When Apple Watch 7 features were revealed at Apple's iPhone 13 event in September, one important detail was missing: while all iPhone 13 models will be officially released on September 24, Apple Watch 7 was only promised "later this fall" and "by the end of The only promises for the Apple Watch 7 were "later this fall" and "by the end of the year.

The reason for this ambiguity was never revealed, but probably had something to do with the rumors of production difficulties we reported at the time. Given that the end of fall is December 21, it was probably assumed that the time frame would be wide enough to ensure sufficient inventory.

But if leaker Jon Prosser's sources are correct, it seems we won't have to wait much longer. He writes, "Several sources familiar with the release tell me that pre-orders could begin as early as next week and ship in mid-October."

Interestingly, this ties in exactly with what Twitter user Ardavon Nazari was told when he asked Apple's official partner Hermès when the Apple Watch editions would be available. There was little room for misinterpretation as they reportedly replied, "Apple Watch Series 7 will be available for pre-order starting October 8, 2021."

While the much-heralded flat-edge design change has been missed this time around, the Apple Watch 7 does offer solid improvements over its predecessor. The most useful of these is the display, which is up to 20% larger than the previous version, made possible not by a larger casing but by thinner bezels. The display appears to be 70% brighter than the previous version, which should make a big difference when trying to view the watch in direct sunlight.

The larger, brighter screen obviously does not affect battery life, but it also does not last longer, with Apple citing the same 18 hours as before. Nevertheless, it is set to charge 33% faster than before, which should mean less time away from the wrist for those who want to wear it all night long for the newly introduced sleep tracking.

Whether or not they go on sale this month, prices are confirmed to start at $399 for the 41mm model, rising to $429 for the larger 45mm version. If cellular data is required, the prices rise to $499 and $529, respectively; check out Apple Watch's Black Friday deals page for the best current discounts and expected prices.