Last updated on 26 May 2025
I’ve been using the Galaxy Watch 7 for almost a month now, and I’d like to share my experience as a blind user. While smartwatches are often discussed in terms of features and fitness tracking, I’ll focus on how accessible this device really is in everyday use—and whether it’s something I’d recommend.
Table of Contents
Unboxing and First Impressions
Inside the box, you’ll find the watch with a silicone strap, and a magnetic charging cable with a USB Type-C end. The charger connects to the back of the watch magnetically, making it easy to align and start charging. There’s no power adapter in the box, so you’ll need to use one you already have.
The design is simple yet elegant. With its round casing, single main screen, and home and back buttons, the Galaxy Watch 7 resembles a premium traditional watch more than a typical piece of tech. It feels lightweight and high-quality on the wrist.
Setup and TalkBack Activation
To power on the device, hold down the home button until you feel a vibration. After booting up, you can pair the watch via Bluetooth using the Samsung Wearable app on your phone.
A welcome feature for visually impaired users is that TalkBack, the screen reader on the watch, can be enabled directly from the device. Pressing the home button three times prompts an audio confirmation asking if you want to enable TalkBack. Pressing it three more times activates the feature.
Once TalkBack is active, it uses Samsung TTS by default, but you can switch to Google TTS through the Wearable app. Most accessibility settings can be managed directly from your phone, which simplifies the experience significantly.
It’s technically possible to install third-party apps—such as the Jieshuo screen reader—on the Galaxy Watch 7 using wireless debugging (ADB over Wi-Fi). However, I personally didn’t find it necessary, as the built-in TalkBack already offers a decent level of functionality for daily use.
You can swipe down and then right to bring up the TalkBack menu. From here, you can perform actions such as Read from top, Hide screen, or Launch TalkBack settings.
Within the TalkBack settings, you have access to several customization options: enable or disable earcons and vibration feedback, customize focus, gestures and the TalkBack menu
When it comes to gestures, most of them are unassigned by default, giving you the freedom to configure them as you prefer. There are also a few watch-specific actions you can assign, such as: speak the time
Increase volume and decrease volume. On any screen, you can swipe up or down to move through the granular controls like characters, words, headings, speech rate and accessibility volume so you can increase or decrease the TalkBack speech volume. This is useful especially in noisy environments.
Quick Panel and In-Watch Controls
You can open the quick panel by swiping down with two fingers from the top of the screen. The panel includes essential toggles like Wi-Fi, flashlight, airplane mode, and more. There’s also a shortcut to the main settings menu, allowing you to manage options that would otherwise require the Wearable app.
Navigating these menus is accessible and mostly responsive, though the small screen does require some practice.
Notification Handling
You can browse different panels by swiping or rotating your finger around the edge of the watch. One of these panels displays your notifications. With TalkBack, incoming notifications are read aloud, and you can swipe through them easily. Double-tapping and holding on a notification gives you options such as “Show on phone,” “Block notifications,” or “Clear.”
This allows you to manage your notifications without needing to pick up your phone constantly—though replying to messages, especially with the watch’s small keyboard, isn’t always comfortable. I often prefer using voice messages when responding via WhatsApp.
Health Features and Sleep Tracking
My favorite feature so far is the sleep tracking. The watch provides a detailed sleep report every morning via the Samsung Health app. It shows when you fell asleep, how long you stayed in each sleep phase, and how many times you woke up. The app also offers insights on how to improve your sleep and whether your rest was sufficient.
Additionally, you can track your steps directly from the watch face, and if you begin walking at a steady pace, the watch automatically activates Workout Mode. It then shows your walking speed, duration, and distance, all of which TalkBack reads without issue.
ECG and Blood Pressure Monitoring
With the Galaxy Watch 7, you can also perform ECG (electrocardiogram) and blood pressure measurements. To use these features, you’ll need to install the Samsung Health Monitor app on your phone.
For ECG readings, simply wear the watch snugly on your wrist, ensuring it doesn’t move. Then, place the index finger of your other hand on the home button for about 30 seconds, until the watch confirms the reading. You can review the detailed results through the Health Monitor app on your phone.
For blood pressure measurements, the watch first needs to be calibrated using a traditional cuff-based blood pressure monitor (the kind that measures from the upper arm). You’ll need to take three readings with both the monitor and the watch at the same time, and then enter the monitor’s values into the Health Monitor app to complete the calibration process.
Once calibrated, you can take blood pressure measurements directly from the watch—just make sure you’re wearing it on the same wrist and in the same position as during calibration. Note that calibration is not permanent; it must be repeated every 28 days to maintain measurement accuracy.
Keep in mind, however, that readings from the watch are not always 100% accurate. These features should be seen as supportive tools, not medical-grade diagnostics. Always consult with a healthcare professional when making decisions based on these measurements.
Learning Curve, Performance, and Battery
Because of the small screen size, using certain gestures with TalkBack can take some time to get used to. Patience is key in the beginning. Also, it’s important to note that the watch isn’t as powerful as a phone, so TalkBack won’t be lightning-fast. You might notice slight delays while navigating.
Battery consumption is also noticeably affected when TalkBack is active with constant speech feedback. However, once you settle into your routine and stop interacting with the watch constantly, battery life becomes more manageable. I now get around three days of use, and by the morning of the fourth day, I typically need a recharge. Charging takes about an hour—usually while I’m having breakfast and getting ready for the day.
Enhancing Battery Life
To extend battery life, I’ve disabled Always-On Display and wrist-raise activation, so the screen only wakes when I choose to interact with it. I’ve kept the wake on touch feature enabled, which lets me avoid pressing the hardware button every time. TalkBack announces the current time when I press either the home or back button. To turn the screen off, I simply cover it with my palm.
Phone Calls, NFC, and App Use
The Galaxy Watch 7 supports answering phone calls directly from the watch. When a call comes in, TalkBack reads the caller’s name and gives access to “Answer” or “Reject” options. If I start a call on my phone, I can switch it over to the watch via Bluetooth and continue the conversation there. The microphone quality is good—no complaints from the other side so far.
The watch also supports Google Play Store, where you can install apps. Most apps are simple and sync well with their phone counterparts. If your bank supports it, you can use the watch’s NFC feature for contactless payments. Just bring the watch close to the payment terminal, and that’s it.
So, Is It Really Necessary?
That question always comes up—and will probably always be asked: Do I really need a smartwatch?
For years, I used a Braille watch with a metal strap, and it always felt like a stylish, functional accessory. Galaxy Watch 7 offers a similar sense of completeness—it feels good to wear, and its design is both modern and minimal.
But after everything I’ve shared, I’d still say the Galaxy Watch 7 isn’t a must-have. It’s not an essential device. Think of it more as a helpful companion, a health assistant, or a stylish tech accessory. If you’re not used to wearing watches—or don’t want the commitment of charging one every few days—this device may not be for you.
That said, I had plenty of doubts in the beginning. Now I enjoy the flow: three days of use, quick charge in the morning, and I’m ready to go. It’s become a part of my routine—without being a burden.
hay is this watch only able to be used if you have an android device?
Back when I had the Watch 5Pro, I really liked the way it felt and while I can’t see it, appreciated that it looked more like a regular watch than a smart watch. And, upon turning off Talkback sounds, I found TB performance to be reasonable. I also liked the automatic workout detection, which I found to be quite nice, and better than how it is handled on the Apple watch.