The Apple Watch 7 may still be months away, but thanks to some early rumors and familiarity with Apple's smartwatch lineup, we already have an idea of what the next-generation model will offer.

As the follow-up to the Apple Watch Series 6, the Apple Watch 7 could introduce several upgrades that would make the best smartwatch even better. We may see a new health sensor, an enhanced display, longer battery life, etc.

Apple has introduced a new smartwatch every year since 2015 (two in 2020, in fact), so the Apple Watch Series 7 is a definite possibility.

But what will be different? Here's what we know so far about the Apple Watch 7.

If we had to guess a release date for the Apple Watch 7, it would be mid-September 2021. For the past few years, Apple has always announced a new smartwatch at the Tuesday keynote in the fall and launched it on the Friday of that week or the following week.

This year, for the first time, Apple split its next-generation Apple Watch and iPhone events: the Apple Watch 6 and Apple Watch SE debuted alongside the new iPad Air (2020), while the iPhone 12 lineup was unveiled alone (the It's all virtual, of course.)

It's possible that Apple will reconfigure its fall hardware announcements if a live, in-person keynote happens in 2021.

Unless Apple chooses to throw a financial curveball, we have a pretty good sense of what the Apple Watch 7 price will be. Traditionally, $399 is the company's entry-level price for a 40mm flagship smartwatch with GPS.

The 44mm size goes up to $429, plus an additional $100 for either size with Cellular support. Nevertheless, changes in size options and connectivity could change the price of the Apple Watch.

This could be the year Apple lowers its cellular prices; the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 with LTE is only $50 more expensive, as is the mid-range Apple Watch SE cellular.

While one can make educated guesses about the Apple Watch 7's release date and price, current Apple Watch 7 rumors are not so accurate. It is too far away from launch for credible leaks to surface, but for now we can highlight a few features we would like to see.

Improved battery life: Patently Apple has found evidence that Apple is researching ways to extend the battery life of its wearables; the Battery Watch Band improves battery capacity without increasing the size of the Watch itself. without increasing the size of the Watch itself.

We are accustomed to the 18-24 hour stamina of current models, but would welcome an Apple Watch with longer charging intervals.

Blood pressure monitoring: there are several reasons why blood pressure monitoring could be included in the Apple Watch next year. First, it is a prime candidate for Apple's unofficial annual health feature upgrade. Samsung's Galaxy Watch 3 includes a sensor for blood pressure monitoring, and there is already a template for Apple to follow.

However, the company seems to be considering its own approach. Apple's recently won patent application for built-in blood pressure monitoring with built-in correction factors is a step ahead of health tracking. For comparison, Samsung's blood pressure monitoring is cumbersome, requiring monthly calibration.

Mental Health Tools: When Fitbit Sense introduced a number of stress management tools, we expected Apple to include similar features in the Apple Watch 6. However, that did not happen.

Apple may have a steady lead in life-saving features, but mental health tools are a life saver in their own right. Fortunately, two top leakers confirmed that Apple is working on ways to warn of panic attacks and heightened stress with its smartwatch.

MicroLED display: the Apple Watch 7 may be ready to switch from an OLED display to a microLED screen, making the Apple Watch slimmer and more power efficient. MicroLED displays offer improved brightness and do not have the brightness attenuation issues of traditional OLED panels.

Bloomberg in 2018 reported that the company was working on producing MicroLED displays in a nondescript building in California; while this did not happen with the Apple Watch 6, the new displays will probably be used in the 2021 Apple Watch It is likely that the new display will be used in the Apple Watch in 2021.

Again, it is too early to pass judgment on the upcoming Apple Watch 7, and we are as excited as you are about what Apple has in store for the next generation of wearables.

We hope Apple will up the ante. Recent alternatives to the Apple Watch, such as Samsung's Galaxy Watch 3 and Fitbit Sense, are worth considering. Our smartwatch buying guide will help you evaluate your needs and determine which smartwatch is right for you.

Bookmark this page for the latest news on the Apple Watch 7. We will follow rumors and leaks until the smartwatch is released to the public.