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MobileIQ

Head to head

Apple Apple Watch Series 8 45mmvsApple Apple Watch Series 7 45mm

Released
2022-09-16endoflife.date, retrieved 2026-09-13
Security updates until
Not published by the makerApple UK — watchOS 27 compatible models, retrieved 2026-09-22
Released
2021-10-15endoflife.date, retrieved 2026-09-13
Security updates until
Not published by the makerApple UK — watchOS 27 compatible models, retrieved 2026-09-22

0 wins for Apple Watch Series 8 45mm0 wins for Apple Watch Series 7 45mm0 differences you won’t notice

Verdict: nothing you’d notice between them

On the makers’ published figures, neither the Apple Watch Series 8 45mm nor the Apple Watch Series 7 45mm wins a row by a gap you would notice. Both state the same case size, weight (case only), peak brightness and battery life (maker's claim). The other 23 rows have no threshold or no direction to judge by, so nobody wins them.

True to scale

Apple Watch Series 8 45mm · 45 × 38 mmApple Watch Series 7 45mm · 45 × 38 mm

Case outlines from each maker’s published dimensions, drawn to scale. Corner rounding is our drawing convention, not a measurement.

Specifications

A win is marked only where the figures can be ranked and the gap is one you could notice on the wrist. A row the site has no threshold for says whether the two differ, and that it is not ranking them. = marks the same figure on both, ≠ not ranked a difference with no ranking. Every figure carries its source.

Body

SpecificationApple Watch Series 8 45mmApple Watch Series 7 45mm
DimensionsSame.
45 x 38 x 10.7 mmOfficial
45 x 38 x 10.7 mmOfficial
Case sizeSame.
Case shapeSame.
rectangularOfficial
rectangularOfficial
Weight (case only)Same.
Case materialSame.
AluminiumOfficial
AluminiumOfficial
Water ratingSame.
Water resistant 50 metres under ISO standard 22810:2010Official
Water resistant 50 metres under ISO standard 22810:2010Official

Display

SpecificationApple Watch Series 8 45mmApple Watch Series 7 45mm
Display typeSame.
Always-On Retina LTPO OLED displayOfficial
Always-On Retina LTPO OLED displayOfficial
Display areaSame.
1143mm²Official
1143mm²Official
ResolutionSame.
396 x 484Official
396 x 484Official
Peak brightnessSame.
1000nitsOfficial
1000nitsOfficial
Always-on displaySame.

Platform

SpecificationApple Watch Series 8 45mmApple Watch Series 7 45mm
Operating systemSame.
watchOSOfficial
watchOSOfficial
ChipDiffers, but not ranked.
S8 SiPOfficial
S7 SiPOfficial
StorageSame.

Battery

SpecificationApple Watch Series 8 45mmApple Watch Series 7 45mm
Battery life (maker's claim)Same.
ChargingDiffers, but not ranked.
USB-C magnetic fast-charging cableOfficial
USB-C magnetic fast charging cableOfficial

Health

SpecificationApple Watch Series 8 45mmApple Watch Series 7 45mm
SensorsSame.
Blood oxygen sensor, electrical heart sensor, third-generation optical heart sensor, compass, always-on altimeter, accelerometer, gyroscope, ambient light sensorOfficial
Blood oxygen sensor, electrical heart sensor, third-generation optical heart sensor, compass, always-on altimeter, accelerometer, gyroscope, ambient light sensorOfficial
ECGSame.
Blood oxygenSame.
GPSDiffers, but not ranked.
L1 GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS and BeiDouOfficial
GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDouOfficial

Connectivity

SpecificationApple Watch Series 8 45mmApple Watch Series 7 45mm
Cellular modelSame.
UK networks with eSIMSame.
EE, Vodafone, Three3rd party
EE, Vodafone, Three3rd party
Wi-FiSame.
802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz and 5GHzOfficial
802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz and 5GHzOfficial
BluetoothDiffers, but not ranked.
NFC paymentsSame.

Compatibility

SpecificationApple Watch Series 8 45mmApple Watch Series 7 45mm
Works withDiffers, but not ranked.
iPhone 8 or later with iOS 16 or laterOfficial
iPhone 6s or later with the latest iOS versionOfficial
CompatibilitySame.
iPhone onlyOfficial
iPhone onlyOfficial
8 attributes neither watch has a sourced figure for

Strap width · Display size · RAM · Battery capacity · Charge to 80% · Skin temperature · Blood pressure · Cellular model price. Rows appear as sources are cited — a gap in our data, not a statement about either watch.

The pairs a buyer of either watch would also weigh. Any two watches in the catalogue can be compared from the chooser.