Apple Watch Series 7 to Come in 41mm and 45mm Case Sizes, Will Be Compatible With Older Bands

Apple hasn't released full details on the Apple Watch Series 7 as of yet because it's not set to launch until later this fall, but the new Apple Watch bands that came out today confirm that the Series 7 will be available in 41mm and 45mm sizes.

apple watch series 7
The 41mm Apple Watch Series 7 replaces the 40mm Apple Watch Series 6, while the 45mm Apple Watch Series 7 replaces the 44mm Apple Watch Series 6.

41 and 45mm size updates were rumored, as was the significant redesign for the display, but the design of the Apple Watch itself came as a surprise. Multiple rumors from Jon Prosser, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Bloomberg, and other sources suggested the Apple Watch Series 7 would see a flat-edged design similar to the iPhone 12 models, but that did not happen.

Instead, Apple highlighted the soft, rounded corners of the Apple Watch Series 7, which looks similar to the Apple Watch Series 6 but with a wraparound design that offers seamless integration with the body of the device.

The new Apple Watch models have an edge-to-edge display with super slim bezels, best illustrated in Apple's image comparison of the Series 7, Series 6, and Series 3.

apple watch series 7 display comparison
According to Apple, the Apple Watch Series 7 offers 20 percent more screen area than the Series 6 with a 40 percent reduction in border size.

Despite the increase in size to 41 and 45mm, the Apple Watch Series 7 is compatible with older Apple Watch bands. New 41mm Apple Watch bands are backwards compatible with the 38mm and 40mm models, so the reverse should be true as well, while the 45mm Apple Watch bands work with the 42mm and 44mm Apple Watch models.

Existing 38mm and 40mm bands should be compatible with the 41mm Apple Watch Series 7, and the 42mm and 44mm Apple Watch bands should be compatible with the 45mm Apple Watch.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)

Popular Stories

iphone 17 models

No iPhone 18 Launch This Year, Reports Suggest

Thursday January 1, 2026 8:43 am PST by
Apple is not expected to release a standard iPhone 18 model this year, according to a growing number of reports that suggest the company is planning a significant change to its long-standing annual iPhone launch cycle. Despite the immense success of the iPhone 17 in 2025, the iPhone 18 is not expected to arrive until the spring of 2027, leaving the iPhone 17 in the lineup as the latest...
duolingo ad live activity

Duolingo Used iPhone's Dynamic Island to Display Ads, Violating Apple Design Guidelines

Friday January 2, 2026 1:36 pm PST by
Language learning app Duolingo has apparently been using the iPhone's Live Activity feature to display ads on the Lock Screen and the Dynamic Island, which violates Apple's design guidelines. According to multiple reports on Reddit, the Duolingo app has been displaying an ad for a "Super offer," which is Duolingo's paid subscription option. Apple's guidelines for Live Activity state that...
Clicks Communicator Feature

'Clicks Communicator' Unveiled — Will You Carry This With Your iPhone?

Friday January 2, 2026 6:35 am PST by
The company behind the BlackBerry-like Clicks Keyboard accessory for the iPhone today unveiled a new Android 16 smartphone called the Clicks Communicator. The purpose-built device is designed to be used as a second phone alongside your iPhone, with the intended focus being communication over content consumption. It runs a custom Android launcher that offers a curated selection of messaging...
Low Cost MacBook Feature A18 Pro

Low-Price 12.9-Inch MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Reportedly Launching Early This Year

Friday January 2, 2026 9:08 am PST by
Apple plans to introduce a 12.9-inch MacBook in spring 2026, according to TrendForce. In a press release this week, the Taiwanese research firm said this MacBook will be aimed at the entry-level to mid-range market, with "competitive pricing." TrendForce did not share any further details about this MacBook, but the information that it shared lines up with several rumors about a more...
Apple Fitness Plus hero

Apple Announces New Fitness+ Workout Programs, Strava Challenge, and More

Friday January 2, 2026 6:43 am PST by
Apple today announced a number of updates to Apple Fitness+ and activity with the Apple Watch. The key announcements include: New Year limited-edition award: Users can win the award by closing all three Activity Rings for seven days in a row in January. "Quit Quitting" Strava challenge: Available in Strava throughout January, users who log 12 workouts anytime in the month will win an ...
Low Cost A18 Pro MacBook Feature Pink

Apple's 2026 Low-Cost A18 Pro MacBook: What We Know So Far

Friday January 2, 2026 4:33 pm PST by
Apple is planning to release a low-cost MacBook in 2026, which will apparently compete with more affordable Chromebooks and Windows PCs. Apple's most affordable Mac right now is the $999 MacBook Air, and the upcoming low-cost MacBook is expected to be cheaper. Here's what we know about the low-cost MacBook so far. Size Rumors suggest the low-cost MacBook will have a display that's around 13 ...
Mac Pro Feature Blue

What's Happening With the Mac Pro?

Wednesday December 31, 2025 9:59 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Mac Pro since 2023, and according to recent rumors, there's no update coming in the near future. In fact, Apple might be finished with the Mac Pro. Bloomberg recently said that the Mac Pro is "on the back burner" and has been "largely written off" by Apple. Apple apparently views the more compact Mac Studio as the ideal high-end pro-level desktop, and it has almost...

Top Rated Comments

ThE.MeSsEnGeR Avatar
56 months ago
What intrigues me is how with each iteration of devices (iPhone, iPad and Watch), the screen real estate gets slightly larger and larger, we notice the difference and move on. But a few years later, looking back at the original first gens, the screens look so outdated and clumsy.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jmpage2 Avatar
56 months ago
Ya know, my hair not really being blown back with this supposed "redesign".
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
svish Avatar
56 months ago
Was expecting flat edged design. Very suprised that this did not come true. Support for existing watch bands is a great relief.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jmpage2 Avatar
56 months ago
Nearly every rumored enhancement to the Apple Watch has turned out to be false.

No flat edge case.
No longer battery life.
No lower profile digital crown.

Pretty much a nothing burger. I might still end up having to get one since the battery life on my Series 4 has gotten pretty bad.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
johnl1275 Avatar
56 months ago

who thinks like me? iwatch 7 is actually a joke...
For one thing, it's not called an iwatch
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Techwatcher Avatar
56 months ago
Why is the Series 3 immortal
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)