by purchasing the soon-to-be-discontinued model now, one will face buyer's remorse.

For most people, I would wait to see what the Apple Watch 7 is like. But I can also give you a few reasons why that patience may not be rewarded.

Here are three reasons why you should wait for the Apple Watch 7 and two reasons why you should get the Apple Watch 6 now.

There are several signs that the Apple Watch 7 will look different from previous Apple Watch models: the Apple Watch's appearance has changed little since the first model debuted in 2016, but the iconic screws are newer, flatter edges, which could be tweaked to follow the iPhone's design language.

Rumors that the Apple Watch would be flat-sided gained momentum earlier this year when leaker Jon Prosser released a series of renderings. Prosser, however, hedged the timeline of the significant design changes,

saying that his sources may have been passing along information for another future Apple Watch, not necessarily the Apple Watch 7.

However, another rendering released this month reveals plans for a flat-edge design change: a purportedly leaked CAD rendering shared by 91Mobiles teases an all-flat design, including the display. For those who don't want others to know that they are equipped with the latest technology or don't like the curved look of the existing Apple Watch, the rumored aesthetic change will be worth the wait.

The internals of the Apple Watch are also expected to change; according to Bloomberg, the Apple Watch will have an "updated Ultra Wideband (UWB) feature." Apple introduced the U1 chip in the Series 6 just last year, and may be planning to improve the role of this chip, or the Apple Watch's role in wireless communications.

Apple's interest in positioning technology gained momentum with the launch of the Apple AirTag key finder; as we have seen with AirTag, UWB radios provide accurate position and spatial awareness, allowing compatible devices to determine their exact location relative to other devices in the vicinity .

The watchOS 8 software in the Apple Watch 7 adds a "Find My" app for locating other Apple devices, as well as support for digital keys. However, given the pace of improvements and new features in Apple's U1 chip, I believe that the next generation of smartwatches will only benefit those who believe in UWB technology.

According to one report, Apple is using Taiwanese supplier ASE Technology's system-in-package (SiP) technology to produce a double-sided S7 processor for the Apple Watch 7. This move is expected to free up space inside the next smartwatch.

What will Apple do with that extra space? No one outside the company can say for sure. But if it could be used for a larger battery, it is worth the wait to find out.

The Apple Watch's battery life has been estimated at 18 hours for several years. And while the company has added loaded features like always-on display, there is no getting around the daily recharging. Perhaps the Apple Watch 7, with its larger battery capacity and more efficient processor, will have better stamina than the previous generation model.

Admittedly: the Apple Watch 7 leak was boring. However, it is possible that the next Apple Watch will not offer anything particularly interesting compared to the current Apple Watch 6.

Now that Samsung's Galaxy Watch 4 has a body composition analysis feature that can estimate body fat percentage and muscle mass from the wrist, there is a lot of attention on Apple's breakthrough with its own health upgrade.

Earlier rumors said that the Apple Watch 7 would include a blood glucose monitoring feature. Now it seems the smartwatch is not slated for it, even though it would have been a game changer for users with diabetes and those who want to track their blood sugar levels. As such, us rumor hunters have little to work with.

One Bloomberg report suggests that the Apple Watch 7 will revamp the wearable's swim tracking capabilities. Unless you're a swimmer, there may not be much else in the way of fitness upgrades to convince you that the Apple Watch 6 is a less capable activity tracker than the Apple Watch 7.

The best reason to buy the Apple Watch 6 now would be the best Apple Watch deals, which give significant discounts on last year's smartwatch. Last I checked, the Apple Watch 6 could be found for up to $100 off on some models; once the Apple Watch 7 goes on sale, it will be several months before the new models are available.

The Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch 3 are also good deals, but these smartwatches have older chips and are not always-on display.

You can also check out our guide to everything we know about upgrading the Apple Watch 7 vs. the Apple Watch 6.

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