Yahoo Finance’s Dan Howley breaks down the new Apple Watch in this week’s Tech Support.

Video Transcript

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ZACK GUZMAN: In this week's Tech Support, the question that a lot of our viewers are asking, myself included, is the Apple Watch really worth it? And this time around, the Apple Watch Series 7 is going to be hitting shelves tomorrow. And Yahoo Finance's tech editor, Dan Howley, joins us now with a look at whether or not it is worth it this time around. Dan.

DAN HOWLEY: That's right, Zack. I have the Apple Watch Series 7 right here. I don't know if it's locked itself. Of course, it's lock itself. It loves to do that when you take it off your wrist. There you go. All right, we got it right there.

This is Series 7. Just to give you an idea, it's got a much larger display. It's about 50% larger than the Series 3, 20% larger than the Series 6. I say much larger with regards to that Series 3 though, because you can see kind of the size difference between the two right here. It's a physical difference, and it does feel like a completely different experience using the Series 3 versus the Series 7. Obviously, the Series 7 being a lot better.

But let me just show you the Series 6. This is the prior generation Apple Watch, and it's not as large of a difference between the two. I'm trying to see if it lines up. The 6 and the 7, you know, that 20% difference doesn't really make up enough of a difference, in my mind, to justify a $399 upgrade. That's the starting price for the Series 7.

I do, though, think that there are some worthwhile features. So, let me go over them with you. As far as the larger display, what that gets you is naturally more text on screen. So, it's easier to read things, like messages, whether those are through Slack, which I get on my watch and is a nightmare, through text message, calendar updates, things along those lines. It does make it worlds easier.

There's also the ability to increase text size. So, if you're someone who's got difficulty seeing things, especially smaller things, there's two additional sizes that you can bump this up, and it's a lot better in that regard. My parents, obviously, are a little older now. So, it takes them a little bit to see what's on the watch. And that's a big, big difference for them.

The other thing is, and the two other big kind of sellers here, are the increased durability and increased charging time. Now, the charging time is supposed to be 30% faster, but you have to use the charger that comes in the box. You can't use your prior charger. And it doesn't mean that it'll charge the prior generations any faster.

As far as the durability goes though, the screen is actually more crack resistant. So, I'll use my watch constantly. I'll bang it against everything, because I'm a giant klutz. So, whether that's doorknobs, or railings, or if I just fall down because of I'm still trying to learn how to walk, never quite got that, it's going to be less likely to crack. And the other thing is the dust resistance.

Now, this is the first Apple Watch with a proper dust resistance rating, meaning if you go to the beach and you drop it in sand, or if you go on a dusty trail, or if you just go into a dusty room or something, I guess, this will be safe from that. It's worth noting, though, that I've used my Series 6 for quite a while, and I've dropped it at the beach, and I never had an issue. I just washed it off and it was right as rain.

So, I think the improved durability is more of peace of mind than anything else. I do, though, think that if you're a non-Apple Watch owner, or you have a Series 4 or earlier, whether that's the 4, the 3, the 2, or the original, then it's worth upgrading to the Series 7. If you don't have one of those and you have a Series 5 or 6, the upgrade really isn't that much worth it.

It's $399. You have a screen that's marginally larger. And just like you said, the peace of mind, not even the fact that it is dust proof, because like I said, I never had issues with my own.

So, if you do have one of those, skip the update entirely. But if you don't have an Apple Watch at all-- and Zack, blows my mind that you returned it. I can't fathom that. Then this is the Apple Watch to get, for sure.

ZACK GUZMAN: I think I have taken the title as Yahoo Finance's Luddite here, Howie. I just-- I just don't know. I mean, I like having my phone. I run with my phone. I look like an idiot out there, but it works for me, you know. So, I don't know.

DAN HOWLEY: I tell you--

ZACK GUZMAN: Let's see what happens.

DAN HOWLEY: It's the workout feature. It's addictive. Whether that's good or bad, I don't know. But I'm constantly trying to get all my steps in, all of my rings closed. It's probably unhealthy at this point, but God, I love it.

ZACK GUZMAN: Well, you're selling me on it again. I think you're selling a lot of people on it. It's important to walk through whether or not it is worth it. Appreciate it in that-- in this week's Tech Support. Dan Howley, bringing us the latest there.